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- 🥂 Napa Turns 50
🥂 Napa Turns 50
In this week’s DECORKED digest, we explore the buying opportunities in fine wine, Napa’s 50th anniversary celebrations, Santorini’s vineyard crisis, the impact of US political volatility, and much more.
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Happy Monday! We hope you have a great week ahead. In this week’s DECORKED digest, we explore the buying opportunities in fine wine, Napa’s 50th anniversary celebrations, Santorini’s vineyard crisis, the impact of US political volatility, and much more. Keep reading!
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Read the most important and interesting news this week.
đź’Ą Vinho Verde appellation officials arrested in wine fraud case READ HERE
đź“° Wine Enthusiast opens its first store in SoHo READ HERE
đź“ť 15 unconventional wine terms, explained READ HERE
🍷 Italy’s newest cult-favorite is a Chianti READ HERE
🍇 The best Spanish wines of 2025 READ HERE
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We curate, filter, and select only the most exciting and important news for you.
FINE WINE FINALLY OPENS UP
After three years of decline, the fine wine market is showing early signs of stabilisation, with prices at a five-year low creating what Liv-ex describes as rare buying opportunities. Key indices have posted a third consecutive month of gains, bid activity is rising, and demand is returning to the most liquid segments, led by UK and Asian buyers. While Burgundy, Champagne and Bordeaux still reflect the correction, selective categories and regions are proving resilient, suggesting cautious but growing confidence as the market resets.
NAPA AT 50
As Napa Valley nears the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Judgment of Paris, seven historic wineries are coming together to mark the moment that changed the global wine conversation. Throughout 2026, tastings, special events, and behind-the-scenes experiences will revisit the blind tasting that put California firmly on the fine-wine map, using the anniversary not just to look back, but to underline Napa’s lasting influence on the wine world.
SANTORINI IS RUNNING OUT OF VINES
Santorini’s vineyards are nearing a breaking point as climate change and tourism pressure accelerate a long-term decline in one of Greece’s most iconic wine regions. Vineyard area has fallen to around 1,000ha, yields have dropped sharply after consecutive drought years, and production is at historic lows, pushing grape prices higher and forcing producers to prioritise dry Assyrtiko over traditional Vinsanto. Land loss to development, labour shortages and water scarcity are all compounding the crisis. Without coordinated action, producers warn that traditional viticulture on Santorini could become unviable within the next decade.
LUXURY WINE MEETS REALITY
Treasury Wine Estates is feeling the strain as softer demand in the US and China, shifting consumer tastes, and grey-market disruption weigh on earnings and investor confidence. Elevated inventories and price pressure have forced stock reductions, cost-cutting plans, and a pullback from shareholder returns. While long-term belief in premiumisation remains, the update highlights how exposed even top-tier brands are to changing consumption patterns and fragile luxury demand.
IS AMERICA’S POLITICAL INSTABILITY HURTING THE WINE INDUSTRY?
Political volatility in the US is adding fresh strain to an already fragile wine industry, with tariffs, immigration enforcement and stop-start policy signals increasing uncertainty across restaurants, retailers and wineries. A 15% tariff on European wine has complicated buying decisions, while heightened immigration actions have disrupted labour availability and dampened consumer confidence in key markets like California, Oregon and Washington, DC. For most, 2025’s instability is accelerating the need to adapt, reinforcing that resilience, local support and long-term structural challenges matter as much as the political climate.
PROWEIN 2026
ProWein Düsseldorf 2026 (March 15–17) will showcase 4,000+ exhibitors in a densified hall layout with 30% shorter walking distances. Highlights include ProWein Zero (non-alcoholic beverages), Sparkling Visions, and Organic Visions. Enhanced visitor management and a Hosted Buyers & Concierge Program aim to connect top international buyers with exhibitors efficiently. The trade fair emphasizes innovation, sustainability, and immersive experiences under the motto: Shape. Create. Elevate.
CALIFORNIA 2025 HARVEST REPORT
California’s 2025 harvest delivered slow-ripening, cool-weather wines with vibrant acidity and concentrated flavors. Reds show deep color and structure, whites are bright and precise, and lower sugar levels favor elegance over opulence. Despite some late-season rains, careful vineyard management preserved quality, making 2025 a standout vintage of balance, freshness, and site expression.
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WINE REGION OF THE WEEK: ALAZANI VALLEY, GEORGIA
Alazani Valley, in Georgia’s Kakheti region, is a historic wine area with a warm climate and carbonate-rich soils that preserve grape acidity. Its main grape, Rkatsiteli, produces semi-sweet wines often paired with desserts or cheese, while Saperavi and other reds show deep color and flavor. The valley benefits from irrigation from the Alazani River and a long winemaking tradition dating back 8,000 years.
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GRAPE OF THE WEEK: SAPERAVI
Saperavi is a dark-skinned, pink-fleshed grape from Georgia, known for its deep color, high acidity, and versatility in both blends and ageworthy varietal wines. Hardy and late-ripening, it thrives in cooler climates like Kakheti and beyond, producing quality grapes even at high yields, and pairs well with rich, savory dishes.
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