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🍾 Champagne car chase

🍾 Champagne car chase

In this week’s DECORKED digest you will read all about psychedelic wine, yet another Champagne theft, Georgian wine making, Ozempic affecting the wine industry, Mexico’s history, and more. Keep reading!

November 19, 2023

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Happy Sunday! We hope you’ve had a wonderful week! In this week’s issue, you will find all about psychedelic wine, yet another Champagne theft, Georgian wine making, Ozempic affecting the wine industry, Mexico’s history, and more. Keep reading!

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INTERESTING THIS WEEK

📝 Wine distributors say grocery store wine sales are hurting business READ HERE

🍺 The ‘frightening’ way climate change will affect beer READ HERE

🍷 Low-calorie wines sustain strong double-digit growth READ HERE

🍾 Whoopi Goldberg relaunches her Prosecco brand READ HERE

📸 Brangelina winery battle finally heads to court READ HERE

📈 High inflation for alcohol despite overall fall READ HERE

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We curate, filter, and select only the most exciting and important news for you.

FIVE THINGS APPELLATIONS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

To achieve success in the world of wine appellations, it is crucial to focus on five key factors. Firstly, the appellation must produce high-quality and distinctive wines, that stand out in terms of quality, style, and price. The presence of one or more iconic producers is also essential for initial growth in awareness, as these producers are considered benchmarks by both consumers and the trade. Additionally, the appellation should be associated with a specific grape variety or winemaking style, creating a clear identity. Examples include Napa Valley's association with Cabernet Sauvignon and Tuscany's connection to Sangiovese. For broader recognition, it's vital that the appellation produces a sufficient quantity of wine to enter national distribution, ensuring accessibility for consumers through retail stores and restaurant menus. Lastly, successful wine appellations often boast a significant amount of wine tourism, cultivating regions that people not only associate with great wines but also enjoy visiting. In essence, a successful appellation is characterized by outstanding wines, iconic producers, a distinct identity, national distribution, and a thriving wine tourism industry.

WHY THE WINE INDUSTRY IS WORRIED ABOUT OZEMPIC

The wine industry, accustomed to warnings about alcohol consumption, is currently more concerned about a drug called Ozempic, originally designed for Type 2 diabetes but increasingly popular among those seeking rapid weight loss. The surge in demand has led to shortages for those medically prescribed the drug. The wine industry fears that if Ozempic users refrain from drinking, it may influence others to do the same, resulting in decreased wine consumption and sales. While the drug has potential benefits in addressing societal issues like alcoholism and obesity, it is also facing legal challenges, with lawsuits claiming adverse effects such as gastroparesis and ileus. The New York Times examined Ozempic user demographics based on pharmacy ZIP codes, revealing potential societal impacts.

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HIGH-SPEED POLICE CHASE FOILS £500K CHAMPAGNE HEIST

Two stolen trucks loaded with £525,000 worth of Moët & Chandon Champagne were intercepted after a police chase on a French motorway. The theft occurred on November 11, and the bottles were valued at approximately €600,000. The lorries were equipped with tracking devices, allowing local police to trace them on the A4 motorway connecting Reims and Paris. A high-speed chase ensued, resulting in two police cars forcing the lorries to slow down. One truck driver managed to escape by leaping into a saloon car following the convoy. Despite this, all Moët & Chandon bottles were recovered intact. The parent company, LVMH, has not yet released a statement on the incident. This incident reflects a trend of criminals targeting high-end wine and Champagne brands, with several such cases occurring this year.

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF GEORGIA'S WINES

Georgia's winemaking tradition revolves around the use of qvevri, an ancient terracotta pot buried underground to age wines. This method, highlighted in the international press for the past 15 years, imparts complexity to white wines, giving them an amber color and somewhat oxidized flavor. Despite Saperavi being a prominent red grape, white grapes dominate with a 75% share in Georgian vineyards. The suggestion is that for Georgia to establish itself on the international wine map, it may need to shift towards producing wines that appeal to a broader audience. This could involve creating European-style wines with a touch of familiar varieties like Merlot, aiming to cater to the preferences of global consumers rather than solely focusing on critics and sommeliers.

ONLY TRUE WINE CONNOISSEURS KNOW THIS: MEXICO IS THE CRADLE OF AMERICAN WINE CULTURE

Spanish conquistadors in the New World brought not only a desire for gold but also a preference for their homeland's wine. When their wine supply went down, the first vineyards in Mexico were established around the early 16th century under Governor Hernán Cortés's orders. The Parras region, situated at 1500 meters above sea level, became the birthplace of Mexico's initial wines, leading to a decrease in Spanish wine imports. Despite having suitable regions for winemaking due to favorable climates, Mexico's wine culture struggled to gain prominence, attributed to the country's social structure and drinking habits centered around beer, mezcal, and tequila. Although Mexico has seven wine-growing regions, Baja California stands out as the largest, contributing to 57 percent of total wine production. The nation hosts over a hundred wineries, including boutique establishments with inviting spaces for wine enthusiasts. Despite these developments, Mexican wine consumption remains relatively low, with the culture facing challenges in breaking free from the dominance of other traditional beverages.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY NEW CHAMPAGNE CUVÉES THIS YEAR?

The recent surge in new Champagne releases is attributed to factors such as climate change, a focus on terroir, and increased consumer demand for sparkling wine. This year has seen a notable increase in offerings, with houses responding to climate shifts, embracing sustainable viticulture, and exploring different grape varieties. For instance, Ruinart introduced the Blanc Singulier, an all-Chardonnay wine, in response to changing climate conditions. The rise of single-vineyard Champagnes and a shift towards emphasizing red grapes in new cuvées are also observed trends. Overall, the diverse array of new Champagnes in the market is primarily driven by the high and growing popularity of Champagne, with unprecedented levels of interest and demand noted by industry experts.

TRENDS: PEACE, LOVE AND WINE

"Acidity Trip" introduces a collection of wines sourced from cool, coastal growing regions in California, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. These wines are crafted to offer crisp acidity, making them ideal for pairing with a diverse range of globally inspired flavors. Winemaker Eric Aafedt describes Acidity Trip as embodying a spirit of adventure and wanderlust, aiming to capture a feeling and attitude that complements various cuisines, styles, and flavors. The label design and name embrace a message of fun and seizing the moment, with a colorful and whimsical depiction of a 70s-era camper van adorned with flowers, surrounded by rainbow swirls. The overall aim is to convey that exploring the world of wines, like life, should be an enjoyable adventure.

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WINE REGION OF THE WEEK: PUGLIA, ITALY

Puglia (Apulia to many English speakers) is a long, thin wine region in the far south-eastern corner of the 'boot' of Italy. The most commonly cultivated grape varieties here are Sangiovese, Primitivo, Negroamaro, and Trebbiano. The heel (the Salento Peninsula) occupies the southern half of the region and is of great significance to Puglia's identity. The one factor that unites northern and southern Puglia is the choice of crops grown: olives and grapes, in that order. The region is responsible for almost half of Italy's total olive oil production and has a long-held reputation as a prolific source of (mostly red) wine. Puglia lends itself to division into three rough viticultural areas, which correspond neatly to its administrative provinces: Foggia in the north, Bari and Taranto in the middle, and Brindisi and Lecce in the south. In terms of terroir, Puglia has a formidable array of natural tools to help encourage prolific vine growth. The hot Mediterranean climate, persistent sunshine, and occasional sea breezes make for a near-perfect environment for viticulture.

GRAPE OF THE WEEK: NEGROAMARO

Puglia's Salento Peninsula is arguably the source of the finest Negroamaro wines, particularly those produced under the Salice Salentino DOC title. The warm Mediterranean-style climate here suits the variety well, allowing the vines to achieve optimum levels of ripeness. Negroamaro is a dark-skinned grape variety that has been associated with the Puglia region in southern Italy for at least 1,500 years. Most commonly found in a blend, alongside Primitivo, Malvasia Nera, Sangiovese or Montepulciano. Negroamaro is valued for its deep color, medium-full tannins, and dark berry-fruit flavors. The variety can also add earthen tones that can cross over into slightly medicinal flavors. It is mildly aromatic and can produce complex wines that show characteristics of ground brown spices such as clove, cinnamon, and allspice. Puglia's Salento Peninsula is arguably the source of the finest Negroamaro wines, particularly those produced under the Salice Salentino DOC title. The warm Mediterranean-style climate here suits the variety well, allowing the vines to achieve optimum levels of ripeness.

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