🍷 Rethinking the Blend

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Happy Monday! We hope you have a great week ahead. In this week’s DECORKED digest, we explore the bold comeback of red blends, how vine spacing is shaping future vineyards, the rise of Ukraine’s signature grape, and why California winemakers are rethinking everything. Keep reading!

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🍾 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2018: Interview with the winemaker READ HERE

📌 Favourite kosher wine ‘impossible to find’ due to trade war READ HERE

✈️ How Delta Air Lines curates its in-flight wine lists READ HERE

🖇️ Why you’ll love Europe’s oldest wine region READ HERE

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RETHINKING WINE'S RED BLENDS

Red blends are experiencing a renaissance, as winemakers across the globe move beyond traditional formulas to craft wines that align with evolving market demands, climate realities, and consumer preferences. Blending is increasingly seen not only as a tool for stylistic expression, but as a strategic approach to resilience and differentiation. From non-traditional varietal combinations to blends reflecting estate-specific plantings, producers are using this format to tell authentic stories, enhance vineyard sustainability, and meet the expectations of a more informed, experience-driven consumer base.

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THE SCIENCE OF VINE DENSITY

What if the secret to better wine starts with how closely the vines are planted? Around the world, winemakers are rethinking vine density, not just for tradition’s sake, but to adapt to climate, maximize quality, and shape the future of their vineyards. From Napa to New Zealand, the debate is heating up. Is tighter really better, or does space offer more control? Some winemakers prioritize quality, others focus on efficiency or cost. What works in Napa might not suit Marlborough or South Australia. In the end, choosing the right vine density is about finding the best fit for your vineyard’s unique environment and long-term goals.

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ODESA BLACK: UKRAINE’S TAMED WILD HORSE

Once considered too bold and unruly to work with, Odesa Black is now making waves as Ukraine’s flagship red grape. Winemakers have learned how to harness its deep color, strong tannins, and bright acidity, producing rich, complex wines that are winning major international awards. Despite the challenges of war, Ukrainian producers are investing in this variety and sharing it with the world. Odesa Black is quickly becoming a standout example of Ukraine’s growing wine expertise, showcasing the unique character and quality its local varieties can offer.

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BORDEAUX 2024 VINTAGE PROFILE

​The 2024 Bordeaux vintage was marked by significant climatic challenges, including excessive rainfall and cooler-than-average temperatures, leading to widespread mildew outbreaks and uneven grape development. Despite these hurdles, many producers employed advanced viticultural techniques and meticulous grape selection to produce wines of notable quality. While Merlot grapes were particularly affected, resulting in dilution and lower sugar levels, Cabernet Sauvignon fared better, benefiting from a longer ripening period and yielding wines with higher acidity and better balance. Overall, the vintage is characterized by lower yields but showcases the resilience and adaptability of Bordeaux winemakers in the face of adverse conditions.

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WINE PARTIES LIKE IT’S 1961

Wine lovers, take note: the world is drinking (and making) less wine than at any point since 1961. In a twist of fate, global production and consumption have both plunged to 60-year lows, driven by climate extremes, shifting consumer habits, and market corrections that left grapes unpicked and vineyards shrinking. But this isn’t just a crisis, it’s a turning point. With demand down in 15 of the top 20 countries, and nearly half of all wine now consumed internationally, the stakes are high for exporters like France, Italy, and Spain. Meanwhile, the U.S. remains the world's biggest and thirstiest market. As the global wine map reshapes, the question is: who will adapt, and who will be left behind?

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HOW CLIMATE AND ECONOMICS ARE RESHAPING CALIFORNIA’S WINE INDUSTRY

California’s wine industry stands at a turning point, shaped by a long history of adaptation but now grappling with mounting challenges. From climate change and water scarcity to labor rights, inclusion, and economic pressures, the future of the state’s vineyards is uncertain. Extreme weather, rising costs, and shifting consumer preferences are pushing producers to rethink long-held practices, from grape varieties and farming methods to how they connect with drinkers. While regions like Monterey offer affordable quality, and new voices work to diversify the industry, the stakes are high. Survival now depends on innovation, collaboration, and a willingness to break from tradition.

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THE WORLD’S OLDEST WINE

A Roman-era glass urn discovered in 2019 near Seville, Spain, has now been confirmed as containing the world’s oldest surviving wine, dating back to the first century AD. Found in a sealed tomb at a necropolis in Carmona, the 5-liter vessel held cremated remains, a gold ring, and a once-white wine now darkened with age. Chemical analysis revealed it closely resembles modern wines from Jerez and Montilla-Moriles, surpassing the previously oldest known wine, the 4th-century Speyer bottle from Germany. The find offers a rare and eerie glimpse into ancient winemaking; and into wine’s unexpected ability to defy time.

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🍷 Barossa Vintage Festival (April 23 - 27, Barossa Valley, Australia) - LEARN MORE

🍷 Texas Wine Auction (April 26, Texas, US) - LEARN MORE

🍷 Garagiste Wine Festival (April 26, California, US) - LEARN MORE

🍷 Tasting Australia (May 2 - 11, South Australia) - LEARN MORE

🍷 Vinous Icons: Italy (May 14 - 17, New York, US) - LEARN MORE

🍷 London Wine Fair (May 19 - 21, London, UK) - LEARN MORE

WINE REGION OF THE WEEK: STARGARDER LAND, GERMANY

Tucked away in northeastern Germany's Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Stargarder Land is the country's smallest and northernmost wine region. Covering just 3.7 hectares, this unique area was officially recognized in 2004, thanks to the dedication of local enthusiasts. Despite its modest size, Stargarder Land boasts a rich viticultural history dating back 800 years.

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GRAPE OF THE WEEK: MAVRUD

Mavrud is a bold, indigenous red grape from Bulgaria, primarily cultivated in the Thracian Lowlands near Asenovgrad. Though challenging to grow, requiring warm climates and careful vineyard management, it rewards with deeply colored, full-bodied wines. Expect intense flavors of dark berries, spice, and earthy undertones, reminiscent of Grenache but with a Balkan twist.

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