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- 🎇 Shaking Up Tradition
🎇 Shaking Up Tradition
In this week’s DECORKED digest, we’re uncorking fresh ways to talk about white wine, the rise of wine on tap, the art and science of blending, tariff troubles, Bordeaux’s changing role, Gen Z’s drinking shift, and a reminder that wine’s magic is in the sharing.
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Happy Monday! We hope you have a great week ahead. In this week’s DECORKED digest, we’re uncorking fresh ways to talk about white wine, the rise of wine on tap, the art and science of blending, tariff troubles, Bordeaux’s changing role, Gen Z’s drinking shift, and a reminder that wine’s magic is in the sharing. Keep reading!
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Read the most important and interesting news this week.
📰 Some California winemakers don’t want tariffs on their European competitors READ HERE
🍷 We asked a sommelier what wine they drink when they're not working READ HERE
❌ Wine fraudsters stole £6m from confused pensioners READ HERE
🍇 The most expensive Syrahs of 2025 READ HERE
🍾 "Cursed" château finds new owner READ HERE
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We curate, filter, and select only the most exciting and important news for you.
HOW TO TALK ABOUT WHITE WINE IN 2025
White wine is enjoying unprecedented global momentum in 2025, with industry experts urging a fresh approach to how it’s presented to consumers. Producers are moving beyond seasonal stereotypes, highlighting versatility, authenticity, and the stories of the people behind the wines. The focus is on approachable, jargon-free language, linking wines to modern lifestyles through sustainability, innovative packaging, and food pairings. Evoking a sense of place and celebrating lesser-known regions are key, while premium whites are being positioned as complex, age-worthy investments.
THE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF KEGGED WINE
Kegged wine is gaining traction as a fresh, sustainable alternative for on-premise service, offering extended freshness, reduced waste, and a dramatically lower carbon footprint compared to bottles. While pioneers and eco-conscious wineries embrace the format for its efficiency and environmental benefits, adoption remains limited by infrastructure costs, traditional perceptions, and logistical challenges.
THE SCIENCE OF BLENDING WINE
Blending is far more than simply mixing grape varieties. It’s a precise, science-backed craft that shapes a wine’s flavor, aroma, color, and structure. Winemakers use blending to balance components, enhance aromatic complexity, adjust alcohol, and ensure consistency, with timing playing a crucial role in the final outcome. Research shows how oak type, grape maturity, and blending stages can dramatically influence results, from preserving fruit notes to stabilizing color. By applying both sensory skill and scientific insight, winemakers can elevate quality, create distinctive profiles, and tailor wines to desired styles without compromising authenticity.
HOW HIGH WILL TARIFFS GO ON IMPORTED WINE?
The U.S. has raised tariffs on many imported wines, with rates now at a minimum of 10% and up to 30% for some countries, including 15% for most EU wines. These costs will largely be passed to American consumers, pushing prices higher and potentially reducing wine diversity in the U.S. market. Negotiations with trading partners continue, but further increases or retaliatory tariffs remain possible. A legal challenge could overturn the tariffs, though the case is still in appeals.
DOES BORDEAUX STILL HAVE ITS WOW FACTOR?
Bordeaux’s en primeur system, once central to the fine wine trade, is under fire for being outdated and unresponsive to today’s market. Falling prices, shifting consumer habits, and weaker demand are hitting smaller producers hardest, while major estates continue to thrive. Without reforms to boost visibility for mid- and small-sized châteaux, Bordeaux risks further consolidation and losing ground to more agile wine regions.
WINE THAT SPEAKS GEN Z
A new wave of wine brands is winning over younger drinkers with playful design, simple messaging, and values-driven storytelling. By focusing on fun, inclusivity, and easy-drinking style (including no- and low-alcohol options) they’re breaking down wine’s traditional barriers and making it part of Gen Z’s lifestyle.
RETHINKING THE TRUE GOAL OF WINE LOVERS
Looking back on decades of change in the wine world, this reflection celebrates a time when tasting was about enjoyment rather than competition. It questions the obsession with scores and rankings, suggesting that the real purpose of wine appreciation lies in sharing, conversation, and savoring each bottle for its unique character, shortcomings and all.
Learn something new every week.
Copyright @ Swiss Wine
WINE REGION OF THE WEEK: VALAIS, SWITZERLAND
Valais, Switzerland’s largest wine region, produces about a third of the country’s wine, thriving on steep, sun-soaked slopes along the Rhône Valley. Known for Pinot Noir and Fendant, it also nurtures over 50 varieties, including rare grapes like Petite Arvine and Amigne. A warm, dry Alpine climate and distinctive Grand Cru communes add to its diversity, while thousands of small growers contribute to a rich tradition of both blends and single-varietal wines.
Copyright @ Chasselas
GRAPE OF THE WEEK: CHASSELAS
Chasselas, Switzerland’s most planted white grape, thrives on Alpine slopes and is known for subtle, food-friendly wines that shine with local dishes like fondue. Though often underestimated, top examples show rich, complex flavors and age well, with origins traced to the Lake Geneva region.
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