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🍍 Wine Lessons from a Pineapple

🍍 Wine Lessons from a Pineapple

In this week’s DECORKED digest, we dive into the connection between wine and pineapples, why bold wines still dominate, what drives record-breaking bottle sales, and where the wine market is showing new signs of life.

May 26, 2025

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Happy Monday! We hope you have a great week ahead. In this week’s DECORKED digest, we dive into the connection between wine and pineapples, why bold wines still dominate, what drives record-breaking bottle sales, and where the wine market is showing new signs of life. Keep reading!

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Read the most important and interesting news this week.

📉 Top winemaker may have to leave its Spanish vineyards due to climate crisis READ HERE

🇫🇷 Master of Wine launches an online education platform “Chasing Burgundy“ READ HERE

🍷 US billionaire to auction $15m of fine wine READ HERE

🔎 EU awaits clarity on Trump’s 50% tariff threat READ HERE

❌ Chinese government cracks down on booze READ HERE

🍾 London Wine Fair’s battle of the bubbles READ HERE

⛈️ Storms pound French vineyards READ HERE

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

WHAT THE WINE INDUSTRY CAN LEARN FROM CHOPPED PINEAPPLES

The wine industry can learn a surprising amount from chopped pineapple. As consumers increasingly prioritize convenience over cost, wine producers are beginning to follow suit by offering smaller formats, ready-to-drink spritzes, and creative experiences that meet modern lifestyles. Whether it’s single-serve sparkling wine, wine spritz collaborations, or upscale tasting kits using mini portions, the focus is shifting from tradition to accessibility. The message is clear: wine must compete not just on quality, but on how well it fits into people’s lives. In a world of shifting habits and endless drink choices, making wine easier to enjoy may be the key to keeping it relevant.

WHY BIG AND BOLD WINES STILL REIGN

While wine media and influencers champion the rise of lighter, fresher, low-alcohol styles, supermarket shelves and sales data suggest many drinkers are reaching for something entirely different: big, bold, full-flavored wines. From the commercial success of brands like Elephant in the Room and Little Giant, to cult favorites like Rombauer and Rockford, there’s a clear appetite for wines that prioritize richness and heft over restraint. Despite shifting trends and higher duties on high-ABV bottles, consumers are voting with their glasses. And many still want wines that pack a punch.

BEHIND THE MOST EXPENSIVE BOTTLES

Nine sommeliers from top restaurants across the U.S. recall the most expensive wines they've ever sold—and the stories behind them. The bottles range from $1,200 grand cru whites to a $117,000 magnum of cult Burgundy. Some were poured for guests celebrating life milestones, while others were opened late at night for impromptu tastings or record-breaking dinners. Whether it was a vintage Barolo flight, a World War II-era Bordeaux, or a pristine bottle of Romanée-Conti, these moments show that for some drinkers, a wine list isn't just a menu - it's a playground.

LIGHTER WINE BOTTLES HAVE HEAVY IMPACT

In Piedmont, Italy, the Albeisa consortium of 318 wineries is leading a regional shift toward lighter wine bottles to reduce carbon emissions. Their newest 410g bottle cuts emissions by over 30 percent compared to traditional glass. s international retailers also push for lower-weight bottles, Albeisa’s long-term strategy may become a model for global wine sustainability efforts.

SIGNS OF LIFE IN THE WINE MARKET

Despite a wave of challenges facing the wine industry, including falling consumption, climate pressures, and aging consumer bases, the 2025 BMO Wine Market Report offers a more hopeful outlook. While overall volume continues to decline, the drop is slowing, and the market's total value is growing as consumers prioritize quality over quantity. Premium wines are performing well, direct-to-consumer sales are rising, and younger drinkers are engaging through flexible wine clubs and social media. With over 70% of producers expecting growth, the industry’s challenges may be less of a collapse and more of a strategic reset.

NAPA COUNTY GRAPE CROP VALUE DECLINES

Napa County’s 2024 winegrape crop value fell by 14.4 percent from the previous year, totaling $1.031 billion, though it remains the third-highest on record. The decline was driven by a 13.8 percent drop in tonnage and a reduction in bearing acreage, reflecting a tough market with fewer buyers, especially for Cabernet Sauvignon. While some growers have managed through long-term contracts or cost-cutting measures, concerns are growing among officials about the trend. Meanwhile, other agricultural sectors in the county saw modest gains, partially offsetting the overall decline.

WHAT MAKES VOLCANIC WINES SO DISTINCTIVE

Volcanic soils, found in regions like Etna and the Canary Islands, offer both challenges and rewards for winemakers. These soils are nutrient-rich but often drain too quickly for easy vine access, leading to lower yields but higher grape quality. Despite their variability, volcanic wines are known for their vibrant acidity, complexity, and mineral-driven character. Winemakers must adapt to the soils’ dynamic nature, but the resulting wines continue to attract attention for their energy, structure, and deep sense of place.

Discover wine events worldwide.

🥂 Virginia Wine Festival (May 31, Virginia, US) - LEARN MORE

🥂 The Wine Circuit (June 6 - 8, London, UK) - LEARN MORE

🥂 Yerevan Wine Days (June 6 - 8, Yerevan, Armenia) - LEARN MORE

🥂 Decanter Fine Wine Encounter (June 7, New York, US) - LEARN MORE

🥂 Wine&Gourmet Festival (June 13 - 15, Baden Baden, Germany) - LEARN MORE

🥂 Bordeaux Wine Festival (June 19 - 22, Bordeaux, France) - LEARN MORE

🥂 Food&Wine Classic (June 20 - 22, Aspen, US) - LEARN MORE

Learn something new every week.

WINE REGION OF THE WEEK: PUGLIA, ITALY

Puglia is gaining acclaim for its robust, characterful red wines made from native grapes like Primitivo and Negroamaro. Long known for bulk wine production, the region has shifted toward quality, with rising DOC recognition and a growing reputation for concentrated, full-bodied styles that reflect its unique terroir and Mediterranean climate.

GRAPE OF THE WEEK: PRIMITIVO

Primitivo is a bold, early-ripening red grape most famously grown in Puglia, Italy, where it produces deeply colored, high-alcohol wines like Primitivo di Manduria. Genetically identical to California’s Zinfandel, Primitivo has rebounded from past declines to become a flagship variety of southern Italy, appreciated for its robust structure, ripe fruit, and compatibility with hearty food.

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