Wined Up Weekly presents all the news from the world of wine, once a week, to keep you up-to-date with everything that’s happening in wine.
Australian winemaker Taras Ochota dies, as does renowned producer Lulu Peyraud - Confusion and controversy over UK government Covid laws - Italian police arrest two men for counterfeiting Sassicaia - French authorities increase restrictions on the use of glyphosate herbicides - Wine of the Week: an ultra-young Nebbiolo from Piemonte
As the $1bn Constellation sale to Gallo goes through, we taste some of the brands in the deal. At inexpensive price points, are they worth buying - both from the perspective of the consumer as well as Gallo's? Wines tasted:
- Cook's California Champagne
- Nobilo Marlborough Sauvigon Blanc (also sold, though in a separate deal)
- Black Box Chardonnay
- Clos du Bois Pinot Noir
- Ravenswood Vintners Reserve Old-Vine Zinfandel
Trade bodies warn that tariffs continue to harm the drinks industry - Constellation and Gallo deal to finally go ahead - British supermarket Waitrose launches old-vine Chenin Blanc from South Africa - Spanish breed of terrier awarded protected status in Jerez - Wine of the Week: skin-contact Austrian wine!
Fires return in California - New restrictions for pubs and restaurants announced in the UK to consternation of chefs and students alike - Major whisky producers condemn sexist language used in The Whiskey Bible - "Zero waste" wine range launched by London wine merchant - Wine of the Week: Beaujolais!
Fires continue in California, although possibility of rain next week - Greece bans sales of alcohol after midnight - Ongoing challenges for Australian wineries in China - New single-vineyard classifications announced in Soave* - Wines of the Week: same vineyard, same producer, different vintages from Chambolle-Musigny
*as promised on the pod, the Italian mouthful for the new classifications is Unità Geografica Aggiuntiva
Trends in millenial drinking: plant-based wine launched in Australia; millenials driving restaurant and bar sales in the UK - Supermarket sales slow in the UK - News from Burgundy: the 2020 harvest is in, while 22 Premiers Crus announced in Pouilly-Fuissé - What are the most planted grape varieties in the world? - Wine of the Week: California Mondeuse
Wildfires burn across California, Oregon, and Washington - Following the bans on alcohol in South Africa, illicit sales grow - Champagne sales in the UK rise as the harvest comes to a close - Sales of alcohol halved in UK during lockdown, as the US adjusts to the "new normal" - Wine of the Week: Holus Bolus Syrah 2017 from Sta. Rita Hills
Fire and hailstorm: harvest updates in California and Valpolicella - Sales of travel drinks down 60%; Pernod Ricard profits fall 77%; UK wine drinkers trading up - UK distributor FMV likely to fold - Bordeaux harvest begins - New AVAs in the USA: Alisos Canyon in Santa Barbara and Royal Slope in Washington - Wine of the Week: a Savoie white
Wildfires sweep across California - Earliest harvest in Champagne, as harvests begin across France - Chinese open investigation on Australian imports as tensions mount - Ryan Reynolds's Aviation Gin bought by Diageo - And, as ever, our Wine of the Week: a Grenache/Syrah blend from California
Good news from South Africa, as sales of alcohol are allowed again - US 25% tariffs on European wine and spirits remain in place - Boxed wine on the rise in the UK, the USA, and Australia during lockdown - Margaret River sub-region classification rejected - And, as ever, our Wine of the Week: from California producer Littorai, but which one?
