Hello, and welcome (back) to your weekly dose of what-I’m-reading, weekly-wine-headlines extravaganza. Not an exhaustive list this week, as I literally decided to (re)start doing this, um, yesterday. 🤷♀️😂
What is up with me, you ask? (Or not, too bad.) Working away on more freelance stuff (yay) that I hope to be sharing soon(ish) and also chipping away and cleaning up this old-lady of a website. No major revamp in the near future, but at least get her up and running again. ie: A wee bit ‘o’ botox, not a full on facelift.
Also contemplating other fun, independent social engagement…things and stuff. I don’t know—how would you all feel about a podcast?
Just throwing it out there.
Anywho…for now please enjoy a few newsy items below. Happy weekending.
W.H.O. Calls For Cancer Warnings Labels on Alcohol
The World Health Organization/Europe has called for mandatory cancer warning labels on alcohol, saying that, “Prominent health warning labels on alcoholic beverages are essential for raising awareness that consuming alcohol can lead to cancer.”
In a report released today, “Alcohol health warning labels: a public health perspective for Europe” the W.H.O. calls for mandatory labelling, prominent labels, cancer warnings, and on-pack labels.
“Alcohol labelling has long been seen as a less effective and relevant intervention—often poorly focused and not designed in an attention-grabbing manner,” wrote the WHO’s Dr. Gauden Galea in the foreword. READ MORE…
But…wait…didn’t someone pull us out of WHO? 🤔
Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: READ MORE…(or not, I mean, totally ok to skip this one…)
Ireland’s new warning labels risk driving wineries from the market
According to Dublin-based Barbara Boyle MW, who is a director and wine buyer for Irish wholesale company WineMason, bright red, cigarette-style health warning messages for alcoholic products is becoming a major barrier to trading.
Speaking to db at Wine Paris this week, where Boyle was meeting with her wine suppliers from around the world, she said that the new labelling rules were “throwing up lots of different issues,” adding that as a result, “some may decide to leave the market.” READ MORE…
No, the Church of England Didn’t Ban All Non-Alcoholic Wine for Communion
“I regret deeply that my written answer did not draw attention to the way in which the language of ‘gluten-free’ and ‘non-alcoholic’ is commonly used in this situation and may therefore have been [mis]interpreted,” Ipgrave told The Church Times in a Feb. 10 article. “I should have pointed out that, in fact, many Church of England churches across the country do routinely offer what is described as gluten-free bread or non-alcoholic wine at Holy Communion.” READ MORE…
Just…lol…
And speaking of LOL…
Does every California wine region need a ‘signature’ wine?
It’s the first time I’ve heard of a wine region actually codifying this sort of thing; in other cases, the move toward a signature has happened gradually, over decades. But I was fascinated by this adoption for what it says about modern-day wine messaging, and what it says about Cab Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in particular. READ MORE…
We were all thinking it the second the press release hit our inboxes. Good job to Esther for saying it out loud. 👏👏👏
By the way, can I just gently point out that NO Livermore CF is on this list:
All the medallists from the Global Cabernet Franc Masters 2025
CABERNET FRANC is a glorious, underrated grape variety. Its best expressions are floral, herbal, elegant, poised and delicious. It was a joy to taste most, nay, almost all of these wines and, for a Cab Franc specialist like me, a vindication to know that such diversity of good wine is being made from the grape.
This year, four judges tasted 46 wines in total, hailing from nine different countries: Argentina (14); Canada, France, and the US (six apiece) [Congrats goes to Lodi, Sierra Foothills, and Napa Valley. Where art thou, Livermore?] READ MORE…
Research uncovers potential market for smoke-impacted wines amid wildfires
Certain groups of consumers appear to be open to drinking smoke-impacted wines, a finding in a new study that could provide market opportunities for winemakers increasingly dealing with the effects of wildfire smoke on grapes. READ MORE…
Ew. Not an official wine review. But, like, ew…🤢
Eight new estates upgraded to top of Cru Bourgeois classification as 2025 results revealed
The latest Cru Bourgeois classification has been unveiled, reaffirming the three-tier system introduced in 2020 while implementing more rigorous selection criteria for the three levels. READ MORE…
Welcome to the club, folks.
Blogs Worth a Read
Taken from the list of Blogs [yo, this list needs some serious updates] and other media outlets I follow regularly, here are just a few posts from this past week I think are worth a read. Shoot me a note if you have suggestions of independent media to follow or want your outlet included on that list.
Press Releases
These are some press releases I received this week that I actually thought were interesting…enjoy!
Vintner Project Media Launches Vinemark, a Social Media Growth Hub for Wine & Spirits
The founders of The Vintner Project, a leading wine media company driven by its vibrant social community and global team, today announced the launch of Vinemark, a cutting-edge social media content and digital growth agency tailored specifically for the wine and adult beverage. With a combined pedigree in wine media, digital marketing, and content strategy and creation, co-founders Devin Parr, Kiril Kirilov, and Nelson Gerena bring decades of experience in building beverage brands and fostering engaged communities. Leveraging the success of The Vintner Project’s assets, including online wine community Grapeloop, and virtual wine tasting platform Vine Social Club, Vinemark is uniquely positioned to help wineries and spirits brands break through the noise and capture audience attention. READ MORE…
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