Hello my friends. Now full disclosure, there’s a lot on the list this week. And my snarky comments get, well, quite snarky. You have been warned.
Also, a bit of shameless self-promo: If you’ve not checked out my latest article on GuildSomm, Vermouth Past & Present, this was a fun one to study explore. I have to give a high-five and shoutout to my girl Kara Newman, spirits writer extraordinare, who hooked me up with some stellar producers who helped me grasp the history and current state of the category as well as Liz Pirnat, spirits educator for the NVWA, who hooked me up with some L1 basics on the topic. Thanks ladies!
I also have to say that, while I always listen to and enjoy the GuildSomm podcast, I was thrilled to hear Chris Tanghe’s intro this week. Glad you liked the piece, Chris!
Oh! One last thing I promise, but be on the lookout on my socials: I recently guest-starred on a podcast myself and will be sharing that about town.
Ok, that’s enough of that. Get to scrolling, clicking, reading and coming up with your own snarky comments. (Or, please, respond to mine! 😜)
Snarky comments are all my own. ✌️🥂
Straight off the bat let’s address the elephant in the room. The big headlines this week were/are about Trump’s 200% tariff threat. You can google the heck out of it but rather than link to a zillion articles on the matter, I’m posting the one that was (for me) the most well-composed on the issue at hand and how it affects our industry at large.
Wine Businesses Fear Disaster in Threat of Huge Tariffs
It’s not clear who will benefit if President Trump follows through on his threat to impose 200 percent tariffs on all wines and alcoholic beverages from the European Union, but it certainly would not be American consumers.
The tariff warning was posted by Mr. Trump on social media Thursday in retaliation to 50 percent tariffs on American whiskey and several other products announced by the European Union, which were themselves a response to a set of U.S. tariffs that took effect last week.
Mr. Trump said in his post that tariffs “will be great for the wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.” But American wine producers don’t necessarily see it that way. READ MORE…
Also, can we just take a moment and address the fact that Trump thinks there’s a Champagne business in the US? Mr. President, please, I beg you. WSET L1…🙄
Speaking of wine education: A bit of shameless self-promo 👇
Vermouth Past and Present
Vermouth is an aromatized, fortified wine. The drink is so immersed in cocktail culture that it often flies under the wine-education radar, though it is, indeed, made from a base wine, fortified, infused with botanicals, and sweetened to varying degrees. What It Is and How It’s Made
Napa County eyes changes to rules on small wineries amid industry struggles
In response to concerns about their sustainability, the county created a special designation in 2022: microwineries. The ordinance streamlined approvals and slashed costs by thousands of dollars, offering a lifeline to struggling producers.
But microwineries must comply with strict limits on production, marketing and visitor traffic. Advocates argue these restrictions make it difficult for small wineries that could qualify to stay afloat and are pushing for looser requirements.
County officials are now considering changes that could ease some of the burdens. READ MORE…
Yo, something has to be done about this. If the county can’t find a way to support the boutique brands, then the future of the wine industry is kaput.
How Americans view alcohol’s benefits and risks
Alcohol and personal health have been in the news lately amid a U.S. surgeon general advisory that even moderate drinking increases cancer risk.
About seven-in-ten Americans ages 21 and older say they drink alcohol at least a few times a year, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Our survey explores how this group thinks about their own alcohol use and whether drinkers who are aware of the federal warning about cancer risks plan to change their own behavior. READ MORE…
Pure data, but interesting data. And data worth considering in reference to the below. 👇
Hybrid Drinking: Redefining How We Think About Social Beverages
[W]hat does hybrid drinking even mean? It’s the intentional blending of traditional social rituals with emerging beverage categories that offer new, mindful experiences. It’s about having options that let you drink socially while staying in control — combining the familiarity of beverages like beer or sparkling water with functional benefits, like relaxation from low-dose THC or a boost from adaptogens. Hybrid drinking is the antithesis of the frat-party keg stand or boozy brunch binge. It’s about making mindful choices that still let you toast to the moment. READ MORE…
So IMHO, this is where it’s at. If more spaces can accommodate more drinks options, I think we’d all be better off. I’d love to hit up a bar where I could have a wine, beer, THC-cocktail, kombucha, an NA cocktail or a traditional NA treat (flavored bubbly water for the comeback).
Watch: Global expert to host lecture on changing perceptions of wine’s impact on health
Although popular among Oregonians, many experts – including the World Health Organization – have long raised the alarm over wine’s impact on health. On AM Extra, renowned global wine expert and journalist Felicity Carter shared how that perception of wine is changing when it comes to one’s wellness. WATCH HERE…
I am such a Felicity Carter fangirl.
How to Sell Alcohol in Sobering Times
With no and low-alcohol categories on the rise and the sober-curious boogeyman around every corner, we needn’t wait for rock bottom to take a hard look at our sales strategy and make a change today.
While much of the wine & spirits industry points the finger at Gen Z & Millennials, the World Health Organization or the Surgeon General, the truth is there’s only one entity responsible for the trajectory of our revenue.
According to Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin in Extreme Ownership, when “problems feel overwhelming and insurmountable . . . it’s our human nature to shift blame, find excuses, and avoid consequences. But taking ownership over what went wrong and accepting the reality of the situation gives you complete control over how you can solve these challenges.”
Trying to sell alcohol in 2025 is tough. Plain and simple, no way around it. With that acknowledged, let’s explore what we can do about it. READ MORE…
Sponsored content, but there’s some good key points in there.
The Rise and Fall of the ‘Napa Valley of Cannabis’
The day after legal recreational pot arrived in Pueblo in 2014, 50 people were camped out in front of one of the first weed shops, waiting for the doors to open, the local newspaper reported. One customer called it the new Amsterdam. The only two shops then licensed in the county rang up a combined $1 million in sales the first month, sending $56,000 in taxes to the county. “We’re going to have to sell more weed,” gushed the county finance director.
A decade later, Pueblo’s dreams have gone up in smoke. A once-thriving industry of retailers, growers and cannabis-oil extractors—there were more than 200 such businesses in the county in 2017—has collapsed. Only 45 remain, state records indicate. County tax revenue related to cannabis plunged from more than $7.1 million in 2021 to $4.8 million in 2023. READ MORE…
This is just one town’s story. An interesting one that I had no idea about. I’m glad that legalized cannabis is spreading and products are becoming easier to produce and procure, but I suppose there are pros and cons to any community basing its strength in one industry…
Berry Bros. & Rudd launches new brand campaign
Berry Bros. & Rudd is encouraging potential wine collectors to ‘start with one bottle’ in a new brand campaign featuring people from the art, fashion and design world talking bout how they started their collections. READ MORE…
LOL. Even fine wine is trying to get a makeover…It’s an interesting attempt, appease to a kind of new ‘activity,’ or ‘hobby,’ and showcase the creativity in it. Let’s see how it works…
Meanwhile in Napa…
“Why Wine?” Created to Showcase Wine’s Unique Story and Help Spark Demand
Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) announces the next installment of the “Why Wine?” campaign, a movement dedicated to celebrating the authentic story of wine. With consumer preferences rapidly evolving and new competition emerging in the marketplace, the campaign focuses on uniting the industry to ensure wine remains an essential part of a modern, healthy lifestyle.
NVV launched the initiative in summer of 2024. To encourage more involvement and the continuation of the campaign, dozens of “Why Wine?” videos were captured at the Premiere Napa Valley wine auction in February. Industry members shared their personal stories and insights about what makes wine so special. These heartfelt videos are now available for viewing on YouTube at the Why Wine Video Playlist. Also attending Premiere Napa Valley was podcaster Ray Fister of Life Between the Vines who asked the question, “Why is wine important?” to guests and winemakers at the event. READ MORE…
Sorry if this sounds rude or offends anyone but how is this supposed to engage new consumers? Filming videos at one of the region’s most hoity-toity events? Also, social media experts correct me on this, but I’m pretty sure YouTube is not where folks are going to go for their wine discovery. But let’s see if some data is gathered and if we can quantify the success of this campaign in near future. I look forward to it.
Blogs Worth a Read
Taken from the list of Blogs 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.
Wine Gourd: Recent science reports suggesting that wine alcohol is usually safe to drink
We are all well aware that back in 2023 the World Health Organization (WHO) published in The Lancet a statement that “no safe amount of alcohol consumption for cancers and health can be established” (Health and cancer risks associated with low levels of alcohol consumption). No evidence was explicitly provided in this publication, but half a dozen references are cited in support of the claims that: “The overall risks and harms resulting from alcohol consumption have been systematically assessed and are well documented.”
I thought that it might be interesting to gather together references to publications that refute these claims, or at least suggest that they are exaggerated; and that is what I have done here and in the next post. READ MORE…
Press Releases
These are some press releases I received this week that I actually thought were interesting…enjoy!
Scheid Family Wines Awarded “Own Brand Supplier of the Year” by Southeastern Grocers
Scheid Family Wines, a leader in the wine industry for over 50 years, has been recognized as the Own Brand Supplier of the Year by Southeastern Grocers (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery and liquor stores. Known for developing strong global brands like the acclaimed “Better for You” wine, Sunny with a Chance of Flowers, Scheid Family Wines is also an expert and trusted partner in crafting custom private label wine brands.
In 2024, Scheid Family Wines partnered with SEG to create and launch three wines for the grocer’s Know & Love Own Brand line, creating a premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. SEG’s customers across the southeast can find these wines in their local Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores throughout Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana, as well as select liquor stores. READ MORE…
Yall, I love Scheid. But this is also a good piece to read if you’re studying wine business things to help understand ‘own brand supplier’ in our market space. (Just saying.)
Asian Wine Association of America
The Asian Wine Association of America champions the wines and heritage of Asian American and Asian vintners in the US through advocacy, community engagement, and professional development, fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity in the wine industry. LEARN MORE AND CONTRIBUTE…
Yay to uplifting more diversity in our industry!!!!
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