MEILI VODKA
This environmentally conscious and sustainably produced vodka from Jason Momoa and Blaine Halvorson is now available. Meili uses pure mountain spring water — needing zero treatment or filtration, combined with hand-selected grains from their local farms in Montana. Packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled glass bottles, no two are the same.... Read More
WINE . . . ROMAN STYLE
It’s well-established that the Romans liked their wine. In fact, it’s believed that many drank as much as a liter a day each! But what did it actually taste like? Did it bear any similarity to what we consume today? Recent research is shedding new light on its flavor, aroma... Read More
FRENCH WINE EXPORTS DOWN IN 2023
France’s wine woes continued in 2023 as exports of wine and spirits fell last year from a post-COVID peak as inflation clipped consumer demand and distributors in the lucrative U.S. market cleared existing stocks, industry group FEVS said. Wine and spirits are one of France’s biggest export earners. The sector... Read More
FIVE NEW MASTERS OF WINE
Congratulations to the newest vintage of Masters of Wine! The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) has announced five new MWs have joined its membership, including four in the UK and one based in Italy. EMILY BRIGHTON MW, CHRISTOPHER MARTIN MW, ROBERT MATHIAS MW, DROR NATIV MW, are UK-based and... Read More
RED WINE FOR A GREAT CAUSE: ANIMALS
Raise a glass for the MSPCA! For every case sold of Montaria Red Reserva, a wine from the Alentejo Region of Portugal, M.S. Walker Brands and M.S. Walker Massachusetts are donating a portion of proceeds to local non-profit MSPCA-Angell to benefit the health and wellbeing of animals. The brand Montaria... Read More
SEVERE DROUGHT IMPACTS CAVA PRODUCTION
It’s very, very dry in Catalonia and that’s a big problem for Cava producers as Penedès grapples with extreme water shortage. According to a study published in Nature Geoscience, the Spanish Mediterranean coast is in the midst of the most severe dry spell the Iberian Peninsula has experienced in the... Read More
WINE & HOOPS
Move over beer, the NBA is getting into the wine game. The National Basketball Association and Kendall-Jackson Winery have announced a multiyear partnership, making Kendall-Jackson the Official Wine of the NBA and USA Basketball and La Crema the Official Wine of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Kendall-Jackson and La... Read More
SAZERAC TO ACQUIRE BUZZBALLZ BRAND
Drinks company Sazerac has announced plans to acquire Southern Champion’s ready-to-drink portfolio, including BuzzBallz, the spherical wine-, spirit- and malt-based cocktail brand. Along with BuzzBallz, Sazerac will acquire other Southern Champion brands, including Biggies, Uptown Cocktails, Sip Sip Hooray, and Texas Craft, among others. BuzzBallz was started in 2009 when... Read More
INDUSTRY-WIDE ANTI-HARASSMENT INITIATIVE LAUNCHES
Workplace sexual harassment and violence against females have long been major issues within the beverage alcohol industry (as with many other industries). A brand new initiative is hoping to provide support and prevention tools along with training and a confidential hotline. Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS), the only... Read More
AMERICAN WHISKEY EXPORTS HIT BIG NUMBERS
American whiskey is certainly having its moment with consumers in the EU and beyond. According to Discus, the category accounted for 63% of US spirits exports in 2023. That share was equivalent to $1.4 billion, an increase of 9% compared with the year before. American whiskey as a category includes... Read More