BEER BIKES BANNED
BE FOREWARNED: If you’re visiting Amsterdam and planning to rent one of the city’s popular beer bikes, you’re out of luck. They are a thing of the past. In response to strong public outcry, the beer bikes have been banned in the city center as of November 1. The practice... Read More
LIQUID COURAGE FOR LINGUISTICS
IN GENERAL, too many drinks results in a distinct slurring of one’s speech, making it difficult to be understood. In an ironic twist, a new study suggests that one drink could actually aid in speaking a foreign language. Experts said one drink – either a small glass of wine or... Read More
CONSTELLATION MAKES THE MOVE TO MARIJUANA
CONSTELLATION BRANDS is taking the leap and getting into the weed business. Constellation, which sells Corona and Modelo and is the third-largest beer company in the US – has acquired a 9.9% stake in the Canadian cannabis holding company Canopy Growth. The beer giant paid $191 million for its stake in... Read More
RYE WHISKEY VOLUMES SKYROCKET
IF THE BEER industry needs an injection the rye whiskey category is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Volumes for the spirit have increased explosively in the US, having grown by 778% from 2OO9 to 2O16, according to US trade body the Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS). Since 2OO9, rye... Read More
BAD BATCH OF CORKS
FAULTY CORKS have wreaked havoc at the iconic Cayuse Vineyards in Washington, writing off nearly 3OOO cases of 2O15 wine and at a potential loss of $3 million. Among the affected were some of winemaker Christophe Baron’s most renowned wines, including Bionic Frog Syrah, Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, En Chamberlin Syrah,... Read More
DETECTING WILDFIRE TAINTED WINE GRAPES
THE DAMAGE CAUSED by the wildfires in California was devastating in its immediate impact but there is still the issue of smoke taint and how much crops will be affected by it. Researchers may have found a powerful tool that could help to limit the future impact of the smoke.... Read More
WEIGHT WATCHERS WHITE WINE
MOST PEOPLE would like to drop a few pounds but dieting often entails cutting out the wine and who wants to do that? Weight Watchers to the rescue! The diet company is getting into the wine business – kind of, with the launch of Cense, a lower-calorie Sauvignon Blanc which... Read More
ENDANGERED COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH, THE PINEAPPLE JULEP
by PINK LADY WE OFTEN THINK of Juleps as the provenance of mint, bourbon, warm weather, and the Kentucky Derby, but Julep drinking wasn’t always this way. From the turn of the 19th century through the Civil War, the Mint Julep was a staple of everywhere, everyday drinking. The beverage... Read More
WINE DRINKERS with COLORECTAL CANCER LIVE LONGER
by HARVEY FINKEL, MD THE RISKS AND BENEFITS of alcohol consumption vis-à-vis cancer remain murky, confusing, and conflicted. We all can agree that heavy drinking is unhealthy, and most believe the great weight of scientific evidence developed during the last 3O years strongly suggesting light or moderate drinking is healthful,... Read More
COOL CLIMATE CHARDONNAYS, CHABLIS and the WILLAMETTE VALLEY
by SANDY BLOCK, MW IT’S NO SECRET that Chardonnay’s growth has stalled and that it’s perceived as losing ground in the market, particularly among younger consumers who profess a preference for Sauvignon Blanc. Chardonnay, however, is anything but monolithic. Handled properly it shows subtle differences in soil, climate, weather, and... Read More