Wine Stars

Wine Stories and News for the Young at Heart

Aged 50 Months: Ventiventi Winery Transforms Sparkling Lambrusco Wine

Enjoying Sparkling Lambrusco Wine in Italy. VENTIVENTI If you have ever enjoyed a sparkling red wine from the Italian wine region of Lambrusco, then you are familiar with the welcoming ripe strawberry flavors and celebratory bubbles that caress your palate. If you’ve never tried sparkling Lambrusco wine, then now is the time. With the surge in popularity of sparkling wines from around the world, Lambrusco definitely needs to be part of the lineup. Now there is an even more important reason to pay attention: some Lambrusco wineries are starting to take the sparkling wine to new heights [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-10T12:33:09-07:00September 10, 2026|

Franciacorta Targets U.S. Growth via Michelin Guide Partnership and L.A. Tastings

Enjoying Franciacorta Sparkling Wine from Italy. THE FRANCIACORTA CONSORTIUM Have you ever enjoyed a bottle of Franciacorta sparkling wine from Italy? Though Italy is known for producing many delicious styles of sparkling wine, such as Prosecco, Lambrusco, Asti Spumante and the fresh clean sparklers from the Trentodoc region, in Italy, Franciacorta is considered to the the ultimate luxury choice for sparkling wine. Franciacorta sparkling wines are crafted in the same way as Champagne - with second fermentation in the bottle. They also use two of the Champagne grapes - Chardonnay and Pinot - but are allowed to add small amounts [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-04T09:49:20-07:00August 31, 2026|

Inside LVMH’s Ultra-Exclusive ‘Vins d’Exception’ Dinner at The French Laundry

Four Founders of Vins D'Exception, Thomas Keller and Guests at the French Laundry. LARISSA CLEVELAND Deep within the multi-faceted empire of LVMH lies an elite inner sanctum of viticulture: a collection of four legendary wine estates operating under the banner of Vins d’Exception. Distinct from the luxury conglomerate’s broader commercial labels, these rare properties are managed with a singular devotion to heritage and unparalleled terroir. To celebrate this elite portfolio, Vins d'Exception recently orchestrated a historic, ultra-exclusive gastronomic experience in partnership with Thomas Keller’s three-star Michelin icon, The French Laundry, to which I received an invitation. Proving the insatiable global [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-07-19T11:18:17-07:00July 21, 2026|

Finding the Floor: Liv-ex Report Highlights Fine Wines with Rising Trade Prices

Finding the Floor: Liv-ex Report Highlights Fine Wines with Rising Trade Prices While the fine wine market has faced a challenging correction—currently sitting roughly 25% down from its historic peak in October 2022—the latest data suggests the tide may finally be turning. According to a recent report from Liv-ex, the London-based global marketplace and benchmark authority for the fine wine trade, select corners of the market are showing encouraging signs of stabilization. "Some [wine brands] likely have further yet to fall; others appear to have found their floors and are now tracking gently upwards." — Sophia Gilmour, Liv-ex Market Analyst [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-07-14T12:12:49-07:00July 14, 2026|

U.S. Wine Market Tops $115 Billion

U.S. Wine Market Sales Hits $115 Billion A new report released in Spring of 2026 from market research firm BW166 shows that U.S. wine sales achieved over $115 billion in 2025. This figure includes all domestic and imported wine. “The latest data, which came out last week, shows total calculated consumer spending on wine to be $115.33 billion USD versus $112.477 billion USD last year,” stated Jon Moramarco in an online interview. Moramarco is Managing Partner of BW166 LLC, a firm that uses government and tax data to prepare this annual report. With more than 40 years experience in the wine industry, [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-07-09T15:48:02-07:00July 9, 2026|

5 Ways to Celebrate the Judgment Of Paris Wine Tasting in 2026

5 Ways to Celebrate the Judgement of Paris Celebration All Year in 2026. Getty This year marks an important anniversary for all American wine lovers because it is the 50th anniversary of the famous Judgment of Paris Wine Tasting. Held in Paris, France, in 1976, this blind tasting featured some of the top wines from California and France. The competition focused on the best Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines, and all of the judges were French wine professionals. The surprising result was that two California wines placed first in both categories, shocking the wine world and setting the stage for [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-06-10T11:26:38-07:00June 10, 2026|

Why Celebrating With a Magnum of Sparkling Wine is So Special

Why Celebrating With a Magnum of Sparkling Wine is So Special When selecting a special champagne or sparkling wine for a celebration, consider that there is both power and prestige in offering a magnum of celebratory bubbles, rather than the average-sized bottle. At 1.5 liters, or double the size of the traditional 750-ml bottle, a magnum is designed to serve 10 to 12 glasses and therefore is ideal for a larger gathering. Originally crafted for French royalty to serve at events, banquets and celebrations, the larger format signals elegance, luxury and magnificence. In fact the word, magnum, is based on a [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-01-25T12:02:40-08:00January 25, 2026|

How To Plan a Multi-Course Champagne Dinner

Champagne Is Very Versatile to Pair With Many Foods - Even Steak! Photo Credit: Pexels.com Recently I attended a 13-course dinner in Chicago where every course was paired with a different champagne or sparkling wine. Even the steak course! I was amazed, so I spoke with the chef and sommelier and discovered some great tips so you can create your own multi-course champagne dinner. Here are some suggestions for a 4-course dinner, but feel free to expand! Why Champagne and Sparkling Wine Pairs With Food So Well Many people don’t realize that champagne and other types of sparkling wine are [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-09-21T10:27:09-07:00September 21, 2025|

Think Champagne Doesn’t Go with Steak? Laurent Perrier and Alinea Say Think Again

Champagne Does Pair Beautifully With Steak. Pexels.com Many people believe that champagne can only be paired with appetizers or dessert, but Laurent-Perrier believes that champagne can be paired with any food, including steak. To prove this point, they recently organized a multi-course dinner at the 3-star Michelin restaurant Alinea in Chicago. Working with Jon Leopold, Wine Director at Alinea, the Laurent-Perrier team crafted an eye-opening and mouthwatering feast, featuring nine different champagnes paired with thirteen different courses, including Wagyu beef. During several breaks in the 4-hour dinner, Oliver Vigneron, Chef de Cave for Laurent Perrier, explained to the guests in [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-09-16T16:04:18-07:00September 16, 2025|

Wine Trends in British Columbia

A retro pour of predictions — with a BC twist. Contributed by author, Julian Park, and republished here with permission. For more information, please contact Julien at julian@bcwinetrends.com In 2016, Dr. Liz Thach MW published a list of “Hot Wine Trends” that aimed to capture the future of wine consumer behaviour. The industry was bracing for a sparkling boom, boxed wine battles, and a love affair with Sauvignon Blanc. Almost a decade later, we’ve pulled the BC data, opened a few bottles, and checked which of those prophecies aged well — and which were more fizzle than sizzle. Spoiler alert: some [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-08-08T12:52:16-07:00August 6, 2025|

How Your Wine Preferences Change Over Time

Have Your Wine Preferences Changed Overtime to Sweeter or Drier? (Pexels.com) Think back to the time when you first started tasting wine? Where were you? Who were you with, and more importantly, what types of wine did you prefer the most? There is plenty of research confirming that consumers have different wine preferences based on their genetics, with hyper-sensitive tasters preferring sweeter and less tannic wines, and tolerant wine consumers craving larger tannins and higher alcohol wine (see Hanni & Utermohlen). However, there is also a long-held belief in the wine industry that as consumers age, their taste preferences change [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-07-18T11:03:30-07:00July 18, 2025|

Margo Van Staaveren as New Director of Winemaking at Beringer Winery

Margo Van Staaveren, Director of Winemaking at Beringer Winery in Napa Valley Beringer Winery holds an important place in my wine journey, because it was the place that I fell in love with wine. A friend had brought me to Napa Valley for my birthday and we did a tour and tasting at Beringer. I will never forget standing on the porch of the old historic Beringer house, looking out at the vineyards, and having one of those "ah ha" moments. Surrounded by friends, laughter, and a delicious taste of chenin blanc in my glass, I knew that wine would [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-07-10T10:33:18-07:00July 10, 2025|

$109 Billion U.S. Wine Market Shows Uptick In Q1 2025 Shipments

Consumers Continue to Shop for Wine in $109 Billion U.S. Wine MarketGETTY (This article was originally published in Forbes.com. Republished here with permission) After two years of declining wine sales volume in the U.S. market, a new report suggests that the situation may be improving. Developed by Gomberg-Fredrikson & Associates, a wine market intelligence company established in 1948 that uses U.S. government data to analyze wine shipments and revenues, the report shows a positive uptick in wine shipments for the first quarter of 2025. “We are seeing an uptick in both California wine shipments and imported wine in the first [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-06-15T03:01:36-07:00June 15, 2025|

What Is The Future Of AF Wines?

The Future of AF Wines and Vineyards. Getty Many people want to know if the current strong growth in Alcohol Free (AF) wines is just a trend, or if it is here to stay. Given that alcohol-free wines have been available commercially in the U.S. market for 40 years (Arial was introduced by J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines in 1985 and Fre was released in 1992 by Trinchero Family Estates), there will always be a place in the market for these types of wines. However, with the current consumer focus on health and wellness, it is expected that many more AF [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-04-13T16:56:35-07:00April 17, 2025|

The Challenges And Cost Of Producing Alcohol Free Wines

High-quality Wine Grapes Are Needed to Produce High-quality Alcohol-Free Wines. getty While most consumers assume that wine without alcohol should be easier to produce and therefore less expensive to purchase, the reverse is actually the case. Creating a high-quality alcohol-free wine requires at least two extra production steps, beyond regular winemaking: 1. Grow and harvest high-quality grapes (using low-quality grapes results in a low-quality wine) 2. Ferment the wine (using traditional methods, with yeast—usually in a stainless steel tank) 3. EXTRA STEP: Remove the alcohol from the wine (which usually strips the wine of many flavors and aromas—different technologies include vacuum distillation and reverse [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-04-13T16:50:13-07:00April 15, 2025|