Wine Stars

Wine Stories and News for the Young at Heart

Hot Wine Trends In the U.S. Market for 2022, Dollar Sales Up in 2021

Shopping for Wine in a Grocery Store. UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP VIA GETTY IMAGES A 2022 Gomberg & Fredrikson report, based on government tax paid data, shows that U.S. wine dollar sales in 2021 a surprising 16.8% over 2020. Total wine sales, including domestic and imported wine were $78.4 billion, compared to the previous year’s figure of $67.3 billion. Yet the reasons behind these increases suggest the wine industry still needs to focus on being more innovative and reaching out to new wine consumers. Fortunately, some of the most popular wine categories of 2021 point the ways to hot trends to consider capitalizing [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-08-11T16:47:20-07:00August 11, 2022|

Duckhorn Portfolio CEO, Alex Ryan, And Team Discuss The IPO Journey And Lessons Learned After First Year

Alex Ryan, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman for The Duckhorn Portfolio. THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, WILDLY SIMPLE PRODUCTIONS Duckhorn Portfolio Inc. (NYSE: NAPA) posted its third quarter earnings today for the three months ending April 30, 2022. Since its successful IPO on March 18, 2021, with an initial stock price $15 per share, the portfolio of 10 luxury wine brands ranging from $25 to $200 per bottle, has performed admirably. Today’s financial results support this trend with net sales of $91.6 million, an increase of 1.3% versus the prior year period, and adjusted EBITDA was $32.9 million, an increase of 2.9% [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-07-02T15:23:18-07:00July 2, 2022|

Rare Video Interview With Ernest Gallo Reveals Rags To Riches Story Of The World’s Largest Wine Corporation

Marvin R. Shanken and Ernest Gallo in 1999 Interview. KENT HANSON/WINE SPECTATOR In 1933, upon the death of their father, Ernest and Julio Gallo took over the family vineyards in Modesto, California, and discovered that they had been mortgaged to the hilt. “My father left the small vineyards hopelessly in debt,…and we were on the verge of losing them,” commented Ernest Gallo, in a rare video interview with Marvin Shanken, Editor & Publisher of Wine Spectator. “We thought that by going into the wine business - taking the crop and converting it into wine - we could probably get enough to [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-06-04T16:35:45-07:00June 4, 2022|

The Roots Fund & Zachys Raise Over $400,000 At First Annual Charity Auction Benefiting Diversity In The Wine Industry

The Roots Fund Charity Auction - Tahiirah Habibi, Carlton McCo…n PC: KYLE HUEY KHueyMedia The Roots Fund and Zachys wrapped up their first annual charity auction in support of The Roots Fund’s mission to address the lack of diversity in the wine industry. The gala raised over $400,000 from auction lots both available in-person and online and will help to create more education, mentorship and job placement opportunities for communities of color in the wine industry. As the first charity auction of this magnitude, the evening unveiled a large sommelier team of color, showcasing the essence of leading with change [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-05-03T13:49:50-07:00May 3, 2022|

Champagne Telmont Decreases Weight of Its Bottle to Reduce Their Carbon Footprint

Champagne Telmont Bottles. Photo Credit: Telmont Champagne bottles need to be remarkably strong in order to contain the 6 atmospheres of pressure that is built up from the bubbles. This is around 2 times more pressure than a car tire! However, the weight of the glass bottle and transport of bottles is one of the largest components of the wine industry's carbon footprint. Now Champagne Telmont has found a safe way to decrease the weight of their bottle from the current weight of 835 grams to an even lighter bottle, weighing 800 grams. Though the carbon footprint of each wine [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-04-08T11:37:25-07:00April 8, 2022|

How Two Oakland Women Created A Million Dollar Wine Business During The Pandemic

When TheSipSociety.com co-founder and CEO, Erica Davis, realized that many wine marketing firms were targeting women of color as only drinking sweet wines, she became concerned. As an avid wine lover, especially of dry high-end Champagne, she wanted other women to be able to explore different sparkling wine styles in order to discover what they liked. The Sip Society Co-Founders: Erica Davis, CEO and Catherine Carter, COO, THE SIP SOCIETY & ROB WILLIAMSON “The way the wine industry was marketing didn’t work for us,” Davis reported in an online interview. “So we decided to create a space where people could [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-04-01T11:30:22-07:00April 1, 2022|

Silicon Valley Bank Report Warns U.S. Wineries Still Not Doing Enough To Attract Younger, Multi-Cultural Consumers

(First Published in Forbes.) Though more than 50% of the premium wineries surveyed in Silicon Valley Bank’s 2022 State of the Wine Industry Report, stated they had a very good financial year in 2021, report author, Rob McMillan, warns that the industry is still not doing enough to engage with new consumer segments. Group Of Friends Enjoying Night Out At Rooftop Bar. GETTY “The U.S. wine industry isn’t doing a good enough job of marketing and selling its product,” reports McMillan, EVP & Founder of the Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division,…. “often remaining wedded to successful strategies from the past while [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-02-18T14:38:11-08:00February 18, 2022|

Nine Wine Technologies That Will Transform the Global Wine Industry

Robots in the vineyards, AI wine critics, and block chain 4x4QR codes to track wine and provide transparency to consumers. These are just a few of the topics that were presented by a panel of wine technology experts as part of a recent 2021 OIV study. Entitled ‘Digital Trends in the Vine & Wine Sector’, the study included a comprehensive survey of wineries in 18 OIV member countries along with in-depth interviews with 21 wine technology experts. The results reveal 9 major technology trends that will shape the future of wine. Robots in the Vineyard. Photo Credit: Getty Images According [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-01-12T11:22:36-08:00January 12, 2022|

Sweet White Bordeaux Wine Gaining Attention From Younger Consumers And Gourmets

Young wine consumers toasting with Sweet White Bordeaux Wines. Photo Credit: Fotolia: 118526264 When most people think of Bordeaux, a big hearty red wine comes to mind. Yet semi-sweet and sweet white wines have been made in Bordeaux since the 16th century. Long considered to be only a beverage to sip after dinner, such as a sweet Sauternes or Barsac, there is another section of Bordeaux that is beginning to gain more attention for their sweet wines – especially from young consumers and gourmets. Created in 2009 by the Union des Grands Vins de Bordeaux Sweet, the 8 appellations that [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2023-03-07T16:09:26-08:00December 30, 2021|

Coravin Ramps Up Innovation During Covid With Increased Sales And 4 New Products

Now that we are 18 months into the Covid crisis, with new variants no doubt extending its length, it is helpful to recognize some of the positive innovation that has occurred. As John F. Kennedy said, “In a crisis, be aware of the danger – but recognize the opportunity.” Coravin - To Safely Taste Wine While Preserving the Cork. Photo Credit: Getty One wine company that has made astounding progress in sales and innovation during Covid is Coravin. With a mission to change the way the world experiences wine, Coravin technology allows wine lovers to extract a glass of wine [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-02-18T14:39:29-08:00December 6, 2021|

Organic Wine and Pairing Menu for Thanksgiving

Whether you are dining on turkey, ham, or a vegan feast for the Thanksgiving holiday, there is always room for several bottles of wine at the table. And given the current trends for wellness and transparency, organic and other “green-label” wines may be the best choice. But how do you track down wines produced organically? Thanksgiving dinner with organic wine. GETTY Some Organic Wine Brands for Thanksgiving According to a recent OIV report, only 6% of certified organic wine is produced globally Given that organic vineyard certifications require at least 3 years of documentation, proving that no chemicals were used [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-02-18T14:39:59-08:00November 23, 2021|

The Marselan Wine Grape Gaining Popularity In Bordeaux, China And Napa Valley

Global warming has forced wine regions around the world to consider new grape varietals that can better withstand the forecasted rise in temperatures. One such wine grape, Marselan, appears to be gaining more traction in Bordeaux, China and Napa Valley. A Selection of Global Wines Made from the Marselan Grape L. THACH “We set up a test plot of Marselan in 2016,” reported Laurent Rousseau, owner of Vignobles Rousseau in Bordeaux. “It gives a powerful wine, very colorful but fleshy and elegant…. We will produce this (as Bordeaux) AOC in 2021.” Indeed, the Marselan grape is one of four red [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-02-18T14:40:33-08:00November 15, 2021|

Jordan Winery Wins Prize for Best Halloween Party

There are many wineries in the US that are known for their innovative wine events, such as lobster dinners, dog walks through the vineyard, and colorful holiday wine-themed parties, but no one can compete with Jordan Winery’s Annual Halloween Party. Each autumn, members of the wine trade and special clients pray they receive an invitation to attend. If they don’t, they can request a position on the waitlist, and hope someone cancels. But this rarely happens. Galactic Queen and Avatar Attend Jordan Winery's 2021 Halloween Party Unusual Invitations Part of Jordan Winery’s Appeal Part of the pleasure in receiving an [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-11-01T10:37:29-07:00October 31, 2021|

How Napa And Sonoma Vineyards Are Going Beyond Sustainability To Embrace Climate-Positive Goals

Climate positive (carbon negative) goals in Napa and Sonoma vineyards. PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY California wineries have long been leaders in environmentally friendly practices, because they recognized early on that wine grapes are one of the most susceptible crops to global warming. Indeed by 2019, 99% of Sonoma County vineyards were certified sustainable and 94% of Napa vineyards and wineries achieved certification under the Napa Green program. However, now both counties have established even more aggressive goals to reduce their carbon footprint and become climate positive – which is beyond carbon neutral, with negative emission reductions. The sustainability certifications the vineyards achieved [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-10-18T17:50:21-07:00October 18, 2021|

The Greening Of Bordeaux: The Two-Pronged Approach Wineries Are Taking To Address Climate Change

With the UN Report on Climate Change 2021 calling for a 'code red for humanity', the timing for the Bordeaux wine region to ramp up its environmental efforts couldn’t come any sooner. This is because wine grapes have long been considered “the canary in the coal mine,” in terms of notifying vineyard owners around the world that climate change is here and real. Indeed, in a 2005 scientific report entitled Climate Change and Global Wine Quality, Dr. Greg Jones and his colleagues warned that the 2∘C warming environment would make some wine regions, such as Bordeaux, “exceed a climatic threshold [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-09-14T15:55:07-07:00September 14, 2021|

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