The Wine News in 5 from JancisRobinson.com
Episodes
Brutal weather threatens vineyards, Chianti rosé, latest global wine stats
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses weather hazards around the world, the latest statistics from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), changes to...
2025 bordeaux en primeur, France to uproot vines, OIV call for proposals
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses a new wave of WSET diploma graduates, Trump tariffs, the 2025 Bordeaux en primeur campaign, France’s plan for more uprooting...
2024 port update, St Supéry buys Rudd, Caterpillar acquires Monarch, tariff refund help
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses 2024 vintage declarations for port, St Supéry’s acquisition of Rudd, Caterpillar’s acquisition of Monarch tractors, a fro...
UK wine production booming, Georgian exports up, Cava’s latest loss, frost updates
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses frost damage in France, ANSES’ battle to do away with copper fungicides, new data on champagne and Georgian wine exports, th...
Old Vine Registry milestone, frost in France, Asti rosé, Sula expands, EU–Australia trade deal
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses the Old Vine Registry reaching a new milestone, frost in France, a new category for Asti, Sula’s purchase of a Moët Henness...
RIP Michel Rolland, California vineyards shrink, Method Oregon launched
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses the death of Michel Rolland, the effect of rising oil prices on the wine industry, Argentina’s declining consumption, German...
Harvest starts down under; Jackson Family news, pruning by kayak, French co-ops in crisis
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses flooding in Bordeaux and Victoria, Champagne’s emission reductions, the plight of two co-operatives in the Pyrénées-Orient...
Flooding in Bordeaux and Victoria, bribery at Southern Glazer’s, tariff update
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Trump tariffs, flooding in Bordeaux and Victoria, lawsuits in France over copper fungicides, the complete buyout of Freixenet ...
Tariff ruling, downsizing in the US and Spain's vineyard area shrinks
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses this morning’s ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States, a laundry list of sales, closures and lay-offs in the US, t...
Floods hit Spain, Portugal, Italy, Monarch Tractor shuttered, early budbreak in California
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses floods in Spain and Portugal, floods and landslides in southern Italy, the closing of Monarch Tractor, a trade deal for China ...
New French grape variety, Argentina’s falling exports, UK’s rising wine taxes
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses a new grape variety for France, Concha y Toro’s purchase of Mirabeau, mining in Central Otago, Meta’s fix on Facebook bans...
Strengthening US wine labelling, new EU trade deals, market reports, more bottles lighten up
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses a bill to strengthen US wine labelling, the new EU–India trade deal, a delay in the EU–Mercosur trade deal, reports on the...
More wildfires, South Africa harvest starts, New Zealand floods, Prosecco up, Champagne down
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses wildfires in Itata and Bío-Bío, flooding and landslides in New Zealand, Trump’s latest tariff threats, the WHO asking memb...
Fires in South Africa, Australia and Argentina, FB bans, state of the US wine industry report
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses fires in South Africa, Australia and Argentina, Facebook’s arbitrary restriction on alcohol-related accounts, France’s res...
Sweetener in French AOC wines, US diet guidelines updated, New Zealand free-trade deal
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses New Zealand’s approval of a free-trade deal with India, the repeal of many of Argentina’s wine regulations, authorisation ...
Trinchero purchases Mumm Napa, Chablis updates AOC, Canada sells off US booze
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Trinchero’s purchase of Mumm Napa from Pernod Ricard, Mendoza’s approval of copper mining, Canada selling off US booze, th...
Friuli floods, Ste Michelle sold, UK duty hike, French Bloom buys vineyard, LVMH strikes
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses floods in Friuli, the sale of Ste Michelle Wine Estates, the recognition of Burgundian geographical indications in China, anot...
Protests in France, Domaine Sigalas acquisition, Vinarchy to cull wine brands
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses recent protests in France as well as government aid for uprooting vineyards; the acquisition of Domaine Sigalas in Greece; Vin...
Global wine production falls, burgundy bottles lighten up, UK hospitality sector struggles
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses estimates for global wine production in 2025, a proposal for updated rules in the EU’s wine sector, the world’s lightest b...
Supreme Court hears tariff case, new alcohol sales data, vine pulls, old-vine superpowers
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Trump tariffs and the US Supreme Court, the US government shutdown’s effect on the wine industry, vine-pull data in Californ...
Champagne’s first Voltis harvest, tariff effects, ancient Turkish wine facility unearthed
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses the first Voltis harvest in Champagne, new research showing the cost of tariffs on US wine consumers, Trump cancelling trade t...
Germany’s tiny 2025 vintage, Oregon wildfire payout, Ram's Gate Winery goes ROC
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Germany’s smallest vintage in 15 years, an initiative to recognise fortified-wine production as Intangible Cultural Heritage...
Michelin takes on wine, France's yield estimates fall, Ukrainian wine stolen in London
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses the Michelin Guide’s announcement that they will be launching a global wine-ranking system, a new grape variety authorised f...
BC strike, UK duty hike results, UN alcohol and health guidelines
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses the EU’s proposal to develop faster and clearer procedures to benefit the agricultural industry, yesterday’s UN General As...
France's copper limits challenge organics, California fruit left unpicked, Douro oversupply
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses harvest in Austria, Savoie and California, Douro’s oversupply plan, Gallo’s acquisition of Whiny Baby, a surge in wine imp...
Tariffs head to Supreme Court, ketchup pays more than wine, alcohol guideline report shelved
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Trump tariffs, a new development with US alcohol guidelines, yield forecasts for harvest in France and Italy, findings on how ...
Mercosur–EU trade talks, wildfire updates, Austria and Cava hit organic goals
06 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses wildfires in Napa and Galicia, Trump tariffs, a new trade agreement between Mercosur and the EU, hail in Southwest France, Aus...
EU wildfires set record, Château Lafleur leaves Pomerol, Canada lifts tariffs on US wine
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses wildfires in Napa and Spain, Château Lafleur leaving the Pomerol and Bordeaux appellations, Canada lifting tariffs on US wine...
Tariff effects, wildfires threaten Iberia and Napa Valley, To Kalon a trademark
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Trump tariffs, wildfires in Spain and in Napa Valley, the beginning of harvest in Baden, Columbia Valley, Alsace, Muscadet and...
Phylloxera hits Canaries, US alcohol consumption plummets, harvest 2025 starts
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses emergency funding for Corbières, phylloxera in the Canary Islands, projections for 2025 wine production for France, plummetin...
Wildfires burn Aude, Corsica and California, super-light wine bottles, new GI for Argentina
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses recent fires in the Aude, Corsica and California, a Chinese alcohol retailer closing 1,500 stores, a new geographical indicati...
Harvest starts in France, new US tariff concerns, Gallo winery closure
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses the start of harvest in France, new developments in Trump tariffs, the closing of another E & J Gallo winery, Wine Australia’...
Champagne news, hail hits Loire, Barossa uproar, RIP Angela Muir MW
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses a human-trafficking case in Champagne, a reduction in the allowable harvest yield in Champagne, hail in Sancerre and the Gard,...
WHO's health taxes, more Australian wine aid, nine new Master Sommeliers
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses the World Health Organization’s push to raise prices on alcohol, the lifting of inter-provincial alcohol trade barriers in C...
Hail and fires in France, Australian organics upset, a Burgundy-UK venture
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Vietnam’s tax hike, hail and fires in France, the shuttering of an organic certification body in Australia, Burgundian inves...
French protests and storms, microplastics in beverages, human trafficking in Champagne
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses huge storms in France, a French study on the level of microplastics in various packaged beverages, protests in France over roc...
Meininger’s International shuts down, Oregon vineyard-management juggernaut, ICE raids
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Meininger’s International shutting down, Oregon vineyard-management companies merging, ICE raids, a potential win for US alc...
Treasury Estates bets on NoLos, varietal Muscardin, mapping old vineyards, French glass recycling
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Trump’s tariff lawsuits, bans on US alcohol in Canada, the Old Vine Registry introducing maps, Tablas Creek bottling 14 Châ...
Mt Etna eruption, RNDC abandons California, Vinarchy investments
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Mt Etna’s recent eruption, the US’s second-largest wine-and-spirits distributor exiting California, a slight reform in Swe...
Tariff lawsuits, Chile’s 2025 harvest, lightweighting bottles, harnessing soil microbes
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses lawsuits against the Trump administration’s tariffs, new maps for Marlborough, Chile’s 2025 harvest, the Albeisa Consorzio...
France hit by severe storms, Australian wine exports surge, fine-wine sales slump
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses severe storms in Madiran, Bordeaux, Languedoc, Irouléguy, Savoie and the Var, a surge in Australian wine exports, a hit to th...
Champagne house strikes, why Gen Z isn’t drinking, China tariffs, Provence’s first cru
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses strikes at Pernod Ricard and LVMH, a new report on why Gen Z isn’t drinking, the lowering of tariffs between the US and Chin...
Hail hits Champagne, Mendoza considers mining, France's new export scheme
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses hail in Champagne, The Duckhorn Portfolio closing multiple brands, mining in Mendoza, a French wine export scheme meant to les...
Bordeaux 2024 EP, Bhutan's first wine, South African wildfires, Argentina’s 2025 harvest
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses bordeaux 2024 en primeur, Argentina’s 2025 harvest, a new company combining Accolade and Pernod Ricard’s wine assets, wild...
2025 writing competition, 2024 bordeaux, 2023 port and forever chemicals
26 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses our 2025 wine writing competition, 2023 vintage port declarations, the 2024 Bordeaux en primeur campaign and the Pesticide Act...
South Africa's 2025 harvest, a lawsuit against Trump's tariffs, and the OIV's latest report
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses South Africa’s 2025 harvest, a lawsuit against Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, and the OIV’s latest report. You c...
Six of Constellation's wine brands sold, Mexico's first IGP and three new French grape varieties
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses The Wine Group’s acquisition of six of Constellation’s brands, Mexico’s first IGP, three new grape varieties approved to...
Trump’s tariff war, US public health agencies gutted, Old Vine Heroes announced
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Trump’s tariff war, cuts to the FDA, the winners of the Old Vine Hero Awards, and the Gérard Basset Foundation grantees. Y...
EU wine industry aid, Ireland’s health labels, German exports grow, China’s white-wine boom
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses the European Commission’s support for the EU wine industry, Thailand’s move to end restrictions on alcohol sales, Catena e...
Nervous wine-export markets, Jumilla’s smallest-ever harvest, Australian Ark takes top prize
22 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Trump’s tariff war, declining demand for New Zealand wine, Jumilla’s smallest and earliest harvest on record, the winner o...
Alcohol tariffs, South Africa tax rise, a copper alternative, RIP Rudi Wiest, Rhône Roots
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Trump’s tariff war, higher taxes in South Africa, a possible alternative to using copper in vineyards, a new Regenerative Or...
Trump’s tariff war hits US wine, Constellation Brands rumours, new wine-studies scholarship
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Trump’s tariff war and the responses from Canada, Mexico and China, speculations on Constellation exiting the wine business,...
RIP Peter Sichel, more Trump tariffs, organic non-alcoholic wine, Bordeaux’s 2024 harvest
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Trump’s job reinstatements and tariff announcements, the legalisation of organic de-alcoholised wine in the EU, the EU lower...
New MWs, Trump's mass firings impact US wine, WHO pushes health warning labels for alcohol
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses four new Masters of Wine, Trump’s slashing of federal jobs and the impact on the wine industry, the WHO’s crusade to put w...
Bordeaux’s new cru bourgeois lists, Trump tariffs and funding freezes, UK budget impacts
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Bordeaux’s new cru bourgeois classification, Trump tariffs and funding freezes, UK budget impacts on the wine industry and t...
Bottle lightweighting gains support, South Africa's rising exports, new smoke taint study
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses Accolade and Albert Heijn signing the Bottle Weight Accord, rising exports from South Africa, a new study on smoke taint, and ...
US wine industry status report, ingredient labelling for wine, Trump's proposed tarriffs
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses a new State of the US Wine Industry report from Silicon Valley Bank, the TTB’s ingredient-labelling proposal for alcoholic b...
LA wildfires, US alcohol and health reports, Collio’s orange wines, Alsace vine challenges
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses the wildfires in LA, the ICCPUD report on alcohol and health, updates to Collio DOC, Casella Family Brands’ sustainable cert...
Update on Southern Glazer's lawsuit, Blaye becomes Blavia, new wine packaging sizes
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam discusses a statement from the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America regarding the FTC v Southern Glazer’s lawsuit, updates to Borde...
US warnings on alcohol, growing NOLO sales, Cava's commitment to organics, champagne slump
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on new forecasts from IWSR on the growth of no- and low-alcohol (NOLO) beverages, the continued decline in champagne sales, ...
Benefits of moderate drinking, the kokumi effect on sparkling wines, new 'crus' for Alto Adige
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on two reports on the benefits of moderate drinking – both released within the last three days, 86 new UGAs in Alto-Adige,...
FTC sues Southern Glazers, Finnish dietary regulations updated, new Argentine GI
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suing Southern Glazers, a new Geographical Indication in Argentina, Treasury’s ne...
Georgian wine in danger, Burgundy's new premiers crus, South Africa's tax woes
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on protests in Georgia, new premiers crus in Burgundy, the OIV’s new numbers on global wine production, and proposed excis...
Napa's newest ROC winery, California farm-labour lawsuit, French vine-pull update
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on the winner of the ASI’s competition for the Best Sommelier for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the verdict of a lab...
New Zealand frost, new US wine market data, light bottle weight wins, China joins OIV
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on frost in New Zealand, IWSR data on the US wine market, Viña Concha y Toro signing up to the Bottle Weight Accord, China ...
What the US elections mean for the wine industry, defining old vines, UK duty hike response
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on the floods in eastern Spain, what the US election is likely to mean for the wine industry, LWCs response to UK duty hikes...
Spain’s devastating floods, UK Autumn Budget impacts, Germany’s small harvest
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on flooding in eastern and southern Spain, areas of the UK budget that will impact the wine trade, the smallest harvest in G...
Carbon capture in the winery, chestnut tannins, Rhône floods, Castel Group buys Malard
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on an ecstasy-spiked champagne case, flooding in the Rhône Valley, the Castel Group’s new acquisition, Australia’s wine...
Napa’s new AVA, a massive wine fraud bust, UK harvest woes, hidden sugar in 'dry' wine
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on a new AVA in Napa Valley, crop losses in the UK, an international wine fraud ring based in Italy, a letter that Constella...
France's shrinking vineyards, Napa's name protected, Duckhorn Portfolio sold
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on French vine-pull subsidies, the tiny 2024 harvest in France, Napa securing name protection in Mexico, the sale of The Duc...
Hurricane Helene, LVMH's non-alcoholic fizz, the VITÆVINO declaration and the US dietary guidelines controversy
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on Hurricane Helene, harvest in Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rioja, Chianti and Piedmont, Moët Hennessy’s investment in...
French vine-pulls and Spanish subsidies, wildfires in Portugal, an electric furnace for bottles
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on the announcement of the 2024 Taylor’s Port Golden Vines Diversity Scholars, devastating fires in Portugal, flash floodi...
Flooding in Europe, frost in Australia, Veneto harvest begins, a new Rhône appellation
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on flooding in Central and Eastern Europe, frost in South Australia, a new appellation in the southern Rhône, the first Reg...
The alcohol & health debate, France's tiny harvest, Alpha Estate buys Boutari Santorini
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on a recently published report on whether wine is good or bad for you, one of the smallest harvests in France in a century, ...
A win for Swedish wines, the release of Germany's GGs, Brown-Forman abandons DEI, losses at Australian Vintage and Naked Wines, Zuccardi cuts bottle weights
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on a win for Swedish wines and hybrid vines, the release of the 2022 red and 2023 white Grosse Gewächse as well as the star...
New MWs, Criolla Chica promoted, Aude hail, growth markets for beverage alcohol
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on a new crop of MWs, the elevation of Criolla Chica by Argentina’s National Viticulture Institute, hail in the Aude (Ode)...
New wine-and-health study, alcohol on TikTok, Ackley’s rapid growth, early harvest in Austria
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on a new study to add to the ongoing debate on wine and health, the largest transport of wine by sailboat to date, the legal...
New wine regions for Chile, hail in Beaujolais and Barolo, protests in Portugal, and theft in Burgundy
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on legal changes in Chile that will allow 51 new grape varieties to be varietally labelled and add two wine regions, Treasur...
New data on falling wine sales, Australia regains China market, Alsace limits yields
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on Alsace limiting yields, Australia regaining its position as China’s largest wine supplier, British Columbia’s decisio...
US dietary guidelines for alcohol update, new red Alsace Grand Cru, Champagne challenges
27 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on research protocol happenings for US dietary guidelines, an end to the strike in Ontario, a new red Alsace Grand Cru, Cham...
Ontario strike update, hail in Ardèche, Accolade acquisitions, crisis distillation in Portugal
20 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on the inclusion of white wines in the Gigondas AOC, the strike in Ontario, hail in Ardèche, Accolade’s acquisition of Pe...
Ontario strike intensifies, hail hits Bordeaux, California fires, EU vine-pulls, spirits sales strong
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam updates you on the LCBO strike in Ontario before discussing sales of spirits overtaking those of wine, the surprising growth in the wine...
Promoting bottle reuse, Ontario liquor store strike, AWRI downsizes, UK vineyards expand
06 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam covers the 'ReuseReady Campaign', the expansion of UK vineyards, the strike of more than 9,000 Ontario liquor store employees, and the d...
A hunt for old vines, higher standards in Marlborough and Antinori buys Col Solare
29 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam covers the Old Vine Registry's 'Heritage Vine Hunt' contest, Appellation Marlborough Wine's ever increasing standards, Antinori's aquisi...
Hail and wildfires, world's oldest wine discovered, Bordeaux's weak en primeur campaign
22 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Sam covers a disappointing finish to Bordeaux's en primeur campaign, the release of the 2024 Master of Wine exam questions and wines, hail i...
‘Diet’ wine, Australian struggles, Warren Winiarski and a sustainability award for Jancis
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Just back from taking the Master of Wine Stage 2 practical exam, Sam tackles the hot topic of calories and wine, catches us up on Australia’s wine i...
Accolade Wines update, Tesco’s bottle weight pledge, US wine bottle reuse, Oregon wildfire lawsuits
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Plus the first viable, scalable, wine-bottle reuse company in the Americas. Read the transcript of this article at https://www.jancisrobinson.com...
Hail and floods, alcohol and health, smuggled vines and the end of a Pinot Noir celebration
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Extreme weather in Europe, the US Federal Government’s impending update to dietary guidelines, James Millton’s conviction for smuggling vine cutti...
Brazil update, gender and wine buying, Accolade’s latest moves, good news on US wine sales
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Devastating flooding continues to impact Brazil (see the destruction on the Speranza property in Bento Gonçalves shown above) and Australia’s wine ...