Britain is one of the three most important wine markets in the world — but its finance minister has just savagely raised the tax on wine and spirits. Robert Joseph considers the likely impact on the UK’s position as a target for exporters.
In the second largest bank failure in US history, the California-based Silicon Valley Bank went into receivership last week as a result of inadequate liquidity and insolvency. The bank was closely involved with both the tech start up and wine sectors and sometimes brought them together. Robert Joseph reports.
A supermodel and a former British government advisor have invested in separate ventures aiming to sell non-alcoholic beverages that mimic the pleasant effects of alcohol without the hangovers or health dangers. Robert Joseph wonders whether they are part of the shape of things to come.
An Italian co-operative has taken sustainability to a whole new level, by working to store CO2 in vineyard soil. It’s also a way to prove to significant buyers that the right steps are being taken. Lorenzo Biscontin reports.
American communications professionals were out in force at Wine2Wine in Verona and they shared their insights into how the media works. Felicity Carter reports.
As distributors get bigger, they require brands with bigger volumes to service their markets. This will reduce opportunities for small-to-medium-sized wine producers. Liza B. Zimmerman reports.
Some trends, like the ever-growing popularity of sparkling wine, are easy to spot. But there are other, deeper trends which aren’t as easy to see. Felicity Carter outlines seven of them.
Wine producers are reducing water use, increasing organic matter in their soil, and doing everything they can to support the environment. Now, says Roger Morris, they are also re-thinking packaging.
Chinedu Rita Rosa went from working in wine in Nigeria, to business in Bordeaux. Now she is using her experience to help Nigerian wine importers and European producers connect with one another. Felicity Carter reports.
There has been a feeding frenzy in the secondary market, as collectors go looking for Burgundy. What does this say about the fine wine market? Felicity Carter examines the latest Live-ex Fine Wine Report.
Winc, the much lauded 11-year old online business that went public last year, has collapsed, despite $54.2m from venture capital investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Shining Capital and Crosscut Ventures. Sherry-Lehmann, the 88-year-old Manhattan store faces a $3m unpaid tax bill and rumours of possible closure.
Becca Yeamans-Irwin takes a scientific look at the credibility of health claims that are made about wine, and the possible impact of a changing climate.
In a world apparently tiring of experts, there is at least one in the viticultural sphere that we should be grateful for. In 2020, research led by Andrew Walker, a geneticist and professor of viticulture and enology at UC Davis, led to the release of five new grape varieties. They have some advantages in common. Sarah Philips McCartan reports.
Tradition demands the participation of individuals who are dedicated to preserving it. For the Trentino winegrowers’ cooperative Mezzacorona, this involves safeguarding the indigenous grape varieties Teroldego and Marzemino, showcasing their qualities both as monovarietal wines and in blends.
