Insights

Superblends at Super Prices

Penfolds is launching two new wines at prices that rival the highest commanded for any Australian wine. Robert Joseph considers the rights and wrongs of this kind of strategy.

Every Sip is Another Vote

A US wine brand is clearly focused on supporters of one political party. Robert Joseph reports.

(Don't) Give us each our daily red

Robert Joseph bravely questions some popular memes that celebrate regular wine consumption.

Hidden Giants

Villa Maria, one of New Zealand’s biggest producers is to change ownership. Robert Joseph considers the importance of knowing a little more about the important players in the shadows of the wine industry.

World champion in organic farming

Northern Italy catches up to the South with organic.

Post-Brexit and the wine producers

Meininger’s tracks the impact of Brexit upon the wine industry in a two-part series. This week, we show how wine producers cope with the new situation. L.M. Archer has asked around.

Time for a rethink?

As US wine sales slow and may even go into decline, Robert Joseph raises the possibility that would-be exporters may need to reconsider what they are offering.

"Things may slowly get worse"

Meininger’s tracks the impact of Brexit upon the wine industry in a two-part series. In the first part of our Brexit series, we take a closer look at how UK importers and retailers face the grim realities of Brexit and at the easing the abandonment of VI-1 forms bring.

A story by L.M. Archer.

Portugal rides export wave

While exports from European competitors decreased last year, Portuguese still wine exports increased in value and volumes. Galvanised by the rise of exports, Portugal’s bigger companies face the challenge of raising the low average export prices.

Barnaby Eales has the story.

Who's responsible for terroir: God, nature or man?

Robert Joseph has a few offbeat thoughts about the relationship between man and the earth.

After the storms – do organic rules need to be rethought?

Robert Joseph questions whether a changing climate is going to force the organic wine movement to relax some of its regulations.

Chateaux Ausone and Cheval Blanc are no longer to be part of the St Emilion Cru Classé system

Does it matter? Robert Joseph has a few thoughts on the matter 

Australian wine brand changes nationality

Shipments of Rawson’s Retreat to China will now be South African, as Robert Joseph reports.

The Russian Champagne debacle

The wine world has been in turmoil since last week: Russia has passed a law that requires new certifications of imported Champagne. Reactions from the industry followed promptly. What exactly is behind the new law and what consequences does it have for the wine industry?

Sergey Panov has compiled the most important information.

 

Brand first, appellation second

Russia's President Putin recently demonstrated to the wine world once again how quickly a supposedly secure sales market can become a sales trap.

Robert Joseph draws two lessons from this.