The Robert Nicholson Interview: US Investment in Bordeaux. More to Come?

Robert Nicholson, principal of International Wine Associates, advises on merger & acquisition in the wine industry. Most recently, he was involved in the purchase of Château Lascombes by the Lawrence Family. In this exclusive interview Nicholson frankly considers the likelihood of other US buyers buying French wine businesses.

Reading time: 7m 45s

Interview: Matthew Horkey Making a Living as a YouTuber

In a rare interview, Matthew Horkey tells us what skills you need to be successful, how he engages with the platform and why wine is the next big thing on YouTube.

Reading time: 16m

Making Wine in Wartime: Giorgi Iukuridze of Shabo, Ukraine

In this exclusive interview, Giorgi Iukuridze, co-founder of Shabo, Ukraine's leading winery, shares his experience of the last seven months, since the invasion of his country by Russia

Reading time: 7m 10s

Pix – What Went Wrong? What Went Right? The Paul Mabray Interview

In the middle of 2021, US wine professionals learned of the launch of a new digital platform to stand alongside Vivino, WineSearcher and CellarTracker. A year after its launch, following the failure to raise a third round of funding, after the earlier investment of $7m, despite recurring revenue of $600,000 that apparently exceeded initial projections, the Drop has effectively closed and Mabray is looking for partners to enable his business to achieve its objectives.

In this exclusive, lengthy interview, he answers some tough questions.

Reading time: 12m 38s

State of the Cape: Interview with Rico Basson and Maryna Calow

The South African wine industry had an especially tough time during the pandemic, with challenges including restrictions on exports as well as domestic sales. Rico Basson and Maryna Calow speak frankly about the industry today.

Reading time: 9m 50s

Wine Joins Forces With Olives and Wheat to Counter Climate Change

Sogrape R&D chief Antonio Graça reveals details of the EU-financed MED-GOLD research project to help three agricultural sectors. 

In an exclusive interview, Antonio Graça spoke to Meininger’s at length about the potential of genotype selection in combating climate change, gene-editing, the role of wild yeasts in terroir character and robot tasters – and MED-GOLD, the climate research project that brings together wine, wheat and olives. Robert Joseph provides a brief summary.

Reading time: 3 minutes 

Science and the Future of the Wine Industry

In this exclusive interview with Antonio Graça head of Research and Development at Sogrape, Meininger’s editor at large, Robert Joseph picked his brain about topics ranging from Portuguese and international grape varieties, to gene-editing, the role of wild yeasts in terroir character, robot tasters – and his latest climate research project that brings together wine, wheat and olives.

Reading time: 17m 55s

 

Future of the US Wine Industry

In an exclusive broad-ranging interview for Meininger’s, Rob McMillan of the Silicon Valley Bank offered Robert Joseph, editor at large of Meininger’s Wine Business International, a view of the current and future of the US wine industry from the perspective of an informed financial analyst.

Reading time: 12m 40s

Interview with Charles Smith

Former rock group manager, Washington State winemaker Charles Smith released his first vintage – of just 330 cases - in 2001. Over the next 13 years, he was named Winemaker of the Year by three publications, including the Wine Enthusiast, and his eye-catchingly labeled and full-flavoured wines had become pat of the US wine landscape. In 2016, he sold five of his brands to Constellation for $120m. WEINWIRTSCHAFT asked him a few questions. 

Reading Time: 4m 30s