Are RTDs actually a fad? Emerging as a significant part of the beverage alcohol industry in the 2020s, is it possible that they don’t have staying power, or have they shown that there’s an audience for convenience, flavor, & accessibility? vinepair.com/articles/vp-...

Firefighters battled two wildfires Monday in Northern California’s wine country, including a fast-growing blaze in Napa County and a smaller fire that prompted evacuations near Santa Rosa www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

It’s looking like a berry good year 👀

Grape growers across the North Coast are preparing for what could be one of the earliest and lightest harvests in years after an unusual spring weather pattern ~ by Sarah Doyle www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/07/10/s...

Just because things aren’t going right, it doesn’t mean we have to point fingers ~ by Randy Caparoso wineindustryadvisor.com/2026/07/07/o...

Gastronomy is classically defined as the art of eating well. For me, an essential part of eating well is drinking well ~ by Eric Asimov www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/07/07/h...

The North Coast wine grape growing season is trending nearly a month ahead of normal ~ by Jeff Quackenbush www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/07/02/w...

This inaugural edition sees nine wine estates receiving the highest distinction – Three MICHELIN grapes – while 20 estates are awarded Two MICHELIN grapes and 33 receive One MICHELIN grape guide.michelin.com/us/en/articl...

A new study from Cornell considers if consumers are willing to pay a premium for climate-resilient wines — even if it means some of the name-brand recognition of, say, California’s Napa Valley is lost in the process grist.org/food-and-agr...

France's scorching summer is stunting grape growth in wine regions including Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy, threatening a smaller crop and ​bringing one of the earliest harvests on record Ghttps://www.reuters.com/business/environment/drought-shrivels-french-wine-harvest-prospects-2026-07-07/

Oregon’s wine scene took it on the chin in 2025 hoodline.com/2026/07/oreg...

… grape yield and quality are very sensitive to the local environment, which means the climate crisis could shake up California's wine industry phys.org/news/2026-07...

Carol Collison and Stephen Brauer discuss what a comprehensive “route to market” strategy looks like, including the concept Stephen calls “ways of working”, which defines how a company can optimize performance in wholesale markets (podcast) smallfortunepodcast.podbean.com/e/ep-79-v2/

California Assembly Bill 1585 would have required that any wine produced, bottled or sold in California and labeled as “American” or from the “United States” be made from 100% U.S.-grown grapes. It was pulled last week ~ by Jess Lander www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/ar...

“The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog” - Mark Twain

“Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you watch a lot of Cartoon Network and drink mid-price Chardonnay at 11 in the morning.” ~ Conan O'Brien

This essay was prompted by the June 2026 Silicon Valley Bank Direct-to-Consumer Wine Report and the press coverage that followed — which drew conclusions from the reservation data that this essay argues may be misread ~ by Ted Hall open.substack.com/pub/ted241/p...

Abbot’s Passage Winery & Mercantile closed its Sonoma Valley tasting room in Glen Ellen on Sunday, June 28, six years after opening on Madrone Road ~ by Sarah Doyle www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/06/24/s...

Pauline Vicard asks, can wine still justify its cultural relevance? The answer to this question, rather than economics, may become critical as wine faces growing scrutiny around health, the environment and social value www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/fut...

Auction of Charles Shaw’s former Napa Valley vineyard estate finally moves forward ~ by Jeff Quackenbush www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/06/25/n...

Silicon Valley Bank’s 2026 DTC report reveals a widening gap between thriving and struggling wineries — and the cause has nothing to do with the market ~ by Michelle Williams www.forbes.com/sites/michel...

Carol and Randall discuss today’s challenges in reaching younger consumers who are more visually oriented, and so less reachable through language, where Randall’s creativity as a writer really shines (podcast) smallfortunepodcast.podbean.com/e/ep-78/

… what created this chasm between drinks professionals? And why can’t we just all get along? ~ by Sarah Morrissey vinepair.com/articles/som...

Rodney Strong workers said they are pursuing union representation over concerns about compensation, the rising cost of living and recent layoffs amid the wine industry crisis and declining rates of U.S. alcohol consumption www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/ar... C

Collectors and drinkers have dived in for opportunities in 2026 so far, from mature rarities to keenly priced cases, but the wine market is by no means firing on all cylinders ~ by Chris Mercer www.decanter.com/wine/wine-in...

A French winemaker believes the industry's troubles are only beginning, with tougher times to come ~ by Oliver Styles www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/06/fr...

The owner of famed San Luis Obispo County winery DAOU Vineyards announced widespread downsizing this month, but good news for fans, DAOU isn’t going anywhere www.sanluisobispo.com/living/food-...

Look up: we’ve got a revolution on our hands. The old order’s being swept away. No more steady state: for the first time in human history, significant decade-on-decade change is permanent, structural and accelerating ~ by Andrew Jefford www.decanter.com/wine/langued...

The U.S. direct-to-consumer wine market remains under pressure from declining demand, lower visitation and profitability challenges, but new data suggest the industry may be moving toward stabilization after several difficult years ~ by Jeff Quackenbush www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/06/11/s...

The US president has a habit of imposing tariffs on a whim, but this time he has the law on his side ~ by W. Blake Gray www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/06/wi...

US wines have consolidated their place on the international fine wine market, a report from Liv-ex has said, showing a “clear tilt towards higher-value bottles” www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/06/appe...

With all those eyeballs up for grabs, it was only a matter of time before the wine industry caught on ~ by Sarah Strong vinepair.com/articles/win...

Sonoma County’s two largest wine trade organizations are exploring a merger as the wine industry continues to confront declining alcohol consumption, tasting room traffic, wine sales, tourism and a sluggish grape market ~ by Sarah Doyle www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/06/16/b...

In an impassioned speech yesterday in London, ‘Queen of Shops’ Mary Portas OBE told the drinks trade that people no longer want “palaces of stuff”, they want “sensory experiences, stories, and moments of joy” www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/06/mary...

Amid historic headwinds and declining sales, why are some wineries investing in Napa? ~ by Kathleen Willcox www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/06/na...

French wine and spirits exporters said on Monday U.S. President ​Donald Trump's threat of 100% tariffs ‌on French wine and champagne was bad news for an export-dependent industry caught in ​a dispute beyond its control www.reuters.com/world/europe...

… the mass social media marketing of any wine seems net positive (the kids are, in fact, drinking wine!). But virality also comes with its complications — namely, stock issues, quality disparities, and price spikes vinepair.com/articles/soc...

Harry’s eyes are wide open, looking to share the catch of the day 🎣

In restaurants and wine bars in Bordeaux, plenty of other wines are open, but few bottles of the local product. Why? ~ by Eric Asimov www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/d...

The US direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine industry is past the worst of the downturn, but a return to positive momentum is yet to materialize www.svb.com/dtc-report/

So many empty glasses, so little time

Do drinkers prefer winemaking facilities with easy access over less accessible vineyards? If so, should producers invest more in urban tasting rooms? vinepair.com/articles/vp-...

The wine industry is in turmoil amid declining U.S. alcohol consumption, bottle sales and Wine Country visitation. Much of the blame for the latter has centered on the high cost of tasting fees, which have doubled among U.S. wineries since 2018 ~ by Jess Lander www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/ar...

The federally commissioned report recommends that Americans limit themselves to no more than one drink a day www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Australia’s wine industry seems to have a problem it can’t drink its way out of moneywise.com/news/top-sto...

GALLO is closing the Turner Road West crush facility in Lodi and letting roughly 20 employees go, according to industry sources ~ by Cyril Penn www.winebusiness.com/news/article...

Treasury Wine Estates, best known for its Penfolds brand, is embarking on a large-scale transformation with digital, data and AI adoption set to be “key enablers” www.itnews.com.au/news/treasur...

A new BMO report shows the U.S. wine market is undergoing a reset, though 71% of wineries surveyed expect a rebound. Interviews with the report’s authors explain the causes and when stabilization may begin ~ by Liz Thach, MW www.forbes.com/sites/liztha...

Treasury Wine Estates has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of its business that will cut its brand portfolio by more than half and sharpen its focus on luxury wine. Investors welcomed the plan, sending shares in Australia’s largest wine company up by 10% www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/06/trea...

Napa Valley’s Sterling Vineyards is a Treasury Wine Estate brand that could potentially be sold as part of the company’s downsizing. “We are not commenting on specific brand timelines or future portfolio decisions,” a Treasury spokesperson said ~ by Jess Lander www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/ar...