Top Wine Stories of 2025

Welcome to 2026. We made it! Following are some of last year's big stories relating to the U.S. alcohol industry.

Best Wines $20 and Under

Best low-cost wines, according to Wine Enthusiast, that is. The wine magazine put together their list of favorite inexpensive wines from the past year, The Top 100 Best Buys. Forty-four were American wines, including the #1 wine, Method 2023 California Cabernet Sauvignon, priced at $20, but often selling for around $15.

The #9 wine

Largest Wine Retailers

America's largest wine retailers are a couple of warehouse-type stores. Total Wines passed up Costco for the number one spot in 2024. The difference between the two is Total Wines specializes in wine, and it's right there in the name. Costco is a membership "club" that sells everything. 

Helping the Wine Industry

  Wine consumption is down, and most are citing the cause is the belief that alcohol is bad for you in any quantity. The wine industry is shrinking. What could help right the ship? 

Another Reason the Wine Industry is in Trouble

There are fewer people drinking, people drinking less, mostly for health reasons. Consumers have other options like craft beer and hard seltzer. There are other reasons for the decline in sales.

Is Wine Uncool?

  There's plenty of talk as to why wine sales and wine consumption have tanked. U.S. drinking is way down, with a record low percentage of Americans saying they don't drink alcohol. That number appears to still be dropping. Health concerns, especially among the younger folks, is the biggest reason given. There are other reasons.

Wine With Food, For Your Health

How healthy/unhealthy is wine? There are mixed signals. It seems that the amount of alcohol consumed and in what circumstances changes the outcome.  

Alcohol and Stress

More than one study has shown that a glass of wine can reduce stress. This can help if you have a big decision to make that might be financial or career-related. Maybe you just had a tough day and need a reset. But according to the World Health Organization, “No level of alcohol consumption is safe for your health.”  I call BS.

The Unique History of Zinfandel

Zinfandel was America's grape. There was no Zin in Europe, so the opinion was it's an American original. In the 1990s, that all changed.

The Anti-Alcohol Movement

  This one is aimed at the wine industry. 

  The anti-booze, neo-prohibitionists, and sober curious people are having their day. That shouldn't be treated as a problem for those in the wine biz, but it is for many, and that's a mistake.

Wine Spectator's Top 100

Wine Spectator magazine puts out an annual Top 100 list based on wines they've tasted in the past year. Rankings are based on quality, value, and availability. Sonoma County did well this year.

Russian River Valley Neighborhoods

Sonoma County's Russian River Valley appellation (grape growing area) is well-known, especially for Pinot Noir. It's a huge region with a total land area of 160,000 acres, or 250 square miles, with 15,000 acres of wine grapes planted.

With this big of an appellation, you often find sub-appellations to define smaller areas based mostly on microclimates and soil types. While there are a couple sub-appellations, Green Valley and Chalk Hill, some local winemakers and grape growers decided to divide it up into unofficial neighborhoods.