Gewurztraminer grown in the U.S. gets no respect, or maybe people are afraid to try to pronounce it. Saying geh-wurts is fine, btw. The previous blog post was on the lack on interest in West Coast Riesling. You'll find these two grapes similar in characteristics and U.S. popularity. Both grapes do best in a cool climate, can be made in a dry to very sweet style, rely on aromatics for much of their character, and they pair with similar foods.
There are Chardonnay lovers, Sauvignon Blanc people, and Pinot Grigio drinkers galore, but Riesling gets no love. There seems to be no respect for premium Riesling from the West Coast.
The Wine Market Council surveys the U.S. consumer for insights on what they're thinking about wine. This data is from a survey in wellness and health as related to wine.
Non-alcoholic wine is a recent trend. It gets lots of press about how growth is going to explode. You may or may not have heard this before with other trends. I have.
Claret is a centuries old term for French red Bordeaux used by England. A Bordeaux is a blend that contains some of the following: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. France wants to market a new style of Bordeaux to go with changing tastes in wine.
Organic wines have received a lot of media attention. But who is drinking organic wine? The previous blog post defines what organic wine is.
Part of the personal health trend means consuming healthy food and drink. For many this means it's organically grown or raised. Organic wines have gotten lots of media buzz, but what exactly is organic wine?
Wine in cans started with a sweet, fruity, fizzy beverage in a can with a cute, colorful label on the outside. It's growing up and becoming a beverage for adults rather than for college kids at the beach or maybe sneaking them into movie theaters and concerts.
By overripe, I mean the soft, lush, blockbuster fruity wines of California. By questioning if they are finished as a style, I mean they aren't going away anytime soon, but are they losing popularity. We are seeing a return by some winemakers to what I consider more balanced and structured wines.
Premium Zinfandel appears to be bucking the broader trend of declining wine sales. Some white wines are also bucking the trend.
The common opinion is that wine sales are in trouble. While overall sales are definitely down, not all market segments are the same. Here's where you'll find growth.
White wines are in the midst of a boom cycle as U.S.sales surpassed red wines in 2024. That same year global white wine sales were up 3% while red wines were down 3%. Why is this and what might red wine producers learn?
Where are the best spots to grow Zinfandel? Here's a look at the top growing areas, or American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).
Pinot loves a cool growing season. The grapes are thin-skinned, ripen early, and want slow maturing to retain their acids. A warmer climate means the thin skins get damaged by the hot sun, the acids are degraded, and the grape sugars shoot up before the flavors can develop. You wind up with a flabby, soft, simple wine.
The state agriculture department has released the 2025 Preliminary Grape Crush Report. Following are a few highlights.
You've heard that wine sales are looking gloomy, and you've probably heard different reasons why.
Younger consumers don't think it's cool because their parents drink it. There's too much competition from newer beverages like RTDs (ready-to-drink alcoholic drinks in cans), seltzers, ciders, and craft beer. There are health concerns. Another contributing factor is a post-pandemic let-down after huge sales just after businesses reopened in 2021. These all contribute, but price may be key.
What determines the price of a bottle of wine? There's definitely supply and demand, for certain wines and for certain grapes from certain places. What we'll cover here are the basics or labor, material, and overhead.
Something ain't quite right with your wine, but you aren't sure what it might be or if it's just you. Following are the most common problems you can find with wine. Some of them happened at the winery, the others in storage, in transit, or in your hands.
Welcome to 2026. We made it! Following are some of last year's big stories relating to the U.S. alcohol industry.
