January, 10, 2014 Who’s drinking the world’s Scotch whisky

(QZ) - On the heels of growing global Scotch whisky demand, the UK is cracking down on the spirit’s growing pool of imitators. Scotch whisky can already legally be called Scotch only if it was made in Scotland and aged in oak casks for at least three years (it’s also spelled “whis...

January, 10, 2014 Blending Red Wine With Porter Ale: A Crossover Beer Worth The Buzz?

(NPR) - If you're a beer lover and your significant other tends more toward wine, is there a drink that can satisfy both of you? How about a beer-wine mashup, combining two of mankind's oldest beverages? "To me, it's kind of the magic in the middle," says , sommelier and owner of the D.C. restaur...

January, 10, 2014 AUS: Wine grape prices collapse for inland growers

(ABC) - Wine grape growers in warmer inland regions are accusing the big wine brands of price gouging. But the big winemakers argue they still have wine left over from last year, and can't afford to pay more for 2014 grapes yet. "Oh they're (the prices) disastrous for the industry," says Mark McK...

January, 10, 2014 California: Impact of Sonoma Wine Pegged at $13.4 Billion

(Wines&Vines) - The wine industry’s economic impact on Sonoma County has nearly doubled since 2005, growing to $13.4 billion. That’s according to a report commissioned by the Sonoma County Winegrowers and Sonoma County Vintners. The groups shared some key figures prior to the Sono...

January, 10, 2014 New Zealand winery accepts bitcoin

(TDB) - A New Zealand winery has become the first in the southern hemisphere to accept the online currency bitcoin. Pyramid Valley Vineyards, in North Canrubury, made the decision to ease transaction for the company’s domestic and international customer base, according to coindesk.co.uk. ...

January, 10, 2014 Bumper California harvests won't mean oversupply, says Constellation

(Decanter) - The chief executive of Constellation Brands has rejected a suggestion that consecutive large harvests in California will lead to an outpouring of cheaper wine from the US region. An analyst on the Robert Mondavi wine producer's financial results conference call yesterday (8 January)...

January, 10, 2014 Don't Panic! Almonds Not Replacing Californian Winelands

(Wine-Searcher) - This week the wine press has been awash with headlines reporting that grapes are making way for almonds. However, the "California grapevines being ripped up" in the Central Valley region are largely the Thompson Seedless variety, sold mainly as raisins, table grapes and fruit cock...

January, 09, 2014 Wine opinion: are the Chinese really the world's biggest drinkers?

(SCMP) - A recent report by Morgan Stanley, predicting a shortfall in global wine production, says that the US and China are "the main drivers of consumption globally". We've heard that often, but is it true? In fact, China is only the world's fifth-largest wine market. Mainlanders are also often...