The Wine News in 5 from JancisRobinson.com

This week Sam discusses weather hazards around the world, the latest statistics from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), changes to the Chianti DOCG and a few scholarship opportunities and events. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/brutal-weather-threatens-vineyards-chianti-rose-latest-global-wine-st...

This week Sam discusses a new wave of WSET diploma graduates, Trump tariffs, the 2025 Bordeaux en primeur campaign, France’s plan for more uprooting, Pernod Ricard and Brown-Foreman calling off merger talks, RNDC laying off more employees and the OIV’s call for potential presentations at their World Congress. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.ja...

This week Sam discusses 2024 vintage declarations for port, St Supéry’s acquisition of Rudd, Caterpillar’s acquisition of Monarch tractors, a frost on the US East Coast, updated information on the frost in Champagne, Systembolaget – Sweden’s alcohol monopoly – updating their buying criteria to include analysis of a wine’s carbon footprint and the Liberty Justice Center’s creation of an online plat...

This week Sam discusses frost damage in France, ANSES’ battle to do away with copper fungicides, new data on champagne and Georgian wine exports, the continued boom in UK wine production, Juvé y Camps joining Corpinnat and how the global alcohol downturn is affecting several large beverage companies. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobin...

This week Sam discusses the Old Vine Registry reaching a new milestone, frost in France, a new category for Asti, Sula’s purchase of a Moët Hennessy production facility in India, Georgia’s new law requiring state approval for the establishment of vineyards, an EU–Australia trade deal and harvest and growing season updates from South Africa and Washington State. 30 March 2026 – This newscast states...

This week Sam discusses the death of Michel Rolland, the effect of rising oil prices on the wine industry, Argentina’s declining consumption, Germany’s changing export market, California’s shrinking vineyards, THC drinks in the US and Oregon’s new sparkling-wine producer organisation. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles...

This week Sam discusses flooding in Bordeaux and Victoria, Champagne’s emission reductions, the plight of two co-operatives in the Pyrénées-Orientales, Jackson Family’s recent closure and acquisition, gold mining in Victoria and the start of harvest in New Zealand and Australia. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/harve...

This week Sam discusses Trump tariffs, flooding in Bordeaux and Victoria, lawsuits in France over copper fungicides, the complete buyout of Freixenet Cava by Germany’s Henkell group and bribery at Southern Glazer’s. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/flooding-bordeaux-and-victoria-bribery-southern-glazers-tariff-update...

This week Sam discusses this morning’s ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States, a laundry list of sales, closures and lay-offs in the US, the sale of Ridgeview Wine Estate in the UK, Wales hiking the minimum price of alcohol and Spain’s vineyard area dropping to the lowest level in 50 years. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobin...

This week Sam discusses floods in Spain and Portugal, floods and landslides in southern Italy, the closing of Monarch Tractor, a trade deal for China and South Africa, French wine and spirits exports falling to their lowest level in 25 years, budbreak in California and a legal case in Australia. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.c...

This week Sam discusses a new grape variety for France, Concha y Toro’s purchase of Mirabeau, mining in Central Otago, Meta’s fix on Facebook bans, Argentina’s latest export report, the UK overtaking Finland for the highest wine taxes in Europe and the passing of five incredibly influential individuals. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisro...

This week Sam discusses a bill to strengthen US wine labelling, the new EU–India trade deal, a delay in the EU–Mercosur trade deal, reports on the US, South African and Australian wine markets, snow in the Douro, the end of the drought in California and new signatories to the Sustainable Wine Roundtable. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisr...

This week Sam discusses wildfires in Itata and Bío-Bío, flooding and landslides in New Zealand, Trump’s latest tariff threats, the WHO asking member states to tax alcohol more harshly, protests at Moët Hennessy, new data on champagne and Prosecco sales and an early harvest in South Africa. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/art...

This week Sam discusses fires in South Africa, Australia and Argentina, Facebook’s arbitrary restriction on alcohol-related accounts, France’s restriction of copper fungicides and the 2025 State of the US Wine Industry Report from Silicon Valley Bank. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/fires-south-africa-australia-and-...

This week Sam discusses New Zealand’s approval of a free-trade deal with India, the repeal of many of Argentina’s wine regulations, authorisation to sweeten AOC wines, de-alcoholisation in the EU, an update on the US Dietary Guidelines and Champagne Telmont’s new certification. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/sweete...

This week Sam discusses Trinchero’s purchase of Mumm Napa from Pernod Ricard, Mendoza’s approval of copper mining, Canada selling off US booze, the discontinuation of the ‘Sud de France’ label and Chablis changing vineyard rules. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/trinchero-purchases-mumm-napa-chablis-updates-aoc-canad...

This week Sam discusses floods in Friuli, the sale of Ste Michelle Wine Estates, the recognition of Burgundian geographical indications in China, another duty hike in the UK, a new vineyard for LVMH as well as strikes within the company, fraud in Vinho Verde and an update on Barossa growers’ fight against a luxury development on protected land. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with li...

This week Sam discusses recent protests in France as well as government aid for uprooting vineyards; the acquisition of Domaine Sigalas in Greece; Vinarchy considering axing 60 brands; an early ice-wine harvest in Germany; and the oldest vine in the world. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/protests-france-domaine-siga...

This week Sam discusses estimates for global wine production in 2025, a proposal for updated rules in the EU’s wine sector, the world’s lightest burgundy bottle, 80-year-old tawny port and the struggles of the UK hospitality sector. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/global-wine-production-falls-burgundy-bottles-lighte...

This week Sam discusses Trump tariffs and the US Supreme Court, the US government shutdown’s effect on the wine industry, vine-pull data in California and France, new IWSR data on alcohol consumption, Côtes de Provence bottle weight reductions, research on the importance of old vines and an auction you should tune in to! You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at ht...

This week Sam discusses the first Voltis harvest in Champagne, new research showing the cost of tariffs on US wine consumers, Trump cancelling trade talks with Canada, statistics on how wine tourism accounts for a quarter of global winery revenue, how pub closures are causing an increase in loneliness in the UK and the discovery of a 1,600-year-old winemaking facility. You can read the transcript...

This week Sam discusses Germany’s smallest vintage in 15 years, an initiative to recognise fortified-wine production as Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO, a $99-million wine Ponzi scheme, PacifiCorp to pay Oregon wineries $125 million and, finally, a new Sonoma entry on the list of wineries with Regenerative Organic Certification. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked n...

This week Sam discusses the Michelin Guide’s announcement that they will be launching a global wine-ranking system, a new grape variety authorised for champagne, a new Vino de Pago for Spain, New Zealand’s wine exports, France’s new yield estimate and new research on how bacterial injections can help fight esca, a grapevine trunk disease. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked n...

This week Sam discusses the EU’s proposal to develop faster and clearer procedures to benefit the agricultural industry, yesterday’s UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, a strike in British Columbia that’s affecting the wine industry, an extension on importing grapes for Canadian wine and recent statistics related to UK duty hikes. You can read the transc...

This week Sam discusses harvest in Austria, Savoie and California, Douro’s oversupply plan, Gallo’s acquisition of Whiny Baby, a surge in wine imports to India, Académie Internationale du Vin’s open letter and new regulations on the use of copper as a fungicide in France. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/frances-copp...