Wine Industry Advisor (Press Release) – Master Sommelier Ian Cauble Launches the Caubleist: A Daily Journey Through the World’s Great Wines
Master Sommelier Ian Cauble has officially launched The Caubleist, a new daily wine-curation platform built around a simple but ambitious promise: one extraordinary bottle, every day. The project blends Cauble’s 25 years of tasting, travel, and judgment with a highly personal storytelling format—showcasing producers, vineyards, and global regions through a single daily selection. Positioned as his most personal venture yet, The Caubleist reflects Cauble’s philosophy of deep curation over volume, and arrives as the natural evolution of his career (and as you covered in your C&J interview with him on YouTube). From the Press Release:
Most featured wines will come from organically or biodynamically farmed vineyards across Europe—Burgundy, Piedmont, the Rhône, the Mosel, Rioja, and others—with periodic selections from North America and the Southern Hemisphere. The format encourages readers to learn by tasting, broadening their understanding of classic and emerging wine regions over time.
San Francisco Chronicle – Why No One In Wine Can Agree On The Meaning Of This Word
In the San Francisco Chronicle, Esther Mobley explores why the term “minerality” in wine has become one of the most polarizing descriptors in the industry. Despite its widespread use, there’s still no consensus on what exactly “minerality” means, whether it relates to soil, texture, acidity or aroma—and whether wine drinkers can truly taste rocks. From the Article:
Even if we could agree on the flavors, textures or aromas that “minerality” captures — and I doubt we will in my lifetime — there’s the additional problem that the connection between geology and wine flavors isn’t exactly straightforward. The wine world’s conventional wisdom, for instance, holds that there isn’t a single tasteable signature from soil types. So when the uninitiated say things like “mmm, I love the taste of limestone,” as if they’re nibbling on the calcium-rich rock that undergirds the most prized vineyards of Burgundy, wine geeks groan.
Wine-Searcher – Is Older Better? The Great Vine Debate
In Wine-Searcher, W. Blake Gray digs into one of wine’s most enduring beliefs — that old vines make better wines — and asks whether consumers actually care enough to pay for them. Reporting from the Old Vine Conference in California, Gray blends science, marketing, and economics to show that while old vines inspire deep affection in the trade, they often fail to move bottles. Studies reveal subtle chemical differences and greater aromatic complexity, but surveys show fewer than half of wine professionals see “old vines” as a strong quality marker — and only about a third of regular wine drinkers agree. Between shrinking yields, price ceilings, and shifting climates, Gray argues that old vines endure not because they sell, but because they symbolize history, sustainability, and storytelling in a world chasing novelty. From the Article:
A study released last week by University of Zaragoza in Spain on the Campo de Borja region showed that Garnacha grapes from old vines had chemical compounds that lead to more black-fruit than red-fruit aromas, and more aromatic complexity.
Is that better? It’s different, but we’re in a world where a lot of people don’t actually want more complexity. Vodka-tonic remains a popular drink; Pinot Grigio remains a top-selling wine.
“A lot of consumers who are buying in supermarkets are looking for consistency and might be looking for that taste profile and that’s not what old vines are about; they’re about diversity,” said Peter Granoff MS, co-proprietor of Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco.
San Francisco Chronicle – Super Bowl tickets and a gift card ‘bank’: How wine producers allegedly bribed California stores
In the San Francisco Chronicle, Esther Mobley reports on a federal bribery case alleging that wine producers and distributors funneled luxury perks—Super Bowl tickets, spa treatments, prepaid gift-cards—through an event planner to influence wine shelf placements in California grocery chains. The complex scheme, involving false invoices and online “banks,” threatens the integrity of the alcohol three-tier system designed to keep producers, distributors and retailers independent. From the Article:
The wine selection at prominent California stores may have been determined by an intricate system of kickbacks, rather than the recommendations of expert wine buyers, according to a series of charges that federal prosecutors have brought this year.
Federal rules known as trade practice regulations prohibit alcohol industry members from marketing practices that could “threaten the independence of a trade buyer or unfairly advantages that industry member over their competitors.” Laws to ensure a competitive alcohol market have been in place since the repeal of Prohibition — most notably, a three-tier system in which an alcohol product’s producer, distributor and retailer must all remain separate.
Manousakis Winery – Crete, Greece
Manousakis Winery, tucked into the White Mountains of Crete, offers an authentic and scenic immersion into the island’s winemaking traditions. Guests can enjoy organic wines under the Nostos label, paired with rustic Cretan bites, in a relaxed setting surrounded by olive groves and vineyards.
2023 Gundlach Bundschu Dry Gewürztraminer
The 2023 Dry Gewürztraminer from Gundlach Bundschu is a fragrant, globally distinctive Sonoma white—ripe with floral and tropical notes, elegantly dry, and the estate’s first Regenerative Organic Certified™ wine, symbolizing a legacy steeped in innovation and stewardship.
Cucina del Teatro unites classic Roman flavors with seasonal creativity in a historic setting steps from Piazza Navona. Expect timeless pastas like Carbonara and Cacio e Pepe, complemented by inventive dishes and warm, personal service.
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