This Week Uncorked

Japan’s century-old brewing laws have frozen innovation at home and unexpectedly ignited a U.S. sake renaissance, with nearly 30 American breweries now crafting experimental rice ferments that Japan’s own rules forbid. Meanwhile, Andrew Jefford’s twin essays in Decanter urge calm amid health alarmism and climate-driven alcohol creep, reminding readers that

Kermit Lynch reflects on a lifetime spent championing soulful, terroir-driven wines in Wine Spectator’s two-part feature, railing against enological conformity while celebrating harmony, individuality, and the enduring joy of the table. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Chronicle spotlights Kenny Likitprakong’s under-$25 California gems, Wine Business follows Charles Smith’s “REAL Wine” transparency

Mexico’s wine map is shifting as Puebla and Hidalgo rise to challenge Valle de Guadalupe, producing wines from volcanic soils just outside the “wine belt.” Elsewhere, Argentina dominates Wine-Searcher’s Top 10 Malbecs, Europe faces a succession crisis, and Canada sees a tariff-sparked wine boom.

Ordering premium wine by the glass is shedding its stigma as preservation tech and consumer curiosity expand high-end BTG programs—from £50 Champagne pours to curated lists across London, Sydney, Milan, and California. Meanwhile, English sparkling hits a milestone with Nyetimber’s 2016 BdB Magnum crowned IWC Champion, Churchill’s Prohibition “doctor’s note”

Tariffs still bite; winery-hotels surge as travelers seek immersive stays. Plus GIII lineage, Afterwords’ 97-point debut, and our picks—Château Mont-Thabor 2021 CdP and Terrae – Truffe & Vin.

Wild chimps get naturally tipsy, Sonoma debates a 1% wine tax, and Lodi’s once-odd vineyard now has a waiting list. Plus, Robb Report names the 50 greatest California Chardonnays—and our picks of the week span Panizzi, San Felice, and Azumi Houston.

Angelina Mondavi breaks family precedent as the first woman to lead winemaking at Charles Krug, while Europe’s wine culture faces WHO scrutiny, Costco recalls shattering Prosecco, and Chianti Classico earns new respect with its subzones.

Three states—Mississippi, Delaware, and Arkansas—have overhauled their direct-to-consumer shipping laws, signaling a notable loosening of long-standing restrictions in the U.S. DtC wine market. Meanwhile, Alma Rosa’s Samra Morris has been named a finalist for Wine Enthusiast’s 2025 Winemaker of the Year, Napa bottle prices push national averages upward, and blind

Congress kneecaps an anti-alcohol panel, Gen X flexes real buying power, and reservation-only bars squeeze spontaneity. Here is why it matters for your glass now, plus our picks, La Lama’s patient Chianti Classico, the value 2022 Il Bruciato, and Houston’s Xochi where corkage is not allowed.

California’s 2025 harvest is turning grim with abandoned fruit and vineyard removals, while climate stress is normalizing non-vintage still wines and even media brands are launching wine shops and clubs. We also chart Texas Hill Country’s steady rise, and spotlight Felsina, a nuanced 2017 San Filippo Brunello, and Vegas’s LMP

Wine headlines this week span from USA Today’s surprising “Best Wine Regions” list—where Suisun Valley, Rogue Valley, and even Lubbock make the cut—to the San Francisco Giants’ launch of Major League Baseball’s first wine club with Sonoma County vintners. On the global front, South African wineries face steep new U.S.

Napa cult Cab demand is cooling as collectors trade $500 bottles for fresher, better-value wines, Michelin standards differ sharply between Europe and the U.S., Gen Z drinks less but better, and Sonoma’s proposed Wine Improvement District sparks pushback.