This Week Uncorked

Direct-to-consumer sales have officially become the dominant revenue stream for U.S. wineries, now comprising 73% of average sales according to Silicon Valley Bank’s 2025 DtC Wine Report. Meanwhile, in New York, a newly passed bill allows bars and restaurants to legally purchase limited bottles of wine or spirits from nearby

Wine shipping laws remain a tangled mess, with consumers in 37 states still unable to receive wine from out-of-state retailers—a restriction Tom Wark calls a direct blow to access and choice. Meanwhile, at UC Davis, students are finally able to sell wines they’ve crafted in class thanks to a new

Healdsburg’s SingleThread earned the No. 80 spot on the extended “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list, joining San Francisco’s Atelier Crenn as one of only two California entries. Meanwhile, Roederer Estate’s 2019 L’Ermitage Brut made history as the first U.S. sparkling wine to receive a perfect 100-point score from Wine Enthusiast.

Opolo Vineyards introduces the bold, dark-skinned Balkan grape Vranac to Paso Robles with a 2021 Reserve bottling, only 50 cases made and available direct from the winery. Meanwhile, the TTB stirs debate with proposed wine label changes, including a ban on terms like “orange wine,” as budget cuts raise fears

From sommeliers selling $25,000 bottles to Fredericksburg’s surprising rise as the country’s second-biggest wine tourism hub, this week’s wine news covers both splurges and surges. Plus, signs of optimism in the industry, from creative wine clubs to climbing online sales, suggest the bottom may finally be behind us.

Private equity is reshaping the California wine scene, while screen time is stealing the spotlight from alcohol, according to Asahi’s CEO. Meanwhile, Sonoma’s top wineries shine, New Jersey tightens its grip on event rules, and Montemar Winery offers a fun, no-fuss experience in Lompoc.

Bordeaux producers are slashing en primeur prices by over 30% amid investor pullback, poor harvests, and waning interest from younger buyers—making this a rough vintage for winemakers but a bargain moment for collectors. Meanwhile, American Cabernet lovers are trading down, grabbing more affordable bottles as high-end wines quietly drop in

Congress is pushing back against Biden’s proposed alcohol guidelines, which could have sweeping consequences for the wine and hospitality industries. Meanwhile, California grape growers are battling cheap imports, the EU dominates global wine exports (with the U.S. as a crucial market), and Napa Valley faces rising costs and shifting consumer

Écluse Wines begins a new chapter as Thibido Winery owners take the reins. Founders Pam and Steve Lock retire after 25 years, while both brands will now share the scenic Paso Robles tasting room and winery space.

In this week’s Wine News Round-Up, Robert Mondavi’s brand struggles with identity as cheaper labels find new homes, while global wine sales hit their lowest point since 1961. Amid the chaos, Hollywood still can’t pour a glass properly, Silver Oak bets big on a CEO from the shoe world, and

California wine may be losing ground, but the state isn’t drinking less—just differently, with spirits now leading the way. Meanwhile, across the globe, winemakers are embracing bold ideas, from Château de Beaucastel’s sustainable cellar to $2,500 Syrah-Shiraz collabs and the rise of gleaming glass wineglobes.

Tariffs are shaking up the wine world—prices are rising, choices are shrinking, and U.S. consumers may be the biggest losers. While sake sales might surge and beer lovers have reason to smile, the fallout is hitting EU producers, U.S. wineries, and even South Africa with serious consequences.