This Week Uncorked

From grape name variations around the world to a bold vineyard restructuring in France, this week’s wine news spans education and adaptation. Discover how Sideways reshaped wine preferences, the challenges posed by smoke taint in Santa Barbara, and a stellar winery and restaurant you need to visit.

From hosting blind tasting parties and exploring Valle de Guadalupe’s rising wine scene to the unexpected surge in white wine demand this winter, the wine world is buzzing with excitement. Whether it’s gifting ideas, game nights, or dining at Baja’s culinary gem ‘Emat, there’s something for every wine enthusiast to

Viña Don Melchor’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto claims the top spot on Wine Spectator’s Top 10 Wines of 2024, earning 96 points with a retail price of $175—a significant benchmark for Chilean wines. Meanwhile, VinePair highlights affordability in its 50 Best Wines of 2024, with the $40 Arnot-Roberts Sonoma

The California wine industry faces significant challenges as declining consumer spending, excess inventory, and an overabundance of grapes from the 2024 harvest create economic strain. However, experts predict a turnaround by 2026, with supply and demand expected to rebalance and opportunities for consumers to find high-quality wines at reduced prices

Vienna, Austria, stands out as a unique wine city, rivaling the global giants of London and Paris. Meanwhile, Wine Enthusiast’s 2024 Wine Region of the Year award highlights Mendocino County’s commitment to sustainability, urging wine lovers to look beyond Napa and explore the region’s distinct offerings in Anderson Valley.

Amadio Wines’ 2021 Reserve Range Sebastien’s Cabernet Sauvignon from Adelaide Hills has claimed the prestigious title of “Best Cabernet Sauvignon in the World” at the AWC Vienna 2024. This accolade is especially significant, as nearly 11,000 wines were anonymously judged by an international panel, making Amadio’s victory a remarkable win

Authorities in Italy and France broke up a wine counterfeiting ring, seizing counterfeit Grand Cru wines, luxury items, and cash, marking one of the largest wine fraud busts to date. In other news, Lebanon’s IXSIR winery continues its harvest despite regional conflict, while Texas’s Calais Winery and Arizona’s Flying Leap

A Sonoma winemaker’s ad comparing sugar levels in his wine to Meiomi’s led to a legal challenge from Meiomi’s parent company, Constellation Brands. Meanwhile, Italian red wines like Sagrantino and Tannat may offer relief from headaches, and U.S. wine sales see a shift with declines in lower-priced bottles but growth

Master Sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson’s new YouTube series, “Quench,” debuts October 16, offering insights on Napa’s top grape varieties, while Oregon’s Syrah is highlighted for its elegance and purity. In France, the theft of Jura winemaker Paul Bonin’s harvest exacerbates an already challenging season. Meanwhile, Akash Winery is gaining attention

California’s wine industry faces challenges as contracts for grape sales are not being renewed, leaving many grapes unsold or wasted, especially red varieties in the Central Valley. Meanwhile, Napa’s high-end wines continue to rise in price, with some bottles now exceeding $4,000.

This November, Burgundy enthusiasts have a unique chance to bid on a piece of wine history as the region’s iconic vineyard signs are set to be auctioned. Organized by the Bourgogne Wine Board, the auction will include signage from esteemed grands crus like Chambertin and Bâtard-Montrachet, offering collectors the perfect

In the wine world, debates about perfect wine scores are always lively, and Oliver Styles dives headfirst into the topic in Wine-Searcher’s latest article. He humorously dismantles the need for precise rankings, arguing that all great wines are, after all, great—with only “fractional wobbles” in their levels of greatness, making