This week’s Wine News Round-Up traverses a complex global landscape where geopolitics, health science, and retail trends collide. We begin with a look at the unintended consequences of trade tensions in Canada, where a sell-off of boycotted U.S. liquor has sparked a consumer frenzy, before turning to Saudi Arabia’s quiet steps toward lifting a decades-long alcohol ban. Closer to home, we analyze the American Heart Association’s latest findings on alcohol’s impact on cardiovascular health and explore how Costco is reshaping wine culture in the heart of Napa Valley, cementing its status as an unexpected haven for serious collectors.
The New York Times – Canadians Rush to Buy Stockpiles of Boycotted U.S. Liquor
In The New York Times, Michael Levenson reports that several Canadian provinces have begun selling off American liquor previously pulled from shelves in protest over U.S. tariffs, triggering a surge in consumer demand. The article frames the sell-off as both a political statement and a practical decision, highlighting how trade tensions are reshaping alcohol markets, consumer behavior, and cross-border spirits sales. From the article:
At least four Canadian provinces — Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador — have decided to sell the stockpiles of American liquor that they pulled from shelves months ago in protest over President Trump’s tariffs. But once those bottles are gone, officials said they have no plans to buy more. The unusual sale has led to something of a shopping frenzy, as many Canadians have rushed to buy their favorite brands of American liquor. “There have been lines every day,” Wab Kinew, the premier of Manitoba, said in an interview on Friday. “It passes the eyeball test of there being a real phenomenon.”
Circulation Journal – Alcohol Use and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
In the Circulation Journal, Mariann R. Piano and colleagues (for the American Heart Association) review the evidence linking alcohol consumption to cardiovascular disease across outcomes like blood pressure, coronary disease, stroke, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. The statement emphasizes that while low-level intake is most likely beneficial, heavier and binge patterns are consistently tied to worse cardiovascular outcomes, and clinicians should prioritize proven lifestyle behaviors. From the article:
The available evidence suggests no risk to possible risk reduction when alcohol is consumed in low amounts (such as no more than 1 to 2 drinks a day) in regard to coronary artery disease, stroke, sudden death, and possibly heart failure.
In stark contrast, heavier alcohol consumption such as binge drinking or consuming on average ≥3 drinks a day is consistently associated with worse outcomes in every cardiovascular disease entity studied.
The Wall Street Journal – How Costco Won Over Wine Snobs
In The Wall Street Journal, Georgia Wells reports that Napa’s Costco has become an unlikely wine destination as industry slowdown and shifting demand push more producers toward big retail channels. The piece frames Costco’s “treasure hunt” selection, sharp pricing, and on-floor guidance as a new kind of hub for both serious collectors and casual buyers, while wineries weigh the upside of volume against brand and margin risk. From the article:
When Costco opened here in late 2024, eager customers camped out overnight, and Costco co-founder Jim Sinegal joined shoppers to sign wine bottles.
Now, locals who work in the wine industry come for imports. Tourists look for deals on regional wines. Its wine selection benefits from shipments from small producers who don’t make enough to sell to all of Costco’s locations.
“This is one of the key places for new gems,” said David Wise, a sales representative for Urban Wine Brokers.
This image shows just how good some of these deals are.
The Wall Street Journal – A Booze Ban Since the ’50s Is Being Quietly Lifted in Saudi Arabia
In The Wall Street Journal, Omar Abdel-Baqui reports that Saudi Arabia has begun discreetly loosening its decades-long prohibition on alcohol as part of a broader modernization and tourism push. The move, limited and incremental, signals how the kingdom is recalibrating social norms to attract expatriates, global events, and foreign investment while managing conservative domestic sensitivities.
From the article:
Without making an announcement, the government in recent weeks has begun allowing non-Muslims with the premium residency status given to skilled or wealthy expatriates to buy beer, wine and spirits at a store in the country’s capital, Riyadh, according to people familiar with the matter.
The kingdom is expected to follow that first step by allowing alcohol at exclusive hotels and resorts along the Red Sea coast, which it has built up as a destination over the past few years, according to analysts and people familiar with Saudi rulers’ thinking. The introduction of alcohol sales has been in the works for years.
Salvatore Rombi’s Rombi Wines, located in Carmel Valley, California, is a rare find. Because while many boutique winemakers own their own tasting rooms, few actually stand behind the counter every weekend and pour for their customers!
2021 VIOGNIER HAPPY CANYON/JACK MCGINLEY VINYARD SANTA BARBARA
Happy Canyon fruit gives this 2023 Viognier from Jack McGinley Vineyard a tropical leaning profile with mango, mandarin and stone fruit over gentle oak. It is generous in weight, lifted by bright acidity, and shows enough structure to drink well now and comfortably through 2030 for attentive white wine drinkers.
La Bottega del 30 – Villa A Sesta, Chianti
In the heart of Chianti, La Bottega del 30 delivers Italian cooking with French precision under chef-owner Hélène Stoquelet. Seasonal ingredients, a disciplined kitchen, and deliberate pacing define the dining experience in a rustic yet refined setting.
Masseria in Washington, DC – $75.00 Corkage Fee
Contemporary take on the dishes of Puglia
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