STOCK PHOTO
Right around this time, the publications and blogs that follow the wine and spirits trade publish reports of industry trends of the previous year. The bad news is that the wine world as a whole isn’t doing all that well. The good news is that wine lovers like us can actually benefit from the trend.
Overall, global wine production has fallen almost 20% over the last ten years. There are several reasons for this. First, there have been extreme weather events like droughts and heatwaves. Second, younger people are drinking alcohol in different forms, like hard cider – if they’re drinking it at all. It turns out that worldwide wine production is down to 1961 levels, even though there are about five billion more people on the planet today.
Wine production and consumption have been affected more recently by the U.S. tariff policy. Canada has felt the effects most directly. Bruce Sanderson, Senior Editor of Wine Spectator magazine (and born in Canada), recently wrote that the Canadian embargo on U.S. wines has been a “boon to the Canadian wine industry.” Since Canada is no longer importing American wine, there’s a greater supply available in this country, and that helps to lower prices.
The lowering of U.S. wine prices seems to be pretty much across the board. Everyday wines on the supermarket shelf cost a bit less these days, though dedicated wine lovers (like you and me) are generally buying the higher-priced “better” wines.
Think about it. Wine is a liquid that has been treasured by human beings for over 8,000 years. A report published in January by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine notes that there is “conclusive” evidence of a winery in Armenia that goes back over 6,000 years. So it’s not going away, and since wine is a discretionary purchase, the industry will always face occasional challenges. Don’t forget all those fires in California that not only limited wine production but also wiped out almost the entire vintage in 2022.
So let’s not worry about all that too much. As mentioned above, the current situation has made many wines (especially US products) more available and affordable than in the past, so we’ll relax and continue to share with our friends and make new discoveries. Like these.
Juggernaut Red Blend California 2023 ($20) – An unconventional (and very bold) blend of Petite Sirah, Teroldego, and Malbec, it’s aged for 18 months in French and American oak. Aromas of plum, currant, and anise with condensed flavors of blueberry, chocolate, tobacco, and vanilla. Wine Whisperer rating on a scale of 100 — WW 89
Among the Giants Merlot Goose Gap 2021 ($22) – The Goose Gap appellation in Washington State’s Columbia Valley is, quite frankly, a new one on me. It was given AVA (American Viticultural Area) status only in 2021. In most of southwest Washington, the mountain ridges run north-south, but in Goose Gap, they run east-west. This means the vines have greater exposure to the sun for more hours per day. The summer days are long and hot, with temperatures dropping dramatically at night. Perfect for wine grapes. This Merlot, like most of the wines in the region, is highly structured, rich, and fruit-forward. Plenty of raspberry, cherry and blackberry. Wine Whisperer rating on a scale of 100 – WW 88
Trapiche Medalla Malbec Mendoza 2022 ($20) – The Mendoza region of Argentina is the center of Malbec production in South America, and the Trapiche winery is one of the heritage producers. This Medalla version was created to celebrate the winery’s 100th anniversary. Rich, full-bodied, with dense flavors of plum, cherry, violet and vanilla. WW 89
Jerry Greenfield. -COURTESY PHOTO
Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Bin 704 2023 ($70) – The Penfolds name is deeply woven into the history of Australian wine. Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold established the winery in 1884 (!!) and the company has pioneered Australian winemaking ever since. Their Grange Shiraz is considered one of the world’s great wines, sells for almost $1,000 a bottle, and consistently receives 98+ points from critics. Somehow or other, the company decided to try its luck in California, starting with grapes in Paso Robles, then expanding to Napa Valley. It has paid off. This rich Cabernet offers dense cherry, plum, and anise flavors and aromas. Highly structured and very full-bodied on the palate. WW 94
Jerry Greenfield is the Wine Whisperer, a wine journalist, consultant, and educator. His books, “Ask the Wine Whisperer” and “Secrets of the Wine Whisperer,” are available on Amazon.
Dining and Cooking