Wine and Beverage News Round-up Week of Jan. 30th

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Every Friday Uncorkd compiles the most recent restaurant and beverage industry stories that had us talking. Here’s our list of must-read articles from the web this week. This week features wine for the Super Bowl, Franken-Grapes, Green Line going nationally, and the comeback of Cognac. Here are the can’t miss new’s stories from January  30th – February 5th.

Wine News

Are you expecting your Super Bowl party to be soaked in beer suds? Don’t tap that keg quite yet. Wine sales have been on the rise in the week leading up to the big game. Toast that touchdown with a glass of Merlot.

Wine shops are becoming a new home for sommeliers, who are leaving restaurants to enter retail. Apparently the audience was too small at restaurant’s for sommelier’s liking. It may be a smart move as premium wine sales are growing in retail while sales for bargain wines are dipping.

A wine expert’s favorite past time is to predict what will be the next big grape. Will perennial favorite Pinot Noir soon be ousted by Grenache? Some say “Yes!” Though, we’re not sold. What say you?

California’s drought isn’t the only threat to wine production on the left coast. Vine-killing diseases are thriving in California’s unusually warm winters and have their phasers set to kill. . Will “franken-grapes” be the answer to these silent killers?

Looking ahead at potential shake-ups and mergers in the wine industry.

Beer News

Goose Island’s Green Line Pale Ale is set for national distribution. The Green Line will be expanding service and it’s packaged production will now be brewed at an Anheuser-Busch brewery in New York. Production for draft production will remain in the Windy City.

Spirits and Cocktail News

Diageo is continuing its Orphan Barrel project with The Gifted Horse American Whiskey. The highly allocated product is now available for privileged in consumption.

Cognac is making a comeback. Sales are soaring in the U.S. for the deep and complex grape-based spirit, with double-digit growth last year. Tips for cognac consumption: pour into a snifter, swirl it in your hand, and make sure not to spill on your maroon robe.

Vintage spirits have become highly sought after items for spirit enthusiasts, with old bottles of Chartreuse attracting big bids at auctions. The allure of vintage spirits is now mimicking wine connoisseurs’ pursuit of rare bottles.

Looking for a new cocktail ingredient? Try matcha. The Japanese green tea adds earthy and bitter notes to cocktails. It’s vibrant green color makes for a beautiful cocktail.

Imbibe’s January/February issue IDs the cocktail bars and bartenders that will influence the way you drink in 2016.

That’s all for this week’s Uncorkd Weekly News Round Up. Check in with us next Friday to find the stories you missed during the week.

 

Kyle Thacker
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