Afternoon Brief: Alecia Moore, Winemaker and Two Wolves Wine Founder, Announced as Keynote Speaker for 2025 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium

The Unified Wine and Grape Symposium is proud to welcome Alecia Moore, winemaker and founder of Two Wolves Wine, as the keynote luncheon speaker to kick off the 2025 show on Tuesday, January 28...

Donnafugata’s Winemaker, Pietro Russo, Named the Third Italian Master of Wine

Marsala, Italy (February 23, 2024) — Pietro Russo is Master of Wine, following Gabriele Gorelli and Andrea Lonardi, with whom he shared his studies. The 38-year-old Sicilian oenologist is the third in Italy to […]

Gabriele Del Torchio Confirmed Chairman Milan, 12th September 2023 – Guala Closures S.p.A. (“Guala Closures” or the “Group”), a global leading producer of closures for spirits, wines, water and beverages, today announces that Gabriele Del Torchio, currently Chairman and CEO, will remain as Chairman with effect in September 2023 and Mauro Caneschi will join as Chief Executive Officer.  Gabriele Del Torchio was appointed Chairman and CEO of Guala Closures in April 2021 when the Group was acquired by an investment company of Investindustrial VII L.P., a leading independent European investment group. During this period, he has led the Group’s successful growth and strong business performance. This includes: - Improved operational efficiencies and expansion of its international manufacturing facilities;  - A strong focus on R&D differentiating its products, and product expansion focusing on the “premiumisation” trend; 

This Active Dry Yeast is ideal to make round red wines with smooth and soft tannins. Fermentis is pleased to launch a new yeast to help winemakers meet the growing demand for fruity, smooth red wines. SafŒno™ FV 19 reduces the perception of green/vegetal notes and the astringency in red wines, while enhancing fruitiness and smoothness. Because of its low consumption of malic acid during the alcoholic fermentation, SafŒno™ FV 19 maintains a high total acidity of the wines, while enhancing the mouthfeel by increasing perceptions of sweetness and smoothness on the palate. With its high production of red (pomegranate, cherry) and black (black berry, black current) fruit aromas, it is an excellent choice to produce fruity and smooth red wines for early market release. It is highly recommended for varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, Tempranillo, Nero d'Avola and Nebbiolo – and for red wines from early harvested grapes. SafŒn

Henry Halimi had certainly earned his retirement. Having achieved an impressive education in mathematics and mechanical engineering, and successful exits from multiple startups in his 45 years as a serial entrepreneur, Halimi had just sold Flo Technologies to Moen the plumbing-supply giant. Halimi co-founded Flo with his son Gabriel. Halimi owns multiple water technology patents and has sold millions of units through his inventions and innovative products, so going back to work didn’t really need to be high on his priority list. Lumo team install proprietary smart valve in a Sonoma County vineyard   But, when Lumo CEO Devon Wright knocked on his door and asked Halimi to join him and company CTO John Hinnegan at their new agtech company focused on water sustainability through improved irrigation efficiency, Halimi didn’t hesitate. "I come from a second-generation water family from the old country," Halimi recounts. "As a kid, pumps, valves and pipes

The global bulk wine market continued to be slow through March into early April, as the ongoing economic uncertainty around the world compounds a longer-term structural weakness specific to the wine industry – namely, the multi-year slide in wine sales in key markets: according to International Wine & Spirits Research, Brazil is currently the only country in the top 20 wine markets that is drinking more wine now than it did in 2017.  How the industry goes about arresting this consumption drift is a well-worn topic. It is a tough ask: younger demographics can choose from a far larger spectrum of alcoholic beverages than their parents, while alcohol abstention – or at least a preference for lower alcohol options – is far higher among these cohorts. Hence the new ‘World of Zero’ area at ProWein, and we have seen an uptick in enquiries into lower-alcohol wines – both in recognition of this consumer trend and because taxes on such wines can be lo

The Southern Hemisphere harvests have passed their midway point and Argentina (-40%), Chile (-15-30%) and Australia (-30-40%) are all expected to produce tonnages some way short of their respective averages this year. South Africa’s crop, too, is projected to be on the lighter side, while Cyclone Gabrielle’s impact on the Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay growing regions of New Zealand is still being assessed.  The prospect of shorter harvests has not stimulated a great deal of extra interest from international buyers of bulk and, like their counterparts in the Northern Hemisphere, the bulk wine markets are slow, especially on reds. (Domestic business is active, especially in Argentina, Chile and South Africa, pushing up the price of generic red and white wines.) Consumer confidence in the UK and parts of the Eurozone is patchy, and grocery price inflation high, reducing European demand for Southern Hemisphere bulk wines and – of course – Europe’s own. S

Afternoon Brief, February 20th

Hawke's Bay Cleanup Begins: After the tragic impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, the weather-bombed wine region looks to salvage what it can...