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Hey there, and welcome to another deep dive.

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Today we're gonna be diving into some really fascinating

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stuff happening in the wine world.

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You know, from billion dollar deals,

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we've got some record breaking charity work,

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and we're even gonna be looking at how your wine habit

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might actually be boosting your brain power.

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Yeah, it's gonna be a fascinating blend of stories today.

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I think it really shows how dynamic the wine world really is.

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Absolutely.

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So let's jump right in with some news

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that's gonna make your jaw drop.

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You familiar with Rothschild?

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As in the legendary Lafitte Rothschild?

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Of course, yeah, cornerstone of Bordeaux.

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Well get this, they just dove head first into Burgundy.

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They dropped a pool 99 million to acquire

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William Feve, the Chablis powerhouse.

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99 million dollars, what do you make of that?

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I mean, it's a bold move for sure.

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You know, Rothschild is a giant in Bordeaux,

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but this is their first venture into Burgundy.

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I think they're pretty clearly aiming to expand

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their influence in the white wine market specifically.

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And that's an area that's experiencing

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quite a surge in popularity right now.

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And you know Chablis, with those crisp,

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mineral-driven Chardonnays,

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they're definitely riding that wave.

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So for Rothschild, this seems like strategically

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aligning themselves with a rising star.

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But what does it mean for us everyday wine drinkers?

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Well you can definitely expect to see

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more William Fevere wines on the shelves,

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which is great news if you're a fan of their style.

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But on the other hand, don't be surprised

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if those prices start to climb a little bit

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as their prestige grows under the Rothschild umbrella.

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Yeah, I guess exclusivity often comes

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with a bit of a price tag, doesn't it?

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Exactly, yeah.

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It's a classic case of supply and demand.

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And it's also worth noting that DBR Lafitte,

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the branch of Rothschild behind this acquisition,

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they've got a pretty strong commitment to sustainability.

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They've already said they're planning to implement

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on Danic and biodynamic practices at William Fevere.

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Oh wow.

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Yeah.

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So it sounds like we might be getting more delicious

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and sustainably produced Chablis in the future,

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though maybe we'll be budgeting a bit more for it.

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Right.

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Now from a big business deal

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to an incredible act of generosity,

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our next deep dive takes us to Washington State.

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The auction of Washington wines

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just raised a record-breaking $4.25 million.

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Yeah, it's incredible.

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It's a real testament to the generosity

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of the Washington wine community.

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And this money is going to be instrumental

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in supporting children's healthcare,

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funding vital wine research,

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and even providing direct aid to the vineyard workers

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who are really the backbone of the industry.

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Yeah, and when they say auction,

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we're not just talking about bidding

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on a nice bottle of Cabernet.

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Some of these lots were truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

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Absolutely.

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Imagine winning a seven-day trip to Tuscany

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with exclusive access to some of the most celebrated

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wineries in the region.

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Or picture this,

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you could have bid on having lunch with Kyle McLaughlin.

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Yes, Agent Cooper himself.

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Apparently he's quite the wine aficionado.

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Okay, that's officially the coolest auction lot

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I've ever heard of.

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This certainly adds a touch of Hollywood glamor

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to the world of Washington wine.

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But beyond the glitz and glamor,

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it's really heartwarming to see everyone

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rallying together like that for such worthy causes.

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Yeah, it really speaks to the strong sense of community

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in Washington wine, doesn't it?

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It does, it does.

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Now, speaking of impact,

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let's shift gears over to a region

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that's been making waves for a whole different reason.

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Laudun in the Southern Rhone

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just got bumped up to crew status.

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What do you think about that?

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Crew status for Laudun, wow.

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That's a big deal.

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Yeah, like the wine world's version

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of getting a Michelin star, right?

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But you know, the Southern Rhone,

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it's known for those big bold reds.

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What's so special about Laudun?

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You're right, the Southern Rhone

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is usually associated with powerful reds.

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But Laudun, they've got this really unique ability

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to craft exceptional white wines.

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Yeah, and the secrets in the terroir,

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they've got these sandy soils interwoven

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with these layers of rocky limestone

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and that really distinctive soil composition.

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It gives the wines this incredible minerality,

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a real complexity.

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It's amazing how the land just leaves its fingerprint,

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doesn't it?

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You can taste the place in the glass.

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But in practical terms,

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what does crew status actually mean for Laudun?

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Like what changes?

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Well, for one thing,

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it means a lot more recognition, more prestige.

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You'll start seeing Laudun wines featured more

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on restaurant wine lists in those specialized wine shops.

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Makes sense.

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And as demand grows,

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well, don't be surprised

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if you see prices inching up a little.

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Yeah, exclusivity and a higher price tag,

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they seem to go hand in hand.

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Exactly, a supply and demand, right.

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Now let's shift gears again,

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get out of the vineyards for a minute

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and take a look at some really interesting

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scientific research that's been coming out

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about the brain boosting benefits of,

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you guessed it, wine.

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Okay, now you've got my attention.

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Yeah.

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Is this about the antioxidants in wine?

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You're on the right track.

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It's all about flavonoids.

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Those naturally occurring compounds in grapes,

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they're what give wine its color and flavor,

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but it turns out they might be doing a lot more

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than just pleasing our palates.

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Okay, like what, spill the tea

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or should I say spill the wine?

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So there was a recent study out of

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Queens University Belfast

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and they found that people who eat a diet,

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rich in flavonoids,

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they showed a remarkable 28% reduced risk

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of developing dementia.

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Wow, 28%.

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Okay, now that's what I call foods of thought.

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But before we all go stocking up on cases of Cabernet,

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moderation is always key, right?

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100%, look, this isn't a free pass to overindulge,

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but it does suggest that enjoying those flavonoid

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rich foods and drinks,

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we're talking berries, tea, and yes, wine in moderation,

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could be a smart move for long-term brain health.

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Right, it's all about balance.

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Yeah.

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And speaking of balance,

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let's talk about balancing our budgets for a second.

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Our next topic is a bit of a sobering reality

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for us wine lovers in the US,

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especially if you're in New York City.

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You ready for this?

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It turns out the US is the priciest place on the planet

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to enjoy a glass of vino.

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And NYC, they're taking the cake,

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or maybe I should say the Cabernet,

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for the most expensive bottle.

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Why is that?

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Well, unfortunately, it's a whole bunch of factors

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that contribute to those sky-high prices.

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First off, you've got the taxes.

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Alcohol taxes, they vary by state,

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but they're always significant.

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Then you add on import duties,

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and that really hits those European wines hard.

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And then there's the whole distribution system.

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Markups at every stage,

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from the importer to the distributor to the retailer,

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it all adds up.

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So it's not just about the cost of the grapes

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or even the winemaking itself,

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it's the whole journey of the wine that gets factored in.

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Exactly, it's this whole fascinating interplay

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of economics, regulations, consumer demand.

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Well, speaking of demand,

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this study said the average bottle of wine in New York City

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will set you back about 20 bucks.

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Yeah, and that's just the average.

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You want a premium bottle at a nice restaurant.

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Be prepared to shell out a lot more than that.

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It's a stark contrast, actually.

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You go to a place like Cordoba, Spain,

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you can find a really decent bottle for under $4.

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Wow, talk about sticker shock.

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Maybe a wine-tasting trip to Spain

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should be on the horizon.

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It's definitely the more budget-friendly option

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if you really wanna do some exploring in the world of wine.

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It really makes you think, huh.

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Yeah.

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I guess it's good to appreciate every sip

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when you're dropping a 20 on a glass.

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Yeah, for sure.

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It is really wild how just being in a different place

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can totally change how much you're paying

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for something you can enjoy all over the world.

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I think it reminds us too

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that wine is a lot more than just a drink.

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It reflects the whole environment, the culture,

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all these economic forces at play.

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Couldn't have said it better myself.

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Well, we've covered a lot of ground today.

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We've gone from billion-dollar acquisitions in Burgundy

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to some incredible displays of generosity

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in Washington state,

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that big promotion in the Southern Rhone,

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and even peaking to how wine might be good for our brains.

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The wine world never sleeps, that's for sure.

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It really doesn't.

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It's always changing, always something new happening.

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I mean, with Laudan stepping onto the world stage

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with that crew status and all this cool research coming out

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about those flavonoids and these crazy shifts in the market,

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who even knows what's next for the world of wine?

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That's what makes it so exciting, right?

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There's always something more to learn about,

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something new to taste and experience.

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Totally, and like we saw today,

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sometimes what you discover

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goes way beyond what's in your glass.

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It makes you think about the global economy

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and cultural trends, even what it means to be healthy.

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Such a good point.

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Well, whether you're like a total wine expert

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or you're just starting to get into it,

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I hope this deep dive has given you something new

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to think about the next time you pour yourself a glass.

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Until next time, keep exploring

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and maybe enjoy a glass of that flavonoid rich red for me.

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Cheers.