Hey everyone, welcome back.
Ready for another deep dive.
We're cracking open the Winemaker's Daily Brief today.
Sounds good to me.
They've got a whole thing on AI
predicting vintage is wild, right?
Yeah, that's the future.
But before we go full tech,
let's talk LeBron James.
Okay.
And Cognac Hennessy, specifically.
Interesting combo.
Right, so they're really leaning
into this partnership with him.
I've seen the ads, yeah.
Yeah, limited edition bottle, his face on it.
Bold move.
And they even like redesigned their logo a bit,
put a basketball thing on it.
Trying to appeal to.
Yeah, it's not just about LeBron's fans,
so I'm sure that doesn't hurt.
Right, right.
Hennessy, like all these luxury brands,
they're realizing they gotta stay relevant.
Younger crowd.
Exactly, more diverse too.
Makes you wonder, are we gonna see more of this?
Cognac and basketball.
Well, yeah, but also like luxury brands in general.
Partnering up with athletes, musicians, that whole world.
It's a thought, isn't it?
See how it plays out.
Definitely something to watch.
But let's shift gears a bit.
From basketball courts to, well, our own health.
Okay.
Never hear about red wine,
maybe having some health benefits.
I mean, who hasn't?
But isn't it all like one glass a day kind of thing?
That's where it gets interesting.
So there's this UK nutritionist, Tim Spector.
Okay.
He's saying it's all about these things
called polyphenols.
Poly what now?
Polyphenols, they're like naturally in plants.
Okay.
And they act as antioxidants in our bodies.
Right, those are good things.
Exactly.
And red wine, turns out it's packed with them.
More so than like white wine.
Way more.
It's all in how they're made.
Red wines, they ferment with the grape skins,
seeds, all that.
Okay.
And that's where a lot of the polyphenols hang out.
Makes sense.
White wine, they kind of skip that part.
Exactly.
So you get a much lower polyphenol count.
So if you're looking for those antioxidants.
Red's the way to go, at least according to this.
Interesting.
I'm always up for learning more about this stuff.
Me too.
Yeah.
But there's one polyphenol in particular
that's been getting a lot of attention.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's called resveratrol.
Resveratrol, rings a bell.
Right, it's in grapes and obviously in red wine too.
Okay.
And they think it might have some pretty powerful effects.
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, all that.
So like what, heart health, that kind of thing?
I think 10 of that.
Yeah.
And even like reducing the risk of some cancers.
Wow.
Early days, research wise, you know.
Of course, yeah.
But promising stuff, for sure.
Yeah, no, I'm following.
But, and this is important.
Always.
Before everyone goes crazy stocking their wine sellers.
Right, right.
Moderation, even this Tim Spector guy,
he's all about the 80-20 rule.
Meaning?
Like 80% of the time, eat healthy, all the good stuff.
Yeah.
And the other 20%.
Little indulgences, like that glass of red wine.
Balance, I like it.
So it's not a free pass to drink a whole bottle every night.
Definitely not.
It's more about like enjoying it
as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Right, makes sense.
And maybe, just maybe,
getting a few extra health perks along the way.
Who knew?
Speaking of things bouncing back,
let's talk Napa Valley.
Okay.
Remember how hard tourism got hit?
Oh yeah, during the pandemic,
rough time for travel everywhere.
Well, Napa's back in a big way.
Like not just back to normal.
Arrr.
Last year alone, almost four million visitors.
Wow, that's a lot of wine.
Right, and all those tourists.
They brought in something like $2.5 billion
to the local economy.
That's impressive.
Totally.
But here's the thing,
it's not just the same old Napa crowd anymore.
Oh, how so?
More diverse, younger people,
even a growing LGBTQ presence.
Interesting, so it's adapting.
Exactly.
And businesses there are paying attention.
Wineries are offering different kinds of experiences.
Like what?
You know, more inclusive stuff,
and restaurants are changing their menus too.
To appeal to this new crowd.
Exactly.
They're even doing music festivals,
like Bottle Rock.
Bottle Rock, I've heard of that.
It's huge.
Yeah.
So yeah, Napa's a great example of like,
rolling with the punches.
Reinventing itself.
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah.
But, even with all the changes,
Yeah.
They're not forgetting about the environment.
Good.
They've got this green lodging program,
encouraging hotels to be more eco-friendly.
So it's not just about the money.
Right, it's about finding that balance.
Sustainability is key.
Absolutely.
But, our wine tour isn't over yet.
Time to hop over to France.
Ooh la la.
Bordeaux specifically.
Wow.
Things are getting very interesting,
and very expensive over there.
Ooh, do you tell?
Let's start with Chateau Palmer.
They're kind of a big deal.
I know Chateau Palmer.
So they just re-released their 2014 vintage.
A good year.
Supposed to be fantastic.
But that's not even the big news.
There's more.
This was their first ever fully biodynamic wine.
Biodynamic, now that's a whole other.
Yeah, it's not just organic, it's like next level.
So, what, no pesticides, herbicides, that kind of thing?
Way beyond that.
Like, the whole vineyard is a living thing.
Okay.
They use compost, special herbal treatments,
even pay attention to the lunar cycles.
The moon, now that's dedication.
Right.
It's all about working with nature, not against it.
Sounds intense.
It is.
But the results, at least according to the tasting notes,
are incredible.
Let's hear it.
Cedar, dark berries, tobacco leaf,
it's supposed to be amazing.
A decade old, it better be.
Right.
But all this, it comes at a price.
I bet it does.
We're talking a 56% markup from the original release price.
Ouch.
Makes you wonder if it's really worth it.
Right, that's the big question.
But hold on, because Bordeaux is full of surprises today.
Oh, we're not done.
Not even close.
We're staying in the region,
but switching gears completely.
Okay, I'm intrigued.
Picture this.
Famous Bordeaux estate.
I'm picturing it.
Decides to make a white blend,
using grapes from the Rhone Valley.
Whoa, wait, Rhone grapes in Bordeaux?
I know, right?
Practically unheard of.
Unconventional, to say the least.
Right, like Rhone grapes, they're known for their sunshine,
not exactly Bordeaux's climate.
So what's the thinking there?
You got me curious.
So it all started during the pandemic.
They were kind of stuck, you know.
Everyone was.
True, but this Chateau de Saint,
they used the time to really study their land.
Okay, getting all scientific.
Big time.
Soil analysis, the whole nine yards.
What'd they find?
Turns out, their soil, it's got this unique makeup,
clay on top, limestone underneath.
That's important for grapes.
Well, here's the thing.
It's very similar to certain parts of the Rhone Valley.
The place known for those grapes
they're now using in Bordeaux.
Light bulb moment, right?
So they figured, if the soil's similar, why not?
Exactly.
It's a gamble, for sure.
But that's what makes it exciting, you know.
Definitely shaking things up a bit.
Speaking of shaking things up,
remember those polyphenols we were talking about?
In red wine.
Yeah, the antioxidants.
So it turns out, that's just the tip of the iceberg.
There's more.
Oh yeah, this Tim Spector guy.
He's doing some really cool research.
The nutritionist.
What's he onto now?
It's all about the gut microbiome.
The what now?
The gut microbiome.
It's like all these trillions of bacteria
living in our digestive system.
That doesn't sound very appealing.
It's actually really important.
Yeah.
And it affects way more than just digestion.
Really?
Like what?
Immune system, mental health,
even things like how well we sleep.
Wow, so these little bacteria are running the show.
In a way, yeah.
And get this, what we eat,
it directly impacts our gut microbiome.
So eating healthy is even more important than we thought.
Basically.
And according to this Spector guy, diversity is key.
In your diet.
Yep.
Fruits, veggies, fermented foods,
and yes, a little red wine in moderation.
All about that balance.
Exactly.
It's about feeding the good bacteria.
Never thought of it like that.
It's fascinating stuff.
Makes you think about food in a whole new way.
Definitely food for thought.
It really highlights how much power we have
when it comes to our health.
Just by making conscious choices
about what we eat and drink,
we can have a positive impact
on this incredible inner world.
It's a whole new way of thinking about food and drink,
wouldn't you say?
Absolutely.
And it speaks to a larger trend
we're seeing across the board,
this desire to connect with what we consume
on a deeper level.
It's not just about taste anymore.
It's about understanding the story behind the product,
the people who made it,
and the impact it has on our bodies and the planet.
Which brings us back to the world of wine.
From LeBron James partnering with Hennessy
to shake up the cognac market,
to Chateau Palmer embracing biodynamic practices,
to Chateau Dessin pushing the boundaries of terroir
with their unconventional blend,
it's clear that the wine world is changing.
And this evolution is about more
than just what's in the bottle.
It's about a shift in mindset,
a move away from rigid traditions,
and towards a more open-minded, curious,
and adventurous approach to winemaking
and wine appreciation.
I think it's an incredibly exciting time
to be a wine enthusiast.
We have more choices than ever before,
more opportunities to explore different flavors,
different styles, and different stories.
But it also requires us as consumers to be more engaged,
to ask questions, to be open to trying new things,
and to embrace the unexpected.
Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone
to try that wine with the unusual great variety
or the unfamiliar region on the label.
You might just discover your new favorite bottle.
And that's what it's all about, isn't it?
The joy of discovery,
the thrill of experiencing something new,
and the satisfaction of expanding our palates
and our perspectives along the way.
So here's to embracing the unexpected,
to never losing that sense of curiosity,
and to always savoring the journey
one delicious sip at a time.
Cheers to that.
Cheers.
And that wraps up our deep dive into the world of wine.
We hope you enjoyed exploring
these fascinating stories with us.
Until next time, keep those glasses full
and those minds open.