Okay, so get this, imagine, right?
Imagine you're sipping on some wine,
but like not just any wine, this wine is older than time.
Older than time itself.
Well, okay, maybe not actually older than time,
but get this, it is older than any liquid wine
anyone's ever found.
Oh wow, that's pretty old.
I know, right?
And that's what we're diving into today,
all the cool stuff happening in the wine world
from ancient discoveries,
like that old wine I just mentioned.
Which we will definitely come back to.
Oh yeah, definitely.
But also like AI sommeliers, climate change, you name it.
We're looking at all the big things
shaking up the industry.
So basically consider this your cheat sheet
to sounding like a total wine expert.
And the thing I love about wine
is it's not just about what's in the glass, you know?
It's a reflection of history, culture,
how we see the future, all of that.
And this discovery we're about to talk about
really highlights that.
Right, because this wasn't like finding a forgotten bottle
in your grandma's basement.
This was a whole Roman tomb, unearthed in Spain
and inside, liquid gold.
Or well, liquid wine, I guess.
The world's oldest known liquid wine.
And you know, honestly, the age
is just the tip of the iceberg.
This tomb, it's like a time capsule.
They found separate urns, one for a man, one for a woman.
His had the wine, hers had perfume, jewels,
things like that.
And right there, you've got a glimpse
into burial practices from 2,000 years ago.
Social hierarchy, even gender roles, just incredible.
Wow, talk about a history lesson in a bottle.
Yeah.
But okay, let's jump forward a couple thousand years
to like right now, because the wine world
is changing faster than ever.
And AI, yeah, AI wants to be your new sommelier.
It's wild, isn't it?
Like this app, A. Sultana, it's basically trying
to be your own personal wine guru.
Picture this, you're at a restaurant,
staring at this massive wine list, totally lost.
You just snap a photo and boom,
this app tells you exactly what to order with your meal.
Okay, see now that's something I could actually use.
Those giant wine lists are intimidating.
Speaking of which, I read that this A. Sultana thing
is really pushing for shorter wine lists in general.
Oh, absolutely.
Their whole thing is a shorter list,
a more curated selection actually makes
for a better dining experience.
Yeah, that makes sense.
It's less about being overwhelmed with choices
and more about like focusing on quality, right?
Maybe even discovering something unexpected.
Exactly, and this whole idea,
this move toward those curated experiences,
it's not just wine, it's everywhere.
Restaurants, yeah, but also fashion, travel, you name it.
It's this bigger cultural shift, I think.
People are craving simplicity,
meaning quality over quantity.
So it's not just about algorithms and data then,
it's tapping into something, I don't know, deeper.
And speaking of something kind of big and impactful,
we gotta talk about how climate change is affecting,
well, everyone's favorite drink.
Yeah, no doubt.
And this is where things get really interesting
because it's this story of like contrasting fortunes
in the wine world.
What, like what do you mean?
Well, you've got places like Burgundy, right?
One of the most famous wine regions in the world.
And they're getting hit hard, like really hard.
What, by climate change?
Yeah, extreme weather is wreaking havoc,
too much rain, one minute frost the next, then hailstorms.
It's been brutal.
They're saying this could be one of Burgundy's
worst vintages in decades.
Oh no, so does that mean less wine?
Almost definitely.
Lower yields are pretty much guaranteed at this point,
which you guessed it, usually means higher prices.
Not exactly what Burgundy lovers wanna hear.
Definitely not.
But hey, on a brighter note, I read that England's
wine industry is actually growing because of climate change.
Yeah, it's kind of ironic, isn't it?
They're not immune to the challenges, of course.
They've got their own issues with too much rain,
mildew, that kind of thing.
But overall, the warmer temperatures are actually
a good thing for them.
They can grow grapes now that they never could before.
So it's opening up all these cool possibilities.
Wow, so it's like some traditional wine regions
are struggling while others are suddenly emerging
as the new kids on the block.
Adaptability, innovation, sounds like those are key
for anyone in the wine biz these days.
And it's not just about adapting though, right?
We're talking full on innovation too.
Like, have you heard about this VIK winery in Chile?
They're putting their wine in tubes.
Oh yeah, the 100 milliliter tubes, right?
I saw that, it's pretty wild.
Wild in a good way.
I think so, I mean, for one thing,
it's definitely a big move for sustainability.
Less waste, easier transport, all that.
But it's also like, they're kind of reinventing
the whole experience of drinking wine too.
Okay, yeah, I can see that.
Sipping some fancy Chilean Cabernet Franc from a tube.
It's definitely different, kind of makes you rethink things.
Right, and speaking of shaking things up,
there's that news about Berry Bros and Rudd,
you know, the British wine merchant?
Oh yeah, the fancy one with the royal warrants
and everything?
That's the one, they're launching their own
online wine auction platform.
Interesting, but I guess it makes sense, doesn't it?
With everyone wanting those rare vintages and everything.
Totally, and if you're gonna buy and sell
those kinds of wines, Berry Bros is definitely
a name you trust, they've been around forever.
That's true, there's something about those auctions though,
isn't there?
The bidding, the excitement, people dropping
like thousands of dollars on a single bottle.
It's a whole world, and it makes you wonder
what even justifies those prices?
We see wines from Australia going for hundreds,
sometimes even thousands of dollars.
Yeah, like that Basse Philip Reserve Pinot Noir,
I think it was, almost a thousand bucks a bottle.
So what is it, just like scarcity, is that the main thing?
Scarcity's a big part of it for sure.
The fewer bottles out there, the more people
are willing to pay, but it's more than that.
It's also the reputation of the winery,
the vineyard itself, you know?
Like how well known it is.
Yeah, but also the actual land where the Greeks are grown,
the soil, the climate, the whole thing,
they call it terroir, and it makes every wine unique.
And then there's the aging potential.
Some wines are meant to be drunk young,
but others, they get better with age,
and that can drive the price up too.
So you're basically investing in something
that's only gonna get more valuable over time,
like a fine wine version of, I don't know,
a stock or something.
Kind of, yeah, but of course,
just like with any investment, there's risk.
Even the most iconic wines can see their prices
go up and down, like Penfold's Binot 170, for example,
another Australian one, amazing wine,
but the price has actually gone down a bit
in the last few years.
Oh, really, so even those big name wines
aren't immune to market trends and stuff?
Nope, it just shows you.
The wine world, it's always changing.
Everything affects it, from the weather to,
well, maybe even the launch
of a new online auction platform, who knows?
Speaking of change, though,
I think we should come back to this whole AI thing.
Yeah, okay, we were talking about Aseltana
and how it suggests pairings, but like,
zoom out a little bit.
What happens when everyone's walking around
with an AI sommelier in their pocket?
Does that change the game completely?
That's a good question.
I mean, do we even need human sommeliers anymore
if everyone has an app that can do the job?
That's what I'm wondering.
And what about the whole experience
of learning about wine?
Does it all become about data and algorithms then?
It could, like, will we get to a point
where AI is basically telling us
what we should and shouldn't like,
no more experimenting, no more happy accidents,
or could it be the opposite?
Could it actually make wine less intimidating,
more accessible for the average person?
Okay, yeah, I see both sides.
It could be really cool, but also, I don't know,
maybe a little scary if it goes too far.
It's a lot to think about, that's for sure.
So where does this leave us, the wine lovers of the world?
What does it all mean for the future
of how we experience wine?
That is the million dollar question, isn't it?
And honestly, I don't think anyone really knows for sure.
It's exciting in a way,
but I think if we take a step back away from the trends
and the tech and all that,
it really comes down to something pretty basic.
Curiosity.
Exactly, that willingness to be open to something new,
even if it seems a little weird at first.
That Chilean wine in a tube, why not, give it a shot?
Or maybe your AI sommelier suggests a Slovenian Pinot Grigio.
You might end up loving it.
I like that.
So it's about embracing the unexpected,
whether it's some new technology, a whole new wine region,
or just a different way of thinking
about what's in our glass.
Yes, because wine,
it's not just about the liquid itself, right?
It's the whole experience, the connections,
the conversations that happen over a bottle.
It's a journey.
You're discovering new flavors, new places, new cultures.
And maybe even like challenging your own ideas
about what makes a good wine good.
Exactly.
So yeah, next time you're at a restaurant,
staring at that huge wine list, totally lost,
or even just at the store, trying to take something out,
just remember what we talked about today.
Don't be afraid to try something new,
be open to surprises,
and hey, never be afraid to ask for a recommendation.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
It sounds like the future of wine
is gonna be pretty amazing.
But you know what?
Whether it's a wine that's a thousand years old
or something brand new,
I think the best wine is always the one that, you know,
makes you think, it brings people together.
Cheers to that.