All right, diving into the world of wine today.
Got a whole collection of stories for us,
award winners, AI sommelies, you name it,
ready to uncork some knowledge.
Sounds like a plan.
Always up for seeing what's new in the world of wine.
Well, first up, the International Wine and Spirit
Competition.
It's like the Oscars of the wine world.
And get this, sweet and fortified wines
are making a comeback.
Can you believe it?
Sheri's having a real moment.
Yeah, it's interesting to see.
For a long time, people thought of sherry and Madeira
as a bit old fashioned.
But now, people are rediscovering
how complex and delicious they can be,
like they come in so many styles, from dry and nutty
to those richer, sweeter ones.
It's true.
There's a sherry for everyone, I guess.
And speaking of unexpected discoveries,
looks like Georgia and Turkey are becoming real hotspots
in the wine world.
Not your typical wine regions, right?
You got it.
These places are home to some truly unique grapes,
varieties you won't find anywhere else.
Georgia, for instance, they've been making wine for,
get this, over 8,000 years.
8,000 years.
Talk about tradition.
Right.
And they use these ancient methods,
like they ferment the grapes in these clay pots that
are buried underground.
Wow, that's incredible.
I bet that gives the wine a really distinct flavor.
Oh, absolutely.
I think like orange wines with these kind
of nutty, honeyed notes, really unique stuff.
And then there's Turkey.
They've been quietly growing grapes for centuries,
but now they're coming into their own with these bold reds
from grapes most people have never even heard of,
Ocuskuzu, Belascare.
I'm going to need you to pronounce those one more time.
Yeah, they're a mouthful.
But trust me, the flavors are worth it.
And we have to give credit to the IWSC and their Global
Judging Initiative.
They're actually sending judges to these emerging regions,
which is huge.
It gives smaller producers a chance
to compete on a global scale.
That's fantastic.
A more level playing field for everyone.
I love it.
So we're talking international wines,
but next up we're hopping over to the UK,
where things are getting pretty interesting for wine drinkers
and their wallets.
So the UK wine scene, right, it's
like they're juggling this exciting growth
in Anglo-Sparkling wine.
But then, bam, this new alcohol duty system comes along.
Yeah, it's a tricky situation for sure.
The new system, it's all about taxing wines
based on how much alcohol they have.
Higher alcohol content, higher taxes.
It's causing quite a stir.
Especially for those fortified wines
that are having a moment.
A 44% tax hike on some Sherries and Ports,
that's got to make people think twice.
Oh, definitely.
Producers are trying to figure out
how to handle these new costs without scaring customers away.
And wine drinkers, they're going to have to make some decisions,
right?
Pay more for those higher alcohol favorites,
or maybe explore some lower alcohol options.
It's a fascinating look at how people react to, well,
price changes.
But amidst all this tax talk, there's
some cool stuff happening too.
Like, remember that pub, the White Horse, in Mayfair?
Yeah.
It's gotten a total makeover.
Oh, yeah.
From a traditional pub to this, like Haven for Wine Lovers,
all curated by Houdonism Wines, it's pretty impressive.
Right.
They still have the pub vibe, but now they've
got this amazing wine list, like 100 bottles,
curated by an actual sommelier, plus access to their collection,
over 6,000 wines.
It shows you how things are changing.
It's not just about fancy restaurants anymore.
People want that high quality wine experience everywhere.
Totally.
And speaking of experiences, English Sparkling Wine,
who knew Sussex would become such a hot spot?
It's all about the terroir.
You know those chalk hills that run through Champagne?
Well, they actually continue under the English Channel,
right into Sussex.
Perfect for those classic sparkling wine grapes.
They way.
So it's the same soil, basically.
Pretty much.
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, you name it.
They thrive in that chalky soil.
And you've got the ocean breezes keeping things cool.
Makes sense their wines are giving Champagne
a run for its money.
So it's not just a fluke.
They actually have what it takes to make
fantastic sparkling wine.
Exactly.
And they're winning awards, too, not just making a lot of it.
Rathfinny, Night Timber, Ridgeview,
these are names people are starting to recognize
internationally.
That sounds like a wine tour is in order.
OK, but for our next stop, let's hop over to Moldova.
Now, it might not be the first place you think of for wine,
but they're doing something really cool,
using AI to make wine.
It's pretty cutting edge.
And it's not about replacing the human touch.
It's more like giving winemakers extra tools.
So what's AI doing for them?
It's all about data.
They can analyze everything, soil conditions, the weather,
past harvests.
AI helps them make better decisions at every step.
Like having a supercomputer as your wine consultant.
Exactly.
It helps optimize things like irrigation, fertilization, even
when to harvest.
And this is important, especially with climate change.
It can help them adapt and protect those precious grapes.
That's amazing.
Using tech to combat those challenges.
So smart.
But it's not just about technology, right?
They're also having this revival of their traditional grapes.
It's true.
They're rediscovering varieties that are native to Moldova,
like Fitesca Niagara, Rara Niagara.
These grapes make wines with a real sense of place.
You know, they tell a story.
I love that.
Honoring their roots while embracing the future.
It's a great combo.
Moldova's really got it going on.
And it makes you think about all the factors that go
into how we experience wine.
Like that article about wine labels
and how women perceive them.
That was eye-opening.
It's amazing how much influence design has, right?
Like they found that women, they tend
to rate wines with those more feminine labels, florals,
pastels, cursifons, that kind of thing.
They often write those as tasting better,
even if it's the exact same wine.
No way.
So it's like our brains are making these connections visual
to taste without us even realizing it.
It's pretty wild.
It shows you how much branding and packaging,
all those visual cues, they really
do play a role in how we perceive and enjoy wine.
Makes you wonder how much we're influenced by marketing
in general, right?
Like all those canned wines, the ones with those fun labels,
you know they're going for a certain vibe.
Oh, absolutely.
They know their audience, that's for sure.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
It's just interesting to be aware of.
Try not to judge a wine by its label, right?
Branch out.
Try different things.
Wine tastings are always a good way to do that.
Speaking of, sometimes a good story
can enhance the whole experience, even with wine.
Like celebrity wines, what do you think about those?
You know, they've gotten a bit of a bad rap,
and for good reasons sometimes.
But I do think things are changing.
A lot of celebrities are really getting involved
in the process now, working with established wineries.
Right, like Reese Witherspoon with her new drop of Sunshine
brand.
It's all about female empowerment,
bringing women together.
Fits right in with her whole Hello Sunshine thing.
Exactly, and they're good wines too.
And then you've got Dolly Parton, gotta love her,
coming out with her own line, complete with those signature
butterfly bottles.
You've seen them.
So cute, so Dolly.
So from AI winemakers to celebrity wines,
it's clear the world of wine is changing.
It's such a dynamic industry, and we've only
just scratched the surface today.
I know.
So much to explore, new regions, different grapes,
the stories behind each bottle.
There's a whole world out there for wine lovers.
Cheers to that.
Cheers.
And to all our listeners, thanks for joining us
for this deep dive into the world of wine.
Until next time.