More wildfires, South Africa harvest starts, New Zealand floods, Prosecco up, Champagne down

This week Sam discusses weather hazards around the world, the latest statistics from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), changes to the Chianti DOCG and a few scholarship opportunities and events.

This week Sam discusses a new wave of WSET diploma graduates, Trump tariffs, the 2025 Bordeaux en primeur campaign, France’s plan for more uprooting, Pernod Ricard and Brown-Foreman calling off merger talks, RNDC laying off more employees and the OIV’s call for potential presentations at their World Congress.

This week Sam discusses 2024 vintage declarations for port, St Supéry’s acquisition of Rudd, Caterpillar’s acquisition of Monarch tractors, a frost on the US East Coast, updated information on the frost in Champagne, Systembolaget – Sweden’s alcohol monopoly – updating their buying criteria to include analysis of a wine’s carbon footprint and the Liberty Justice Center’s creation of an online platform to help US businesses recover unlawfully collected tariffs.

This week Sam discusses frost damage in France, ANSES’ battle to do away with copper fungicides, new data on champagne and Georgian wine exports, the continued boom in UK wine production, Juvé y Camps joining Corpinnat and how the global alcohol downturn is affecting several large beverage companies.

This week Sam discusses the Old Vine Registry reaching a new milestone, frost in France, a new category for Asti, Sula’s purchase of a Moët Hennessy production facility in India, Georgia’s new law requiring state approval for the establishment of vineyards, an EU–Australia trade deal and harvest and growing season updates from South Africa and Washington State.