The Wine News in 5 from JancisRobinson.com

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. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/brutal-weather-threatens-vineyards-chianti-rose-latest-global-wine-stats.

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. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/2025-bordeaux-en-primeur-france-uproot-vines-oiv-call-proposals.

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. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/2024-port-update-st-supery-buys-rudd-caterpillar-acquires-monarch-tariff-refund-help.

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. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/uk-wine-production-booming-georgian-exports-cavas-latest-loss-frost-updates.

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. 30 March 2026 – This newscast states that, under the new free-trade agreement, Australian products labelled ‘Prosecco’ will no longer be allowed to be sold to the EU. Australian ‘Prosecco’ has not been allowed to be sold in the EU since the protection of the Prosecco GI within the EU, effective 2009. The new EU–Australia deal restricts exports of Australian ‘Prosecco’ to any country. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/old-vine-registry-milestone-frost-france-asti-rose-sula-expands-eu-australia-trade-deal.

This week Sam discusses the death of Michel Rolland, the effect of rising oil prices on the wine industry, Argentina’s declining consumption, Germany’s changing export market, California’s shrinking vineyards, THC drinks in the US and Oregon’s new sparkling-wine producer organisation. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/rip-michel-rolland-california-vineyards-shrink-method-oregon-launched. *This episode misstates that Michel Rolland was 79 at the time of his death – he was 78.

This week Sam discusses flooding in Bordeaux and Victoria, Champagne’s emission reductions, the plight of two co-operatives in the Pyrénées-Orientales, Jackson Family’s recent closure and acquisition, gold mining in Victoria and the start of harvest in New Zealand and Australia. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/harvest-starts-down-under-jackson-family-news-pruning-kayak-french-co-ops-crisis.

This week Sam discusses Trump tariffs, flooding in Bordeaux and Victoria, lawsuits in France over copper fungicides, the complete buyout of Freixenet Cava by Germany’s Henkell group and bribery at Southern Glazer’s. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/flooding-bordeaux-and-victoria-bribery-southern-glazers-tariff-update.

This week Sam discusses this morning’s ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States, a laundry list of sales, closures and lay-offs in the US, the sale of Ridgeview Wine Estate in the UK, Wales hiking the minimum price of alcohol and Spain’s vineyard area dropping to the lowest level in 50 years. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/scotus-rules-tariffs-downsizing-us-and-spains-vineyard-area-shrinks.

This week Sam discusses floods in Spain and Portugal, floods and landslides in southern Italy, the closing of Monarch Tractor, a trade deal for China and South Africa, French wine and spirits exports falling to their lowest level in 25 years, budbreak in California and a legal case in Australia. You can read the transcript of this newscast (with linked news sources) at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/floods-hit-spain-portugal-italy-monarch-tractor-shuttered-early-budbreak-california.