RIP Michel Rolland, California vineyards shrink, Method Oregon launched

2025 bordeaux en primeur, France to uproot vines, OIV call for proposals

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.

2024 port update, St Supéry buys Rudd, Caterpillar acquires Monarch, tariff refund help

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.

UK wine production booming, Georgian exports up, Cava’s latest loss, frost updates

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.

Old Vine Registry milestone, frost in France, Asti rosé, Sula expands, EU–Australia trade deal

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.

RIP Michel Rolland, California vineyards shrink, Method Oregon launched

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.