Latest news with #wineindustry
Forbes
10 hours ago
- Health
- Forbes
Is Wine At Risk? What The Latest Gallup Poll On Alcohol Consumption Means For The U.S. Wine Industry
Couple on a Date Enjoying Wine getty Statistics from a recent Gallup poll on alcohol consumption in the U.S. are a cause of concern for the U.S. wine community, but how nervous should they be? Even more important, what actions should the industry take to ensure that consumers can still enjoy wine in moderation, and to help support thousands of small family wines businesses around the nation? In order to find some answers I reached out to Gino Colangelo, President of Colangelo & Partners, one of the largest wine-focused public relations agency in the U.S. 'The wine industry is already dealing with tariffs, a slowing economy, Ozempic, and increased competition from THC, RTD's and other alternatives to wine,' stated Gino, in an online interview. 'So the findings in this recent Gallup report are a cause of major concern.' He identified two findings in the Gallup poll that seemed to be dramatic. 'First, only 54% of American adults report that they drink alcohol. That's the lowest percentage in 90 years! And second, over 50% of respondents believe that alcohol is bad for one's health at any level of consumption.' Gino admitted that he was raised with the understanding that moderate consumption was 'Two drinks a day for men and one for women', according to the USDA. He had also been told that a moderate amount of alcohol was actually positive for one's health. 'This represents a dramatic shift,' stated Gino. 'However, for those of us who follow the media, it's not a shock. There's been an overwhelming anti-wine / alcohol bias in the news the past several years.' He referenced the fact that the Gallup report refers to 'recent research indicating that any level of alcohol consumption may negatively affect health.' 'That bias in research dominates the news, while recent studies that suggest moderate consumption is either neutral or even potentially good for one's health are ignored,' he reported. How Concerned Should the U.S. Wine Industry Be? So is the sky really falling on the wine world (as well as other alcoholic beverages), I asked Gino. 'I don't think so. I take surveys like this Gallup poll with a grain of salt, as polls can change dramatically given the timing and what people may be reading in the news that day,' he said. 'However, I actually think the Gallup poll may do the wine community a favor by getting us to focus on the challenge of reduced wine consumption and band together to address it,' he added. Steps the U.S. Wine Industry Can Take to Remain Relevant Change is a constant in businesses, and therefore it is always critical to be strategic and proactive when it comes to addressing potential threats in the environment. So what steps can the U.S. wine industry (and the global wine industry) take to remain relevant and engaged with consumers during this time? 'So many things,' responded Gino. 'The wine community should band together and proactively and relentlessly communicate consistent messages about why we love wine.' He spoke about all of the positive aspects of wine, such as the fact that it is an agricultural beverage that has been in existence for more than 8,000 years. It is part of culture, art, history, diplomacy, romance and nature. 'Plus wine is good economics for farming communities around the world, and in Italy (where Gino's ancestors are from), wine is food . But most importantly: Wine is social and has a unique ability to bring people together,' Gino stated. 'The wine community should band together and proactively and relentlessly communicate consistent messages about why we love wine.' Gino Colangelo, President of Colangelo & Partners He referenced some positive campaigns and organizations that are helping to promote wine in moderation, including Come Over October , that Gino co-founded with wine writer and educator, Karen MacNeil, and fellow wine PR pro Kimberly Charles. The organization hosts events and provides messaging for wineries to use to create their own 'Come Over' wine and friend events. 'The Come Over October campaign has garnered a lot of support from the wine world and we're reaching wine drinkers — and potential wine drinkers — with positive messages. We just need to get more wine companies and trade organizations on board so we can reach greater numbers of consumers,' he added. Other organizations that are making a positive impact are Wine America with their ' The Magic of Wine' campaign; the Wine Market Council with their 'Wine Is' social media campaign; Sonoma County Vintners' 'Wine is Us' campaign, and Napa Valley Vintner's 'Why Wine Video' campaign. In addition, there are countless state and regional winery associations that promote moderate wine consumption and support their many small family winery members by helping them to better connect with wine consumers. It's not just the larger wine producing states such as California, Washington, Oregon, New York, Virginia, Texas, Ohio, and Missouri that have such associations, but even smaller wine producing states such as Idaho, North Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, and many others. Friends Enjoying Wine and Food getty How Should the U.S. Wine Industry Respond to Anti-Wine Articles Given the large number of anti-alcohol articles that have been published in the past year, it is highly probable that this is impacting consumer sentiment. But just a couple of decades ago, wine (especially red wine) was praised for its positive health benefits, even on 60-Minutes, with their famous ' French Paradox ' show. How has the messaging flipped so completely? 'Unfortunately, the louder voices right now are anti-wine/alcohol and they're winning in the court of public opinion,' stated Gino. 'Yet, for every study showing negative effects of wine (or alcohol generally) at any level of consumption, there's another study that says moderate consumption is either neutral or can actually be positive. This makes me believe that the best response is to create a positive narrative around wine that overwhelms the negativity and anti-wine propaganda.' Toward the end of our interview, Gino added that another solution could be to provide more affordable priced glasses and bottles of wine. 'I live in New York city and am continually amazed at the By-the-Glass costs. Generally it starts at $15 and goes up from there. For a younger person particularly, that's a big investment to make in a wine they may have never even tasted before,' he said. 'I think wine companies and restaurants need to re-think the economics of wine, especially at the entry level. There's a world of excellent wine at $15 — $20/bottle of wine store shelves all over the U.S. Let's celebrate and promote those wines as well as the more aspirational and expensive bottles,' he concluded. Gino Colangelo, President of Colangelo & Partners Colangelo
The Independent
07-08-2025
- The Independent
France wildfire destroys area 1.5 times bigger than Paris
Firefighters in southern France are battling the country's largest wildfire in nearly eight decades, which has consumed over 16,000 hectares – an area one-and-a-half times the size of Paris. The blaze, located in the Aude region near the Spanish border, has resulted in one fatality, three people missing, and two critically injured, including a firefighter. Dozens of homes have been destroyed, with entire villages like Jonquières evacuated and described as a 'lunar landscape' due to the extensive damage. Although the fire is advancing more slowly, officials say it is not yet under control, and an investigation is underway to determine its cause. The region's economy, heavily reliant on wine production and tourism, has been significantly impacted.
Washington Post
07-08-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Cervecerias Unidas: Q2 Earnings Snapshot
SANTIAGO, Chile — SANTIAGO, Chile — Compania Cervecerias Unidas (CCU) on Wednesday reported a second-quarter loss of $11.8 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier. The Santiago, Chile-based company said it had a loss of 6 cents per share. The wine, spirits and soft drink company posted revenue of $612.2 million in the period.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
MGI Tech Hands with Lincoln University to Revolutionize New Zealand Viticulture with Genomics
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MGI Tech Co., Ltd. ("MGI"), a company dedicated to developing core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life sciences, has joined efforts with Lincoln University in Canterbury to address sustainable challenges in viticulture through advanced sequencing technology. The initiative aims to utilize genomics to breed better varieties of grapevines and hops that are tolerant and resistant to pests and diseases, thus reducing fungicide use across New Zealand's $2.1 billion wine export industry. Viticulture Challenges in New Zealand: Disease, Chemicals and Sustainability Pressure Viticulture is a significant economic source of revenue for New Zealand, ranking as the nation's sixth-largest export earner.[1] However, like many primary sectors, it faces intensifying pressure to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact. The country's vineyards are particularly vulnerable to fungal diseases, often requiring frequent and broad-spectrum spraying to maintain vine health and grape quality. Each year, New Zealand farmers apply approximately 3,400 tonnes of pesticides. Alarmingly, under the US Environmental Protection Agency classification, 60% of fungicides and 72% of plant growth regulators used locally are considered potential carcinogens. This has placed the sector in the crosshairs of consumer and environmental scrutiny, particularly as climate change drives more volatile weather conditions that heighten disease risks.[2] New Pathways from Genomics To address these challenges, a team of New Zealand scientists has started a genomic study to reduce the wine sector's reliance on chemical sprays. By using advanced sequencing technology, researchers can now rapidly scan thousands of grapevine samples to identify those with natural resistance to disease and environmental stress. Associate Professor Christopher Winefield, from Lincoln University's Department of Wine, Food & Molecular Biosciences, who first introduced genomics into his research to explore traits like fungal tolerance and soil health response, is now scaling the project significantly through MGI's high-throughput sequencing platform. This approach not only opens a pathway to breed more resilient grape varieties, it also enables real-time monitoring of vineyard conditions, laying the foundation for more targeted, sustainable and cost-effective vineyard management. The genomics practices allow scientists to map the natural genetic diversity within thousands of grapevines, identifying those with inherent disease resistance. Early findings suggest that, with targeted intervention informed by this data, chemical spray use could be reduced by up to 80% in some vineyards. "You're never going to get to zero," says Winefield , "but even removing a single late-season spray has multiple benefits – lower costs, less residue in the wine and reduced pressure on soil health and the environment." The MGI Sequencing: Achieving Genomics at Scale Lincoln University researchers have installed the MGI DNBSEQ-G400 genome sequencer, a next-generation sequencing platform enabling unprecedented scale and speed in genomics with economic cost. Traditionally, testing a few hundred grapevine samples per year was considered standard. Now, the lab can process over 50,000 annually – a one-hundredfold increase in volume. "The introduction of MGI sequencing tools has really helped democratise sequencing for small teams like myself," says Winefield. "The cost of that sequencing is highly competitive. We're now looking to process up to 50,000 samples a year – we simply couldn't do that without MGI's support" The MGI DNBSEQ-G400 platform can also support real-time sequencing to detect pathogens like powdery mildew and mealybug. This enables precision agriculture approaches, where interventions are localised rather than applied uniformly. "Instead of scheduled spraying, farmers can move to evidence-based treatment. It's a shift from blanket coverage to pinpoint accuracy. That means fewer chemicals in the environment and better resistance management," says Winefield. The genomic data is also helping scientists identify vines that are more resilient under water stress or nutrient limitations – a key consideration as climate volatility increases. Dr. Bicheng Yang, Director of MGI Australia, says the project showcases how modern genomics can drive sustainability. "This is a powerful example of how cutting-edge technology supports the future of agriculture. By helping researchers uncover the genetic drivers of disease resistance, we're enabling the industry to move away from chemical dependency and toward natural plant resilience." The ability to conduct these tests domestically also removes the logistical and financial barriers of sending samples overseas, saving critical time during the growing season. A Commercial Vision: Democratising Genomic Testing Beyond academia, the project has commercial ambitions. Winefield and his colleagues are forming a standalone venture to bring affordable genomic testing to the country's broader agriculture sector. The startup will serve viticulture, horticulture, and dairy farms, giving producers access to real-time insights previously confined to high-cost labs. "This is about getting world-class science into farmers' hands," Winefield says. "Our goal is to process a million samples annually at launch and grow to 10 million within five years." This data-driven model would enable even small-scale producers to detect early signs of disease, make proactive crop management decisions, and cut down on unnecessary chemical inputs. Environmental and Economic Impact The implications of the study extend well beyond New Zealand. With international viticulture facing similar challenges, the Canterbury research could become a blueprint for sustainable production globally. According to Winefield, New Zealand's unique microclimates and robust science infrastructure make it an ideal testbed. "New Zealand may never feed the world by volume," he says, "but we can lead through better science. Exporting our genomic insights, tools and resilient plant stock could transform productivity and environmental outcomes for global agriculture." Toward a National Infrastructure Winefield envisions a future where genomic diagnostics become as routine in farming as soil testing or weather tracking. "This isn't just about grapevines. Whether it's hops, kiwifruit, apples or livestock, we can use this data to reduce disease pressure, improve yields and make smarter input decisions." Climate change adds urgency. With warmer, wetter conditions driving earlier and more aggressive outbreaks of disease, traditional spraying schedules are proving less effective. The genomic model offers farmers the precision and agility to adapt to real-time environmental changes. About MGI: MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (or its subsidiaries, together referred to as MGI) is committed to building core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life science. Our focus lies in research & development, manufacturing, and sales of instruments, reagents, and related products in the field of life science and biotechnology. We provide real-time, multi-omics, and a full spectrum of digital equipment and systems for precision medicine, agriculture, healthcare, and various other industries. Founded in 2016, MGI has grown into a leader in life science, serving customers across six continents and establishing research, manufacturing, training, and after-sales service facilities globally. MGI stands out as one of the few companies capable of independently developing and mass-producing clinical-grade gene sequencers with varying throughput capacities, ranging from Gb to Tb levels. With unparalleled expertise, cutting-edge products, and a commitment to global impact, MGI continues to shape the trajectory of life sciences into the future. For more information, please visit LinkedIn, X and YouTube. [1] New Zealand wine continues to defy market trends, growing for 16th consecutive year in the US. (n.d.). New Zealand Wine. [2] Primary Industry Trade at Risk Unless Assurance is Tightened - Our Land & Water - Toitū te Whenua, Toiora te Wai. (n.d.). Our Land & Water - Toitū Te Whenua, Toiora Te Wai. 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ABC News
21-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Drought and ballooning water prices force wine growers to leave vineyards behind
Ballooning water prices in Australia's largest wine grape growing region are pushing farmers to the brink, with many unable to break even. Growers fear the soaring price on the water market will be the "nail in the coffin" for the industry. The low returns have been caused by a mixture of environmental and market conditions, including tariffs, a decline in wine drinkers and frost. A worldwide oversupply of red wine has also seen prices offered for shiraz, cabernet and merlot plummet to record lows. As drought continues to plague parts of southern Australia, growers are now faced with the increasingly tough reality of supply and demand on the water market. Growers are finding themselves needing more water to keep their crops viable during dry conditions as well as paying more to lease the finite resource. Some have told the ABC they have had to use 30 per cent more water, with prices as high as $350 a megalitre, and fear further rises could be on the horizon. Data by water consultancy Ricardo Group showed temporary water prices reached up to $350 per megalitre in the past year. Ricardo Group Market leads associate director Ben Williams said water trade prices fluctuated between $280 to $330 per megalitre between May and June. Prices were higher than the average water price in the lower Murray over the past decade, which sat around $200 per megalitre. Loveday grower Jim Giahgias is among growers feeling the impact of rising water prices, despite owning some permanent water rights. He has been forced to rely on the temporary water market — where water can be bought, sold and traded based on demand — which has seen prices increase partly due to the drought. It has left Mr Giahgias contemplating to pull out some of his red grape vines to cut costs, as he battles with the perception that grape growers are "millionaires". He said he wanted consumers to know while they might pay $50 a bottle at a restaurant, the grower does not see the profits. He explained the 20-cent gross amount did not account for farmers expenses, including water, leaving them "$150 a tonne out of pocket". While he said he found it difficult having to buy more water the situation was "a lot more dire" for those who leased every drop. Farmers in the Murray-Darling without permanent water rights, or those who do not own enough, rely on buying water from the temporary market. The longer it does not rain, the more water people need to buy, causing a spike in both demand and temporary water prices. In 2019-2021 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) conducted a water markets inquiry, following irrigators' claims that non-farming investors have driven up the price they pay for water. Since then, a Water Markets Intermediaries Code has been developed, and has partially come into effect from this month, regulating how eligible intermediaries water markets conduct themselves with current and proposed clients. Riverland Winegrape Growers Association board member Jack Papageorgiou said the situation on the ground was "serious" for those totally reliant on the market. He said some growers had inadvertently used more water than they were allowed, due to the dry conditions, and had no funds to balance their accounts. There are significant penalties for water overuse in South Australia, which has forced water suppliers to clamp down on growers who cannot pay their bills. Suppliers to Riverland growers include the Renmark and Central Irrigation Trusts, which are collectives of irrigators and farmers who share water supply infrastructure. CIT chief executive officer Greg McCarron said water supplies were only locked as a "last resort" to avoid exposing the collective to large fines. "Non-compliance from farmers … can result in us not being able to balance our water accounts with the state government and face significant overuse fines," he said. A Department for Environment and Water spokesperson said no water overuse penalties had been issued in the 2024-25 financial year. The spokesperson said penalties were "at least three times higher than the price of purchasing water on the water market" and could be higher in the River Murray. For growers like Amanda Dimas, who has already replaced vines in favour of more profitable varieties, the uncertainty of the water market remained troubling. "Growers are really struggling, their mental health isn't good." She called for government support to assist growers wanting to transition to other crops or exit the industry completely. "Vines are one of the hardest things to remove, they are so costly," Ms Dimas said. It costs about $7,000 per hectare to remove vines, partly because the treated pine posts are difficult to dispose of. Mr Giahgias said the only way for the industry to "survive and move forward" was to pull grape varieties which were no longer profitable. "We can't take anymore, we're at breaking point now," he said. "If the decision is to remove vineyards, to help the industry, I believe it has to be legislated … one grower can't be pulling while the other is planting." State Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said the state government was investing in ongoing work examining wine grape growers' transition. "Some of the funded work has been around what alternative crops might look like or what alternative varieties may look like," Ms Scriven said. As a member of the National Wine Working Group, she said some of the group's recommendations were a need for "structural changes" within the industry. "It's not necessarily a matter of government intervention, it's a matter of industry continuing to work through the issues." Ms Scriven said exit packages were not receiving "a great deal of support" at a state or federal government level, referencing the 1980s vine pull scheme as an example. "That sort of government intervention can have absolutely unintended consequences, which could make it worse for growers rather than better." Riverland Wine general manager Alexandra Cannon said financial support for growers to leave the industry was essential. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine's latest data showed the global vineyard area reduced for a fourth consecutive year. Spain and France are some of the world's largest wine grape growing countries and are among those ripping out vines. In France, the government launched a 120 million euro ($215.6 million) scheme to remove up to 30,000 acres of vineyards last year. Growers were offered a financial incentive of 4,000 euros ($7,190) per hectare. Mr Giahgias said similar subsidies were needed in Australia but felt growers were unheard, describing the situation at 'stalemate'.
