This week Sam discusses a human-trafficking case in Champagne, a reduction in the allowable harvest yield in Champagne, hail in Sancerre and the Gard, fire in Columbia Gorge AVA in Oregon, developers trying to push through a resort on protected land in Barossa, and the passing of Angela Muir MW.

You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/champagne-news-hail-hits-loire-barossa-uproar-rip-angela-muir-mw.

This week Sam discusses the World Health Organization’s push to raise prices on alcohol, the lifting of inter-provincial alcohol trade barriers in Canada, Ireland delaying requirements for cancer warnings on alcohol, increased government aid for wine in Australia, regulatory changes approved by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), nine new Master Sommeliers, and finally, an Australian man who made national news for riding a wine bag like a surfboard.

You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/whos-health-taxes-more-australian-wine-aid-nine-new-master-sommeliers.

This week Sam discusses Vietnam’s tax hike, hail and fires in France, the shuttering of an organic certification body in Australia, Burgundian investment in the UK and Dr Richard Smart’s passing.

You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/hail-and-fires-france-australian-organics-upset-burgundy-uk-venture.

This week Sam discusses huge storms in France, a French study on the level of microplastics in various packaged beverages, protests in France over rock-bottom supermarket pricing, human trafficking in Champagne, Vietnam raising taxes on alcohol, and 67 Pall Mall’s latest location.

You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/french-protests-and-storms-microplastics-beverages-human-trafficking-champagne.

This week Sam discusses Meininger’s International shutting down, Oregon vineyard-management companies merging, ICE raids, a potential win for US alcohol guidance, and the Barca-Velha Golden Vines Scholarships.

You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/meiningers-international-shuts-down-oregon-vineyard-management-juggernaut-ice-raids.

This week Sam discusses Trump’s tariff lawsuits, bans on US alcohol in Canada, the Old Vine Registry introducing maps, Tablas Creek bottling 14 Châteauneuf-du-Pape varieties as single-varietal wines, Treasury Estates launching a NoLo facility, France’s deposit-based recycling scheme and, finally, recent ICE raids.

You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/treasury-estates-bets-nolos-varietal-muscardin-mapping-old-vineyards-french-glass.

This week Sam discusses Mt Etna’s recent eruption, the US’s second-largest wine-and-spirits distributor exiting California, a slight reform in Sweden’s alcohol monopoly, and Vinarchy – the company that married the wine assets of Accolade and Pernod Ricard – announcing closures and investments.

You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/mt-etna-eruption-rndc-abandons-california-vinarchy-investments.

This week Sam discusses lawsuits against the Trump administration’s tariffs, new maps for Marlborough, Chile’s 2025 harvest, the Albeisa Consorzio lightweighting wine bottles, and new research on the power of soil microorganisms to control downy mildew.

You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/tariff-lawsuits-chiles-2025-harvest-lightweighting-bottles-harnessing-soil-microbes.

This week Sam discusses severe storms in Madiran, Bordeaux, Languedoc, Irouléguy, Savoie and the Var, a surge in Australian wine exports, a hit to the fine-wine market, and a brief update on 2024 bordeaux en primeur.

You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/france-hit-severe-storms-australian-wine-exports-surge-fine-wine-sales-slump.

This week Sam discusses strikes at Pernod Ricard and LVMH, a new report on why Gen Z isn’t drinking, the lowering of tariffs between the US and China, Provence’s first cru, and Mouton-Rothschild’s price drop for 2024 Bordeaux en primeur.

You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/champagne-house-strikes-why-gen-z-isnt-drinking-china-tariffs-provences-first-cru.