Insights

The critical factor in terroir

It's wrong to focus on soil and climate alone, says Roger Morris. The most critical factor in creating terroir is finding the right grape.

The secret to making a luxury wine

Billions have been made by turning functional goods into luxury items, says Robert Joseph. He admits he's a sucker for a Veblen good or two himself.

US importers stick to the old French wine prices

US wine retailers have maintained their optimism in the face of the tariffs on wine, finds Jeff Siegel. Surprisingly, demand has not yet shifted to other wine categories.

How one French producer is navigating the US tariffs

What do you do when you discover that your inexpensive wines are about to be priced out of the market? This was the dilemma facing Quintessential Wines, the US importer of Georges Duboeuf. Andrew Chalk Reports.

The real reason consumers reject Riesling

It's not just that consumers identify it as "too sweet", says Roger Morris. It's also that it's not very food friendly.

Why Australian wine is so successful in China

Jim Boyce takes a close look at Australian wine in China and concludes that there's more to its success than the usual explanations.

Is wine premiumisation a doom loop?

Damien Wilson, of Sonoma State University, has a warning for the US wine industry: wine premiumisation can be a path to ruin. He explains why.

Selling wine in China outside the top-tier cities

Robert Joseph has been on a tour of China's smaller cities and he has some thoughts on what it takes to sell wine outside Shanghai and Beijing.

The sham of authentic winemaking

If authenticity in winemaking is so important, then shouldn’t it mean something? Roger Morris thinks the word "authentic" has become meaningless.

Are California's fires a sign of the new normal?

The catastrophic Kincade fire may be contained, but is it a sign of things to come? If so, will wine producers have to plan for wild fires? Jeff Siegel looks at the evidence.

Alto Adige prepares for climate change

At the Aldo Adige Wine Summit, dealing with climate change and invasive pests was on the agenda. Michèle Shah reports.

The economics of ageing wine

What is ageing wine worth, and who should be responsible? Robert Joseph looks at an issue that's far from simple.

Burgundy may not be such a great investment after all

The financial media has claimed that investing in fine wine yields better returns than other asset classes. Andrew Chalk looks at one of these claims and finds it's full of holes.

Inside China’s digital wine fortress

Do you know your two micros from your one shake? If not, Janet Wang is here to guide you through China’s digital wine economy.

France tries an alternative to organic

While there is an urgent environmental need to reduce pesticides, not every vigneron can go organic. Olivier Thery looks at the HVE alternative.