Dionysus wine news
Harvests, ratings, sales and new releases from the wine world, each story with its sources.
Friday 30 October
Wines Experience schedules 150 producers in Mexico City
Wines Experience is scheduled for 5–6 November in Mexico City with 150 producers and more than 1,000 labels.
Cork-sealed wines account for 62.3% of US off-premise wine revenue, industry study says
Cork-sealed wines generated $7.74 billion, or 62.3%, of US off-premise wine revenue in the 52 weeks from July 2025 to July 2026, according to research by APCOR and the NCC.
Texas’s first cooperage brings local white oak into focus
WineBusiness reported on 30 October 2026 that Texas winemakers and distillers are exploring local white oak with the state’s first cooperage.
French bulk wine market rebounds in 2025/26 campaign
Vins de France bulk-wine transactions reached 2.6 million hectolitres in the 2025/26 campaign, up 10% from the previous marketing year, FranceAgriMer reported on 20 October 2026.
UK raises alcohol duties by 4.55% in Autumn Budget
The UK government announced a 4.55% rise in alcohol duties on 28 October 2026, adding about 14p to a bottle of Prosecco according to the Wine & Spirit Trade Association.
Chile asks US to widen tariff exemptions as wine remains subject to 12.5% surcharge
Chile asked the United States on 29 October 2026 to expand exemptions from a 12.5% tariff surcharge that still affects Chilean wine.
Contracted bulk Vins de France volumes rise 10% in 2025/26
Contracted bulk Vins de France volumes rose 10% to 2.6 million hectolitres in the 2025/26 campaign, according to figures attributed to Meininger’s International.
Heineken places all its South African wine labels under strategic review
Heineken said on 28 October 2026 that all its South African wine labels are under strategic review; no decision to sell wine assets has been announced.
Argentina’s wine sales fell 4.7% in September 2026
Argentina marketed 707,145 hectolitres of wine in September 2026, 4.7% less than a year earlier, according to figures attributed to the National Vitiviniculture Institute.
Rare older wines lead a selective Champagne recovery, Liv-ex says
Salon and Selosse assortment cases accounted for 11.5% of Champagne’s traded value in 2026 as rare older wines led a selective secondary-market recovery, according to Liv-ex.
INAO clears vineyard names for Crémant de Bourgogne labels
Gambero Rosso reported on 30 October 2026 that INAO had cleared individual vineyard names for Crémant de Bourgogne labels after 15 years of discussions.
Wine Paris targets wider international participation for 2027
Wine Paris will run from 15 to 17 February 2027, with two Chinese pavilions and first-time participation from Brazil and Canada.
Maison Marques et Domaines adds Champagne Deutz to its UK portfolio
Maison Marques et Domaines added Champagne Deutz to its UK portfolio in 2026, the importer’s 40th-anniversary year.
Wine Spectator publisher Marvin R. Shanken dies at 83
Marvin R. Shanken, founder of M. Shanken Communications and longtime editor and publisher of Wine Spectator, died on October 29, 2026, aged 83.
Randall Wine Group plans to remove about 1,220 hectares of Australian vineyards
Randall Wine Group plans vineyard removals totalling about 1,220 hectares after taking out 240 hectares across 6 sites in 2 years.
US wholesale wine volume fell 8% in the year through September
US wholesale wine volume declined 8% over 12 months, while white blends, Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc recorded revenue growth among wines priced at $9 and above.
German wine export revenue falls 3% in first half of 2026
German wine exports held steady by volume in the first half of 2026, but revenue fell 3% as weaker US sales outweighed gains in Nordic markets.
Thursday 29 October
Court approves RNDC plan as distributor continues wind-down
A Texas bankruptcy court confirmed the Chapter 11 plan for RNDC and its debtor subsidiaries on 27 October. Implementation and creditor settlements still require follow-up.
Saturday 24 October
Barolo en primeur raises a record €1.14 million for charity
Barolo en primeur raised a record €1,140,500 at Grinzane Cavour on 23 October. A further Barolo Gustava barrel is due to be auctioned on 8 November.
