OWC The sales of zero-alcohol wines are now out performing Low ABV wines, according to a recent report in drinksbusiness.com. In the UK the demand for low and no alcohol product is expected to have more than doubled in 2024 compared with 2023. While low alcohol sales of wine dropped by 5% in 2024. No alcohol sales rose by 8%, with the growth attributed to the sparkling wine sector. The sales of non alcohol fizz grew 3.5% in the 52 weeks to 20th April this year compared to the same period in 2023/24, while the spend on non alcoholic still wine declined by 1.8% over the same period.
OWC A quote from a recent article in Gigwise - “The next time you attend an upscale gathering, don’t be surprised if, alongside or instead of the Champagne, you’re offered something that fizzes like a premium seltzer but delivers an entirely different kind of buzz. Just remember that, unlike alcohol, where effects can be unpredictable, with these beverages, moderation and mindfulness are built right into the experience.” The article entitled Celebrity - Endorsed Cannabis Drinks made mention that a contributing factor to the rise in popularity of Cannabis drinks is the lack of 'hangovers'.
OWC With news that the popular whiskey brand Chapter 11 has filed for bankruptcy. It highlights the situation where some Spirits distillers have been forced to reorganize their businesses and restructure debt, sometimes filing for bankruptcy, after rising operating costs from inflation and a decrease in consumer spending on alcohol after the Covid-19 pandemic led to a decline in profits. Problems this year were preceded by financial issues in 2024. Spirits supplier sales in the U.S. declined 1.1% in 2024 for a total of $37.2 billion, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States reported in its Annual Economic Briefing in February 2025.
OWC A new study has revealed that drinking white wine and bubbly seems to bring down the risk of a cardiac arrest. The study from Fudan University in Shanghai looked at the health data of 500,000 middle to older aged individuals in the UK. Their findings suggested that a higher consumption of champagne or white wine, more fruit, maintaining a positive mood, staying a healthy weight and keeping blood pressure under control were found to give the biggest boost to heart health. Nicolas Grubic of the University of Toronto said 'the study casts doubt on the long - held belief that red wine was better for you than white'.
OWC Well, with this splendid Spring weather kidding us that Summer has arrived experts have confirmed that people get inebriated more in Summer than Winter. Nagoya University researchers in Japan set out to find whether alcohol tolerance and carbohydrate metabolism changed with the seasons. For their tests they reared mice under Summer and Winter conditions and found that mice reared under Winter conditions recovered from alcohol intoxication more quickly. This may go some way to explaining why your Summer sips of G&T and Prosecco hits you harder than your Winter warmer of Red Wine and Whisky!
OWC Scientists have pinpointed the exact age that smoking, lack of exercise and heavy drinking start taking their toll. It's aged 36. Ditching unhealthy lifestyle choices early in life boosts the odds of having a happy, healthy old age.
OWC One of Britain’s longest-running breweries will be closing its factory after 40 years. Exmoor Ales has been supplying pints to pubs from its factory in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, since 1979. The firm’s managing director, Jonathan Price, recently announced that the company will be moving production to the Hogs Back Brewery, Surrey. Breweries, like many hospitality-related businesses, suffered when pubs and restaurants were forced to shut in the pandemic lockdowns. Rising inflation since then has led to higher costs of raw materials and services. Recent tax changes brought in by the government mean employers are also paying a higher rate of national insurance than before.
OWC New UK packaging waste regulations means there has never been such a spotlight on the cost of and type of packaging that wine producers, importers and retailers are using. Vinca, the organic canned wine company, claims it is the first wine business to introduce full-sized recyclable aluminium bottles that it says has a 47% lower carbon footprint than glass. Aluminium is one of the most recycled materials globally. Around 75% of all aluminium ever made is still in use.
It’s lighter than glass, reducing transport emissions, and unlike glass and plastic, it doesn’t degrade in quality when recycled. Vinca bottles are made entirely from PCR (post-consumer recycled) aluminium.
OWC The prestigious World Whiskies Awards competition has heralded The GlenAllachie Speyside Single Malt 12 Years Old as the winner for 2025. It beat 29 other top single malts from around the world, including five other Scots, to claim the title of the world's best. GlenAllachie was opened in 1967 in Aberlour, Scotland, at the foot of Ben Rinnes mountain. It was shuttered in 1985 and sat silent for four years before Pernod Richard/Campbell Distillers purchased it to serve as a production facility for scotch to be used in its premium blended Chivas Regal. Recognising its potential, legendary Master Distiller Billy Walker, famous for reviving once forgotten distilleries BenRiach, Glendronach, and Glenglassaugh, purchased the distillery and brand in 2017. Its success has gone spiralling upwards since then.
OWC AI is transforming the very foundation of winemaking: the vineyard. Traditionally, vineyard management has relied heavily on human expertise and experience to monitor soil health, weather conditions, and grape growth. However, with the introduction of AI, these processes are becoming more data-driven and precise. Looking ahead, the role of AI in the wine industry is only set to expand. From improving sustainability practices in vineyards to offering more personalized wine experiences for consumers, AI is poised to play a critical role in the future of winemaking.
