This Week in Wine News: Highlights from January 25-26, 2026

Hello and welcome to this week’s roundup of notable wine stories from around the web. Here are some highlights I found particularly interesting:

• Making It Count
  A thoughtful examination of how to maximize the wine experience.

• The Death of the Wine Snob is the Only Way to Save the Wine Industry
  A controversial opinion on the industry’s direction.

• There’s A Lot More to New Zealand Wine Than Sauvignon Blanc
  Exploring the diverse offerings of New Zealand’s wine landscape.

• How ‘Wine Moms’ Entered the Conversation About ICE
  An analysis of wine’s role in cultural debates.

• Ditch the Tourist Traps and Drink Like a Local at These Florence Wine Bars
  Recommendations for authentic wine experiences in Florence.

• World’s largest database of historic vines nears 9,500 vineyards
  Updates on a significant initiative in vineyard preservation.

• Reconsidering a Dry January: Could Drinking Wine be Beneficial to Your Health?
  A look at studies questioning the necessity of a dry January.

• Finding the middle way: the rise of mid-strength wine
  Trends indicating a demand for lower-alcohol wine options.

• The New Drivers of Wine Tourism
  Insights into evolving motivations behind wine tourism.

• How Napa and Sonoma Wineries Are Shifting Strategies for Millennial Tastes
  Strategies being implemented to attract younger wine enthusiasts.

• Sun-Dried Raisins May Explain The Mystery of How Ancient Humans First Made Wine
  An intriguing theory about the origins of wine-making.

• What’s the Point of Points?
  A discussion on wine scoring systems.

• An acclaimed California winery, once a darling of the Pinot Noir movement, is closing
  A farewell to a notable player in the industry.

• Champagne Shipments Have Dropped for the Third Year in a Row
  An examination of the declining sales in the Champagne sector.

• Some ‘American’ wine legally contains cheap foreign juice. Can California close that loophole?
  A look into regulatory challenges within the wine industry.

• So, You Want to Land a Wine Harvest Job?
  Practical tips for aspiring vineyard workers.

• Behind The Rapid Growth: An Unsung American Vintner Is Fostering Modern Japanese Wine
  Celebrating contributions to the evolution of Japanese wine.

• A French-Inflected Town in South Africa Has Become One of the Wine World’s Hottest Destinations
  An exploration of Franschhoek’s burgeoning wine scene.

• In the U.S.-Canada Trade War, the Wine and Spirits Industry Is Still Paying the Price
  The ongoing economic impact on the wine sector.

• California millennials’ favorite winery is expanding
  Scribe Winery expands its operation, catering to a growing demographic.

• Spain’s Sparkling Wine Revolution
  Dissecting the evolving landscape of Spain’s sparkling wine production.

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks!

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!