Wine News: What I’m Reading the Week of October 18, 2026

Welcome to this week’s roundup of wine stories worth your time, gathered from around the web.

• Wine: It’s the People’s Drink — A reflection on wine’s role in bringing people together.
• Pedro Parra: We need to replant Burgundy, the system isn’t working — Burgundy faces a rootstock crisis as drought threats grow.
• Will a decade-long family feud cause this pioneering 45-year-old California winery to self-destruct? — A look at the struggle over Adelaida Vineyards.
• Experts studied the world’s longest-living people—and found something surprising about their drinking habits — The findings suggest wine can fit into the habits of long-lived populations.
• Savatiano and the Old Vines of Attica — An exploration of old vines and what “old” means.
• How El Niño Impacts a Wine Vintage — A look at how the climate pattern can shape a vintage.
• Shiraz and the wine industry Iran lost after 1979 — History and speculation about Iran’s vanished wine industry.
• The Decisions That Will Define Wine in 2027 — The choices facing the wine business in the coming year.
• Next Wave Awards Sommelier of the Year: Matt Turner — A profile of this year’s honoree.
• Why Jancis Robinson Remains Optimistic About Wine — Dave McIntyre speaks with Jancis Robinson about her outlook.
• California loses nearly 10% of vineyard acreage in a year — A report on the state’s shrinking vineyard area.
• Priorat’s Slate and the Return to Elegance: Jordi Fernández of Gratavinum — An interview on Priorat and its wines.
• Why Vesuvius was an opportunity for Roman wine investors — A historical look at wine investment in the shadow of the volcano.
• Australia Joins the Global Vine Pull — The country is offering $100 million in government loans to remove vineyards.
• Move Over, Champagne: Ultra-Aged American Sparkling Wine Is Here — A look at costly American sparkling wines aged on the lees for extended periods.
• Behind the scenes at ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2026 — A glimpse into the competition.
• Arguably wine’s most labor-intensive process, this California winemaker has been at it for 25 years — A California producer’s quarter-century devotion to making Amarone-style wine.
• Samvel Machanyan of Alluria Wines on Natural Wine, Native Grapes and the Renaissance of Armenian Winemaking — An interview about Armenia’s winemaking revival.
• EU wine industry welcomes rejection of tougher alcohol warnings — The industry responds to the rejection of stricter warning requirements.
• What happens when data centers come to wine country? — A serious question for wine regions where water is scarce.

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!