Listen to Industry News and other Insights on the Bevcast Podcast Channel on Soundcloud. Bevcast Weekly News is a news series giving you a quick look at the most important news, trends and developments of the week.

Bevcast Weekly News is brought to you by China Wine Competition, which is an international wine competition that Beverage Trade Network hosts in Shanghai where wines are judged For On-Premise Market on Food Pairability, Typicity, Value, Quality, and Package.

 Submission is now open for the 2019 China Wine Competition. Please visit ChinaWineCompetition.com for more information on how winning the China Wine Competition medal can help you grow your wine brand.

So gear up for your week ahead - these are our top stories of the week.

*To listen to the full Podcast and more, kindly stay tuned into BevCast channel on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Wine.com Celebrates the Millennial Wine Buyer

At the ninth annual Industry Growth Summit, Wine.com detailed the growing role of millennials and mobile in the wine retail business. Millennials now account for one-third of Wine.com shoppers. Moreover, this demographic is now the fastest-growing one at Wine.com, with sales up 33 percent over the past 12 months.

Low and No-Alcohol Beverages a Growing Trend Worldwide

With millennials so important, what types of wines are they purchasing? According to the IWSR, low- and no-alcohol beverages are experiencing a worldwide boost in demand, especially in the UK and U.S. One major factor is the health and wellness trend, which is leading to younger wine drinkers cutting back on consumption.

Target Unveils New Line of Private Label Wines Priced Under $10

With the goal of winning over young millennial drinkers looking for budget-priced, easy-drinking wines, mega-retailer Target is launching a new in-house label called The Collection. The five wines in the collection will be priced at $9.99. Target partnered with a family-owned winery that emphasizes sustainable, environmentally friendly practices.

Forget the Millennial Generation, It’s Time To Attract Generation X

Right now, the wine industry is so obsessed with younger Millennials and older Baby Boomers that it might be forgetting about Generation X. Forbes magazine looked at new approaches for reaching this important demographic of wine drinkers (age 38 to 53) that is now entering a peak period of income and spending.

One Big Beneficiary of Climate Change Has Been English Winemakers

Until recently, England was too cold and too damp for high-quality winemaking. However, warm spring seasons and dry, sunny summers are helping winemakers create world-class sparkling wines that may soon rival those from the Champagne region. Within England, 2018 is now being called “the harvest of the century.”

The Concept of Food and Wine Pairings Might Not Work in China

Speaking at a New Zealand wine conference, an influential wine critic downplayed the importance of food and wine pairings. That’s especially the case in China, where trying to force the concept of the “perfect pairing” on Chinese consumers could be “one of the biggest disasters the wine industry has ever seen.”

Rhone Wines Are Experiencing a New Burst of Popularity

As Rhone-style wines gain in popularity, it is leading to experimentation around the world with famous Rhone grapes such as Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. Australia, for example, has coined a new term – “Barossa Nouveau” – to describe wines made from Grenache. White Rhone wines are also seeing a boost in popularity.

Wine Lovers Are Discovering Piedmont’s Hidden Wine Treasures

The Piedmont wine region in northwest Italy is primarily known for Barolo and Barbaresco. However, wine drinkers are starting to discover other grape varieties from Piedmont beyond Nebbiolo, including Nascetta, Ruché, Pelaverga and Freisa. Renewed attention on Piedmont might also lead to greater awareness of the region’s Barbera and Moscato wines.

Australian Winemakers Look For a Way to Go Premium

Despite the many high quality, terroir-driven wines being produced in Australia right now, many consumers still think of Australian wines as being “cheap and cheerful.” Brands like Yellow Tail only reinforce that image. Moreover, a new focus on Chinese exports might also make it harder to establish premium Australian wine brands.

Domestic Wine Sales Up 3% in January in United States

Traditionally, the period after the winter holidays is one of slower growth. However, according to the Wine Analytics Report, the U.S. market still posted $3.2 billion in sales for January 2019, which represents a 3 percent increase from the year-earlier period. Sales for the most recent 12-month period were $48 billion.

The Direct-to-Consumer Shipping Model Continues to Grow in Popularity

Wine consumers are looking for ways to skip the visit to the local retail store. Instead, they’d prefer to order wine over the Internet and have it shipped right to their door. The size of the DTC shipping model grew 12 percent in 2018, and now stands at close to $3 billion.

Kentucky Could Be Next US State To Get Wine Shipping

Here’s more proof that the DTC market is gaining momentum: Kentucky is now pushing for a state law on wine shipping that will enable each person in the state to receive up to 24 cases of wine annually. Currently, Kentucky is one of only five states in America that does not allow wine shipping.

California Bulk Wines Sales Sluggish in 2019

Global wine broker Ciatti has released its “California Report” for February 2019. Prices and demand for California bulk wine are down across the board for every varietal. One major factor is the record crop in 2018. The California bulk wine market is on pace for its weakest performance since 2010.

Cannabis Could Pose Long-Term Risk to US Alcohol Industry

With recreational cannabis now legal in 10 U.S. states, the U.S. alcohol industry is keeping a close eye on changing consumption habits. According to a new research report from IWSR, young millennials now represent 45% of “dualists” who consume both cannabis and alcohol, and that number is expected to grow.

Constellation Looking to Sell Off Non-Premium Wine Brands

The world’s biggest drinks conglomerates are doubling down on premium wine brands. Case in point: Constellation has reiterated its desire to sell or discontinue all wine brands that are not “power brands.” That follows news that Pernod Ricard is also looking to sell its non-premium wine brands.

AB InBev Finds a New Use for Zero-Alcohol Beer: Biofuel

The current trend toward low and no-alcohol beer might have some interesting implications for sustainable energy initiatives. For example, Anheuser-Busch InBev is working with a Belgian biofuel producer to repurpose wasted alcohol from no-alcohol beers such as Hoegaarden and Leffe Blond into biofuel.

America’s Smallest Wine Appellation, Now on Sale for $3.3 Million

Ever dreamed of owning your own vineyard? How about your own wine appellation? Cole Ranch, located just two hours north of San Francisco in Mendocino County, is now looking for a buyer. The suggested price tag for the sprawling 150-acre ranch (which comprises its own American Viticultural Area) is $3.3 million.

Napa Valley Cabernet May Soon Be Out of Reach Of Wine Consumers

A wine critic in the Washington Post recently lamented the fact that high-quality Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is becoming so expensive that it has become “a wine for the 1 percent.” The cost of a Napa Valley Cab often exceeds $75 per bottle, and can be as much as $500. 

In Search of the Perfect App For Booking Winery Visits

Millennial wine lovers visiting Napa and Sonoma are looking for new ways to use smartphones to book their winery visits. While there are a handful of apps available for booking winery visits and appointments, none of them currently has the ease-of-use or convenience of an app like Open Table. 

Francis Ford Coppola Winery Releases Exclusive Oscars Wines

Just in time for the 2019 Oscars, Francis Ford Coppola Winery released a series of exclusive wines to celebrate the famed director’s love of film and wine. Two of “The Final Cut” wines feature animated zoetrope labels that provide the illusion of motion when rotated in a circular movement.

**

Thank you again for going through the Bevcast Weekly News. Once again, a quick reminder to enter your wines in the 2019 China Wine Competition, the international wine competition that is organized by Beverage Trade Network every year in Shanghai that rates wines by Quality, Value, and Package.

That’s it for now, Subscribe to BevCast for weekly Audio News updates.