Vitis, Vidi, Vici

As we have seen from Gambero Rosso and the Connoisseur's Guide, the 3-point scale simply does not resonate with most wine consumers.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

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Love this wine.

Yankees paid tribute to Charlie Kirk? Well the Blue Jays have Alejandro Kirk.

I worked as a buyer in a Bay Area grocery store about 30 years ago. Graft from the larger distributors (Southern, Young's) was rampant. When I switched to working in sales for a smaller distributor, it made it hard to compete. The "gatekeepers" in retail had their hands out when I came to call.

Buyer at major California grocery chain took bribes to carry certain wines, prosecutors claim The alleged bribes included luxury watches, designer handbags and trips to Hawaii and Las Vegas.

"Briones accepted a series of gifts including a $2,290 designer bag; trips to HI & Las Vegas, including casino chips; golf trips to Pebble Beach, plus resorts in FL, OR & Cabo San Lucas [..] & more 'in exchange for his agreement to carry, increase purchases of, or prominently display certain wines."

Who's your favorite Jedi? (wrong answers only)

a female officer laying on her back on the ground, eyes open, lit with flashlights

BREAKING: Florida cop treated for autism after exposure to tylenol during traffic stop

E-Tractors coming to Vineyards.
The first mass-produced fully electric vineyard tractor of a major brand. The Fendt e107 V Vario is a fully battery-electric, narrow-track tractor designed for use in vineyards and orchards.

In praise of grenache It’s like pinot noir but with more alcohol. What’s not to like?

Wrote a thing on International Grenache Day and especially this incredible Tavel I had recently. henryjeffreys.substack.com/p/in-praise-...

Growing up in Berkeley, "Tripping" has a different definition for me. Yet the statement remains just as true.

Linguine with mushrooms and zucchini paired with a crisp Muscadet.

Monthly U.S. Wine Trade with Canada, Jan 2020-Jul 2025.
Likely for the first time since prohibition, from April to July 2025, the U.S. imported more wine from Canada than it exported (by value), resulting in a multi-million US$ wine trade deficit

Classified St-Emilion estate begins earliest ever harvest today - Decanter Bordeaux's 2025 red harvest has begun in earnest, with Château Troplong Mondot leading the charge on what might be one of the earliest vintages on record

Classified St-Emilion estate begins earliest ever harvest today www.decanter.com/wine-news/cl...

Lafleur resisted the price drop that every other major chateau saw for the 2024 vintage. Now, they will no longer be AOC wines with the 2025 vintage.

Ontario has no plans to sell U.S. booze amid call from group to return American liquor to Canadian store shelves The Ontario government has no plans to put U.S. booze back on LCBO shelves amid calls from a group representing U.S. distillers to return American spirits back to Canadian liquor stores.

Ontario has no plans to sell U.S. booze amid call from group to return American liquor to Canadian store shelves

As wine buyers look for fresher, lower in alcohol wines the opportunities open up for crisp red & white wines from Beaujolais says Inter Beaujolais' Olivier Badoureaux as he explains how it hopes to capitalise on this rise in demand the-buyer.net/people/produ...
www.the-buyer.net/people/produ...

The American/Canadian wine trade is especially imapactful to me, so I felt it was more personally relevant. It may not be the same for the majority of your readers. The Angelus story was also especially relevant, and I now know I need to put in my Angelus order before they fall apart. Thanks!

You buried the lead:
"This week, the Wall Street Journal announced that the US alcohol industry was "reeling" from Canada's boycott of US drinks, a move that itself came in response to trade tariffs imposed on Canadian products by the Trump administration."

Nearly 150 Canadians held in ICE custody this year, including two toddlers, data show One child was detained for 51 days, more than double the legal detention period, a Globe and Mail analysis found

150 Canadians held in ICE custody this year, so far. The US is a dangerous place to visit.

www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...

Rainy day picnic with a lovely Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Do I love Coteaux Giennois more than Sancerre? Yes, yes I do. And not just because they cost half as much.

Why does Sherlock sound so different in this episode?

I hear they throw fish at you.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from madness.

June data are in.
The value of monthly US wine exports (Jan 2023–Jun 2025). Year over year, Canada (-96.8%) has all but disappeared as an export market for U.S. wine. China (-36%) and the UK (-6%) are down as well. Overall, US wine exports declined by US$38.8 million (-37%) compared to June 2024.

Pizzeria mishap left at least 85 people intoxicated with THC after infused oil used for dough In 2024, an odd outbreak of THC intoxication hit more than 80 people in Wisconsin after a pizzeria accidentally used oil infused with the psychoactive ingredient.

Pizzeria mishap left at least 85 people intoxicated with THC after infused oil used for dough

I've been watching on a loop for a good 2 minutes. So heart-warming.