The Daily Brief
The Daily Brief — October 13, 2026
| Your briefing on the global wine trade, with a U.S. perspective. |
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the-buyer.net • Oct 12, 2026 Coravin symposium puts commercial skills at center of sommelier careersMore than 100 sommeliers attended Coravin’s first symposium at London’s Savoy Hotel, where sessions covered wine-list economics, data, stock control, team leadership and career progression. Speakers described a difficult UK on-trade market but pointed to opportunities in premium experiences and low- and no-alcohol drinks, while stressing that sommeliers need commercial and management skills alongside wine knowledge. Source: the-buyer.net |
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CNA Luxury • Oct 10, 2026 Vincent Tan leaves Odette after 10 years to lead Park90’s wine programOdette wine director Vincent Tan will join Singapore-based Park90 as group wine director on Oct. 19, ending a decade at the three-Michelin-starred restaurant. The sommelier-led business is preparing launches in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. Tan plans to assess Park90’s existing list and team before making changes, while Odette’s succession process remains unresolved. Source: CNA Luxury |
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Decanter • Oct 12, 2026 • Opinion Ribera del Duero tasting finds divergent approaches to climate and ageingDecanter’s annual report assessed 342 wines released between July 2025 and July 2026, finding producers divided over how to respond to climate pressures and define the region’s identity. The tasting highlighted work on old-vine genetics, strong value among Crianza wines and the small number of Gran Reservas submitted. Source: Decanter |
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The Korea Daily • Oct 12, 2026 California Surplus Wine Reaches Retailers Under Private Labels at Deep DiscountsThe Korea Daily reports that California wineries are moving surplus wine through bulk sales and private labels, with examples including a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon listed by distributor Navigator Wine Collection at $29.99 against a stated $149 retail value. Grocery Outlet says winery bulk offers have grown to as many as 200,000 cases. Industry insiders cited by the paper expect the glut to persist another 12 to 24 months. Source: The Korea Daily |
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DQ • Oct 11, 2026 • Press release Moët Hennessy, ADI and UC Davis test chemical-signature system for wine quality risksMoët Hennessy, Analog Devices and UC Davis say they have used a chemical-sensing and machine-learning platform to identify grape and wine samples at elevated risk of developing Fresh Mushroom Aroma before the defect would typically be detected. The partners are also exploring applications in vine disease detection, soil assessment and other quality risks. Source: DQ |
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Farmer's Weekly SA • Oct 11, 2026 South African wine researchers seek broader funding and coordinated programmesSouth African wine researchers are producing valuable work despite limited resources, speakers said at an industry research event near Paarl. They called for broader funding, larger coordinated research programmes and producer involvement from project design through implementation. A panelist also linked changes in Wine Australia’s funding priorities to staff reductions at the Australian Wine Research Institute, a claim requiring editorial review. Source: Farmer's Weekly SA |
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radiomoldova.md • Oct 11, 2026 Moldovan grape growers face losses as costs outpace winery pricesMoldovan growers are contending with low grape procurement prices and higher operating and transport costs, despite a projected 10% to 15% rise in wine-grape output this season. Radio Moldova reports that indicative processing-grape prices are €0.34 to €0.41 per kilogram, while one grower estimates production costs of €3,250 to €3,500 per hectare. Source: radiomoldova.md |
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TimesTech • Oct 9, 2026 • Press release Moët Hennessy, Analog Devices and UC Davis Test Chemical-Sensing System for Wine QualityMoët Hennessy, Analog Devices and UC Davis are collaborating on a sensing and machine-learning platform to analyze chemical signatures from grapevines, juice and wine. The companies say an initial system identified samples at elevated risk of Fresh Mushroom Aroma earlier than conventional detection. They are also researching possible applications in vine disease, soil assessment and other wine defects. Source: TimesTech |
Editor: Sara J. Arnett.