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 USA Wine Ratings, which is an international wine competition that Beverage Trade Network hosts in San Francisco every year where wines are judged by Quality, Value, and Package.

Submission is now open for the 2019 USA Wine Ratings. Super Early bird registration ends on 10th Jan 2019. Please visit USAWineRatings.com for more information on how winning a USA Wine Ratings 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.

Gin Sales in UK Nearly Double in 2018

In the UK, gin producers are celebrating a phenomenal year. Over 66 million bottles of gin were sold in the UK over the past 12 months for a total of nearly £2 billion, an increase of 41% from 2017 and nearly double the amount sold in 2016.

Paris Earns Top Wine City Honors

Based on a survey of wine consumption and distribution in major metropolitan areas around the world, Paris edged out cities like Buenos Aires, Milan, and New York for the title of top wine consuming city in the world. The only Asian city in the Top 10 was Tokyo.

San Francisco Chronicle Names Top Winemaker for 2018

The Monterey Bay wine region might not be as famous as Napa or Sonoma, but it is now producing some of California’s best wines. Pointing to the growing profile of Monterey on California’s wine map, the San Francisco Chronicle awarded Ian Brand the title of “Winemaker of the Year.”

World’s Largest Brewer Getting Involved in Cannabis Drinks Market

AB InBev has signed a $100 million partnership deal with Tilray, a Canadian cannabis producer and distributor, for research and development of non-alcoholic beverages infused with THC and CBD. Other brewers – including Molson Coors – have also signed deals to capitalize on recent legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada.

Bordeaux Wine Region Puts Out Negative Forecast

According to the Bordeaux Wine Marketing Board, bottled wine sales of Bordeaux were down 63% in November compared to the year-earlier period. This marks the lowest sales figures for Bordeaux in nearly a decade. In addition, bulk wine sales were down 57% during the same time period.

Home Cocktail Trend Leads to Higher Liqueur Sales in 2018

According to the latest figures from the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), liqueur producers experienced a strong increase in sales during the 12-week period ending September 8. Non-cream liqueur sales rose 56%, while cream liqueur sales rose by 33%.

Supreme Court May Soon Offer Landmark Ruling on Wine Retailer Interstate Commerce

In the United States, outdated laws dating back to the Prohibition Era currently prevent out-of-state retailers from shipping across state lines to in-state resident consumers. That could change in January 2019, when the U.S. Supreme Court case will hear a case involving wine retailer interstate commerce.

London Planning For Series of Craft Beer Cruises in 2019

In another sign that the craft beer trend is taking over the UK, London residents and tourists will now be able to sample the city’s best craft beers while taking boat cruises around the city. London Craft Beer Cruises will feature one craft brewery on six different dates in 2019.

Dublin Gets a New Whiskey Walking Tour

To highlight the role of Dublin in Ireland’s whiskey history, Powers Irish Whiskey is partnering with 6 Dublin bars to offer a special walking tour of a historic area of the city that will be known as the Powers Quarter. A digital media presence will provide maps and virtual tours.

New Cannabis Oil-Infused Vodka To Launch in Amsterdam

Using the slogan “Live the High Life,” Dutch spirits company Herman Jansen Beverages is planning to release a new vodka product called Weedka. This will be vodka that has been distilled 5 times and then infused with cannabis oil. It will have no THC or other psychoactive substances.

China Launches First Sommelier Class for Baijiu

China is taking new steps to introduce Western markets to the nation’s distinctive grain alcohol known as baijiu. A university in Sichuan will offer the first sommelier class designed to help students understand the unique properties of baijiu and how to pair it with food.

Chinese Wine Imports To Grow 8% in 2019

The latest figures from the IWSR hint at the growing demand for wine from Western producers. Despite a slowing economy and concerns over a potential U.S.-China trade war, imported wine sales are expected to grow 8% next year. In contrast, domestic wine sales are expected to drop.

China’s Women Winemakers In the Spotlight

The Ningxia wine region, located in northern China, is starting to generate attention not only for its world-class wines and chateaux but also for its female winery owners and winemakers. The South China Morning Post recently profiled women in Ningxia who are leading China’s domestic wine revolution.

Macallan To Release 52-Year-Old Scotch Valued at $50,000

How much would you pay to drink a single malt Scotch that has been aged in a European oak Sherry cask barrel for more than half a century? As part of a limited 250-bottle release, famed Scotch producer Macallan is planning to offer a 52-year-old Scotch for $50,000 each.

One-Third of Rare Scotch Whiskies Could Be Fake

If you’re planning on buying rare single malt Scotch from 1900 or earlier in the secondary or auction market, be careful. In Scotland, lab analysis using radiocarbon dating recently found that 21 out of 55 bottles of rare Scotch were outright fakes, or were not distilled in the year declared.

Appointment-Only Wine Showrooms Could Shake Up the Wine Retail Industry

Winestyr will use a new $3 million investment to revolutionize the way consumers discover and purchase wine in the United States. Winestyr will combine an e-commerce platform with brick-and-mortar showrooms in different cities in order to bring top-quality, small production wines from 120 wineries to a national audience.

New VR Technology Could Make Fine Wine More Accessible For Consumers

Virtual reality technology could be ready to make the transition from the gaming world to the wine world, according to one leading wine analyst. With VR, it’s possible to visit any winery in the world from your living room, and perhaps even join a master class or virtual tasting.

Orange Wine Could Be a Trend To Watch in 2019

The buzz continues to build over Orange wine, with some New York food bloggers suggesting that Orange wine could be “the new Rosé.” While most Orange wine comes from northeast Italy, one trendsetting New York-area winemaker on Long Island is now producing Orange wine.

Americans Expected to Double Their Alcohol Consumption During the Winter Holidays

The average American will increase his or her consumption of alcohol by 100% in the period from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, primarily as a result of holiday parties, family dinners, and social events. The most popular seasonal drinks for over-indulgence include eggnog, Irish coffee, and Christmas beer.

The Champagne of Beers, Now In a Champagne Bottle

Miller High Life is having some fun during the period leading up to New Year’s. The brewer is making the “champagne of beers” available in 750 ml champagne-style bottles during the holidays. As part of this national promotion, the suggested retail price of Miller High Life “champagne” will be $3.49.

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

That’s it for now, Stay tuned for next week's updates.