Liquor Industry News 03-08-26
Exploring all things wine with you!
The Liquor Industry News for March 8, 2026, curated by Mark Lenzi on Flipboard, features the following key stories and headlines:
Wine Industry Highlights
- Major Fraud Seizure in Italy: Authorities in Italy have conducted a massive seizure of counterfeit wine.
- Henkell Freixenet Expansion: The Hispano-German partnership has successfully completed a full takeover of the Catalan Cava producer, Freixenet.
- Loire Valley Trends: A look at "Terroir Terror" in the Loire, where dynamic winemakers in regions like Pays Nantais and Anjou are gaining attention for raising the quality of their wines.
- Chilean Wine Documentary: A new film by sommelier Jack Kauffman, Uncorked Potential: The Wild Wines of Chile, is now streaming on PBS, highlighting the people and land behind Chile’s wine culture.
Spirits and Whiskey
- Johnnie Walker’s Strategy: The brand has launched "Johnnie Walker Black Cask," its first permanent range addition in 15 years. It is aged in bourbon barrels and specifically designed to appeal to bourbon drinkers.
- Best Whiskeys of 2026: A ranking of the nine best whiskey releases from the first quarter of 2026.
Lifestyle and Cocktails
- Travel Tips: A guide to the "10 Absolute Best Cocktails" that travelers can easily mix for themselves while flying.
This collection is part of Mark Lenzi's "The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)" series, which provides daily curated updates on the global liquor and wine markets.
CSW,CSS,CWAS,FWS,IWS,SWS,IWM
Mark C Lenzi CSW,CSS,CWAS,FWS,IWS,SWS,IWM owner of Franklin Liquors, is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Spirits( CSS) by the Society of Wine Educators. The first in MA to hold a California Wine Appellation Specialist (CWAS) title from the San Francisco Wine School. French Wine Scholar(FWS)/instructor, Spanish Wine Scholar (SWS) and Italian Wine Scholar (IWS) by the Wine Scholar Guild. Italian Wine Specialist (IWS) by the North American Sommelier Association. Oregon Wine Expert (OWE) by the Napa Valley Wine Academy, Italian Wine Maestro (IWM) Vinitaly International (First USA Class), AFNA™ Wine Certified. Associates Degree from Whiskey University, Executive Bourbon Steward from Stave & Thief
Franklin Liquors is a family-owned vintage 1978. https://www.franklinliquors.com/
Founder of the Franklin Wine Club https://www.meetup.com/franklin-wine-club/
Liquor Industry News 03-09-26
