It’s a short month, but there’s no shortage of news in the world of drinks.
A study conducted by Brown-Forman, the historic U.S. distillery, in conjunction with the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, takes a look at how Artificial Intelligence (AI) might play a role in the drinks industry. On the production side, there’s potential to streamline operations and efficiencies and monitor quality within production facilities, and eventually assist in product development. Further afield for growers, there’s potential to use Machine Learning—one of four subsets of AI—to assist with grape yields, harvest projections and other viticultural activities. The basic AI won’t be picking your grapes or blending your spirits, but the report notes it can assist in “problem-solving, decision-making, language understanding, visual perception, and learning.” More advanced subsets such as Deep Learning and Generative AI have potential for flavor profiling and recipe development. The report author says “AI has applications in practically every area of the spirits industry, from grain to glass.”
In related news, db.com reports that prominent UK retailer Marks & Spencer has unveiled an AI-powered wine finder tool to help customers locate bottles customized to their tastes, menus and needs. Developed with U.S.-based tech company Preferabli, the service will roll out in some 570 online stores and 20 point-of-sale food halls in the UK. The service was developed after an M&C-sponsored study found that “nearly a quarter of shoppers spend more than 10 minutes deliberating on what to pick in the wine aisle.” The development comes on the heels of a December 2024 acquisition by Preferabli of the Napa-based Libation Labs, which owns the Cuvée app, a consumer-facing platform that helps oenophiles plan trips and tastings in wine country.
The news gets only better for abstainers and worse for imbibers. The latest data from the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) in its Q4 “SipSource” market report indicates consumers are continuing their steady march away from alcohol consumption. “Shifting lifestyle choices—including the rise of moderation and abstinence trends—are reshaping consumption patterns,” says the SipSource analyst. Such alternative choices include energy- and botanical-infused drinks, and hemp-derived products, which “are increasingly winning traditional alcohol consumption occasions.” Pre-mixed cocktails also played a role in the decline of more traditional spirits and wine consumption: they now represent 14.2% of the U.S. spirits market, an increase from 3.2% just five years ago.
A paper published by a team of European researchers in Springer Nature, found that rats may be decent blind tasters! The study of nine rats showed though “wine variety identification could present a challenge for non-verbal animals,” the study rats were capable of distinguishing between Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Samples from Loire Valley, Chile , the U.S., Australia and New Zealand were used for the Sauvy B and the Rieslings hailed from Germany, France, Australia and Austria. The rats were named. More on this later!
In truly news of the weird (or news of the truly weird?) … as if the mysterious 2023 shuttering of storied Manhattan wine shop Sherry-Lehmann wasn’t odd enough, with accusations of unpaid bills, undelivered orders and missing collectible bottles, the ongoing liquidation of the midtown store’s remnants has taken a twist. The New York Post—always hot on the trail of a good wine scandal—reports the remains of the store are now on offer, brokered by APR57, a nearby vintage (pun intended!) jewelry dealer, previously accused of alleged nefarious dealings with watches and other valuables. This time, the Post reports, he’s trying to sell a 2019 Chateau Bel Air Bordeaux, two-thirds full, for $695—valued brand new at $20, according to an expert source cited in the story. A 2018 Lacroix Barton Bordeaux with almost half its fill gone, was listed for $495—a bottle that sells new (and sealed) for $11, says another wine pro. But if you wanted an empty bottle, apparently one of those is one sale, too, the story reports: $4,995 for a 3-liter display bottle of a 2001 Grand Cru Bienvenues Batard-Montrachet. The 750-ml bottle is on offer at wine-searcher.com for $1,033. Full.
Not really news, but it’s a question that’s been burning in our brains ever since we started lifting a glass. VinePair’s deep exploration into “Why Is Everyone Trying to Make Eye Contact During Toasts?” traces the superstition back to medieval Europe. All these years, I thought it was to ward off bad luck or bad sex, but seemingly, it was one of many loyalty tests those medieval tricksters instituted to see who was poisoning whom. Well, chin chin to that!
Read the full article here
