Bevcast Weekly News, a news series giving you a quick look at the most important news, trends, and developments of the week. Listen to Industry News and other Insights on the Bevcast Podcast Channel on Soundcloud.

Bevcast Weekly News is brought to you by London Wine Competition, which is an international wine competition that Beverage Trade Network hosts in London every year where wines are judged by Quality, Value, and Package.

Submission is now open for the 2019 London Wine Competition. Please visit LondonWineCompetition.com for more information on how winning a London Wine Competition 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.

Diageo Will Use Amazon Alexa Voice Technology to Promote Scotch Whisky

With voice-activated technology becoming mainstream, drinks giant Diageo is rolling out a new Amazon Alexa skill that will let Scotch whisky lovers learn more about its Talisker brand, including Talisker 10-Year-Old Single Malt. By saying two words – “Talisker Tasting” – consumers can launch an audio brand experience.

Wines From England Could Be a Breakout Hit in 2019

According to British retailer Majestic Wine, sales of UK wine were up 25% in 2018 at its stores. That could be an early sign that English wine is ready to make a breakthrough next year. Another hot trend is craft gin from places like Finland, Provence and Pennsylvania.

Younger Millennial Drinkers Are Leading the Mead Revival

Ancient mead – once relegated to the history books – is making a comeback in the UK, spurred by a new Millennial fan base. Sales of mead are up at supermarkets, and both pubs and beer festivals are starting to feature the “nectar of the Gods.”

New Definition of “Craft Brewer” in the United States

The influential craft beer trade group Brewers Association has officially changed the definition of “craft brewer” to make it less stringent. Brewers of non-traditional beer will now be included, and that could lead to at least 60 breweries gaining the “craft brewer” distinction.

Pink Gin Boom Still Going Strong in the UK

Pinkster Gin has raised more than £1 million in financing to boost future growth.

This is yet another sign that the pink gin boom in the UK is not slowing down. The new funding will be used to increase sales reach, scale up brand marketing and boost production.

Meet the £7 Ruby Port That Tastes Like a £200 Ruby Port

British supermarket giant Morrisons has stunned the port industry with a new private label £7 offering that just won one of the highest awards possible – a Platinum accolade at the annual Decanter Awards. The ruby port beat out a 1968 Very Old Single Harvest port from Taylor’s, which won Silver.

Kelloggs Has Found the Ultimate Use For Rejected Cornflakes: Cornflakes Beer

Kelloggs is partnering with Manchester-based Seven Brothers Brewery to eliminate food waste by making beer from cornflakes. All the cornflakes that were rejected for morning breakfast cereal can now be used to make Throw Away IPA, a specially brewed beer made with 30% cornflakes and 70% wheat.

Tsingtao and Yanjing Named Official Beer Sponsors of 2022 Beijing Olympics

Foreigners arriving in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will get a chance to try two Chinese beers – Tsingtao and Yanjing, both of which are now official sponsors of the event. They were both also official beer partners of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Leading Bulk Wine Exporter Spain Experiences Slowing Demand in 2018

While Spain is still the largest bulk wine exporter in the world, the past year saw a 6.3% decline in sales volume for Spanish bulk wine, mostly the result of bigger harvests in both France and Italy. Prices for Spanish bulk wine, though, increased by 29.4%.

Washington State Winemakers Report One of the Best Growing Seasons in Years

Get ready for a fantastic 2018 vintage from Washington State winemakers. According to winemakers surveyed by the Washington Wine Report, 9 weeks of near-perfect ripening weather should lead to standout Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah wines. Nearby Oregon also reported a better than usual growing season.

Yogurt-Flavored Spirits the Latest Craze in Australia

Inspired by the success of a YouTube viral craze for yogurt soju cocktails, South Korean spirits firm Lotte Liquor is releasing a new yogurt-flavored soju for the Australian market. Soju sales have tripled for Lotte Liquor in Australia and New Zealand over the past 12 months.

Canned Wine Could Be One of the Biggest Trends of the Next Five Years

New wine entrepreneurs are betting on the future of canned wine. For example, California-based WineSociety is a new cans-only wine company that predicts canned wines could account for 30% of all wines sold within 5 years. Currently, canned wines are just 2% of the market.

New Harvard Health Study Good News for Wine Drinkers Everywhere

Drinking a single glass of wine each day could reduce your chances of spending time in the hospital. Harvard researchers came to this conclusion after studying the health of 21,000 adults living in Italy. However, drinking more than one glass of wine per day increases the risk of hospitalization.

British Columbia’s Icewine Harvest Gets an Early Start

Colder than expected temperatures in Canada are good news for icewine producers in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. The annual icewine harvest, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of freezing temperatures in the region, started on December 5. In past years, the harvest has started as late as February.

Walmart Wine Gets Enthusiastic Review by Top New York City Sommelier

The new line of private label Walmart wine, which consists of 10 wines from California, France, and Italy, recently received glowing marks by a top New York City sommelier. The three standouts were a Cabernet Franc, a Chianti Classico, and a Syrah Languedoc – all priced between $11 and $16.

The Global Wine Shortage Could Be Coming to an End

The latest Global Market Report from Ciatti highlights the latest supply and demand trends in the wine industry. As the result of above-average harvests in Italy, France, Spain, and California this year, the global supply shortage could be coming to an end in 2019.

San Francisco Named the Top City for Craft Beer Sales in America

Based on a new study of on-premise beer sales in cities across the U.S., Nielsen CGA has named San Francisco the top city for on-premise craft beer sales. Boston and Chicago were ranked No. 2 and 3, while Miami came in as the fastest-growing city for on-premise craft beer sales.

Uber Freight is Now Powering the Supply Chains of Top Brewers

If you need a car ride home, you order an Uber. But if you need your beer delivered to bars, retailers, and customers, you partner with Uber Freight. Rhode Island-based Narragansett Brewing Company is one of the first brewers to partner with Uber Freight for streamlined logistics.

Chateau Margaux Announces New Branding

One of Bordeaux’s most famous producers is making changes to its branding and packaging. Chateau Margaux will be using a darker bottle, slightly different blue and red colors, and a new typeface inspired by the one used back in 1865. The branding will be applied to all future vintages.

Number of UK Distilleries Increased by 30 Percent

The UK spirits sector is showing no signs of slowing, as witnessed by a dramatic 30% year-over-year growth in the number of UK distillery businesses. New entrepreneurs are looking to capitalize on consumer demand for craft spirits and spirits with innovative flavors by launching new distilleries.

Chinese Grain Spirit Baijiu Poised to Make a Major Splash in the UK

Baijiu may be the bestselling spirit in the world, but until lately, it was relatively unknown in the UK. That changed in 2018, with the high-proof Chinese grain spirit picking up some high-profile awards and London bartenders using baijiu for cocktail creations. Look for the momentum to continue in 2019.

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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 London Wine Competition, the international wine competition that is organized by Beverage Trade Network every year in London that rates wines by Quality, Value, and Package.

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