Winebits 84: Walgreens, organic wine, South African wine

• Walgreens will sell wine: The drug store chain plans to sell beer and wine in 70 percent of its more than 6800 stores, with the first 400 opening this fall, reports Wine & Spirits Daily. The company says the rollout will be nationwide by the end end of next year. Why does this matter? Because it increases competition, especially for national brands, which should lower prices. Equally important, since Walgreens will probably sell mostly national brands, local retailers who don’t want to get in a price war over Kendall Jackson will have to look for other wines to carry. That should increase selection.

• Organic wine labels change: Producers will have to be more specific about how they label organic wine, says the federal government. Wine labeled “Made with Organic ingredients” and which contain organic and non-organic grapes must disclose the presence of non-organic grapes on the label. There must also be a percentage statement, such as “65 percent organic ingredients” on the label, and if a wine says only “Organic Ingredients,” then all the grapes must be organic.

• Smelling South African wine: Winemakers in South Africa are taking exception to the oft-stated belief that their country’s wines smell like burnt rubber or asphalt, reports the New York Times. Says a wine trade group spokesman: ““We prefer that people use the term acrid rather than burnt rubber. But whatever you call it, it has not been scientifically proven that the flavor even exists. We have committed our best people to find out.” As noted here, the smell (especially in pinotage) exists. My only surprise is that people are getting so worked up about something that has been obvious for a long time.

Technorati Tags: Walgreens,organic wine,South African wine

Comments

[Peter May]

Re South African wine - as the Decanter report notes and despite your assertion - burning rubber is not associated with any one variety. The tasting and subsequent complaints that triggered the research being initiated did not involve a single Pinotage.

[Jeff Siegel]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I taste $10-$15 pinotages regularly, and they almost have that burnt rubber aroma.