· More wine and cheaper wine: We're on pace to drink more and cheaper wine in 2009 than ever before, but the recession has slowed wine-industry growth considerably, according to an upcoming report from Impact Databank. The biggest growth came in the 28 brands that sell more than 2 million cases a year, and which are priced 35 percent below the industry average.
· Australians abandoning vineyards: Industry observers expect Austrialian winegrowers to let more than 15,000 acres Australian vineyards to be left barren this year due to climatic and economic problems. And even that won't be enough, says one official, who estimates that the industry needs to reduce production by 50,000 acres -- or a bit less than the vineyard acreage in Napa Valley.
· Twitter has wine labels: The social media giant is selling Fledgling Wine, a pinot noir and a chardonnay. Each bottle costs $20. For each bottle sold, $5 is going towards the Room to Read charity, which provides children’s to underdeveloped countries.
