Wine's world

A benchmark indicator of the market for fine Burgundy wines, last Sunday's Hospices de Beaune auction of wines from the 2024 vintage saved the day, with prices largely sustained by the small volumes on offer.

A few key figures:

- in terms of volume, only 439 barrels of 228 litres, the 3rd lowest quantity since 1980, after 2021 (349 barrels) and 1981 (429 barrels),

- value: €13.9m, making it the 4th highest sale after 2022 (€29.0m), 2023 (€23.3m) and 2020 (€14.3m),

- In terms of average price per unit compared with last year, white wines are up by 8% and red wines are down by 5%.

This is despite strong growth in demand from Korea : the Hospices have a Korean oenologist (Ms Jeannie Cho Lee) as a consultant since this year.

Australia's most prestigious university (UNSW Sydney) has just developed and patented a component that could make lithium-ion batteries more efficient, more affordable and more durable.

This component uses food acids, such as tartaric and malic acids, present in fruit and especially in higher concentrations in wine. This has the advantage of reducing the environmental impact of its materials and manufacturing processes, while increasing energy storage capacity.

We can't wait for the next studies to find out which are the best wines and appellations to put in our car batteries. These are great times...

The result of the US elections, expected in 8 days' time... or not for several weeks if there are protests and endless recounts, will be decisive for the future of the wine world in the short and medium term, in America and well beyond.

If Kamala Harris wins:

- The fear of American producers and distributors is the return of Prohibition 2.0 when the US dietary guidelines are due to be revised in 2025. The Biden administration has already begun drafting guidelines on the recommended level of alcohol for adults, and restrictive or even repressive policies in this area have always been more likely to come from Democrats than Republicans.

- Her motives regarding alcohol are not known, but as a native of Northern California, it is common knowledge that she likes wine and was once a member of a wine club in Aladena (California). In fact, Republican supporters have posted and reposted on the Internet any photos they find of her holding a glass of wine, claiming that she is an alcoholic.

If Donald Trump wins:

- During his first term in office, Mr Trump decided to impose a 25% tax on French, German and Spanish wines, as well as British spirits. For his second term, he has already announced the return of specific customs duties on European products, at a minimum of 15% but which could go up to 100%. For the record, the US Wine Trade Alliance has already expressed its concern, stating that these taxes have had a significant negative impact on the business of American importers/wholesalers/retailers.

- The fears of the American wine sector also relate to the availability of labour. The Republicans' resolutely anti-immigration policy raises questions for all farmers, and in particular winegrowers, who know that Californian wine would not exist without Mexican workers.