A recent Gallup poll shook up the industry last week, revealing data that the U.S. drinking rate has reached a record low. While it’s tempting to point to the usual suspects — like Gen Z or increased use of GLP-1s — there might be other factors at play. A deeper dive into the data suggests …
The VinePair Podcast: Has Drinking Become Politicized? Read More »
Your speed may vary on digestifs and other classic after-dinner drinks — sambuca’s not for everyone. But before the public was sipping bitter amari or guzzling Espresso Martinis, the Pousse Café was all the rage for post-supper service. In 19th century France, one would be hard pressed to find a dinner that didn’t conclude with …
Before Espresso Martinis, Pousse Cafés Dominated After-Dinner Drinking Read More »
The combination of rum, citrus, sugar and bitters that gave us the iconic rhyme “one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak,” the Planter’s Punch is a cocktail that sits at the cornerstone of rum history. The customizable classic has endless variations, long evading definition and acting more as a family …
There are drinking games — like beer pong, flip cup, and King’s Cup — and then there are bar games. Both categories involve drinking, but in the latter’s case, drinking isn’t the sole objective. They’re designed to keep bar-goers occupied so that they stick around and inevitably buy more drinks, but they also bring friends …
The Definitive Ranking of Bar Games [Infographic] Read More »
Football is back on television, and your humble Hop Take columnist is not above a sports metaphor. To wit: coaches teach linebackers to watch the running back’s numbers coming out of the backfield. You can throw fakes with your hips and head, but your chest will signal where you’re going. Now imagine the running back …
Anheuser-Busch Drafts a Big New Player for Its Middle-Tier Power Game Read More »
Vineyards in Galicia, the Douro and Beira Interior face catastrophic fires amidst intense heatwaves.
In 2023, Keith wrote a rather hot-take article for VinePair titled “The Natural Wine Flaw.” In the piece, he discusses the nebulous nature of the term natural wine and the confusion that has always existed surrounding what the category actually is. Is it low intervention? Is it wine without added sulfites? Are natural wines organic? …
While sporting events and alcohol have always had a cozy relationship in America, we’ve come a long way from the days of draft pours of macro lager. Yet even in the last few years, drinks programs at stadiums, arenas, and other sporting venues around the country have undergone a major evolution. Driven in part by …
Drinking at the Ball Game Has Changed — for the Better Read More »
People taking aperitif in a typical Venetian bacaro (wine bar) in the sestiere of San Polo in summer, Venice Italy’s wine culture is under threat. Not its luxury labels, production, or exports — those remain strong, according to the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine) – but in something quieter: the daily act of …
When it comes to Spanish wine, the first word that typically comes to mind is “Rioja.” This celebrated Spanish wine region has produced world-class wines for generations. Cult wine collectors hunt down bottles. Sommeliers clamor for age-worthy reds — and whites! — for their lists just as wine advisors recommend their clients include a selection …
Rioja Winemakers Reflect on the Spirit of Rioja, 100 Years Later Read More »