Wined Up Weekly

After a week's hiatus on Wined Up Weekly: Devon Broglie resigns as Chairman of the Court of Master Sommeliers - EU imposes 25% tariffs on US rum and vodka - Burgundy reports "classic" 2020 vintage - Wine of the Week: Oregon Tempranillo

Allegations of sexual misconduct rock the Court of Master Sommeliers - National lockdown announced in England - Australian exports on the rise - Diageo buys UK gin and vodka producer, Chase Distillery - Wine of the Week: a Tannat from Uruguay

More news from the UK as Tier 3 status finally accepted in Greater Manchester - Berry Bros & Rudd announce new, streamlined FMV portfolio - 200,000 litres of counterfeit Tequila destroyed by Mexican authorities - Young couple served a $2,000 bottle of Bordeaux by mistake in a New York restaurant - Wine of the Week: Austrian Chardonnay

Australian winemaker Taras Ochota dies, as does renowned producer Lulu Peyraud - Confusion and controversy over UK government Covid laws - Italian police arrest two men for counterfeiting Sassicaia - French authorities increase restrictions on the use of glyphosate herbicides - Wine of the Week: an ultra-young Nebbiolo from Piemonte

As the $1bn Constellation sale to Gallo goes through, we taste some of the brands in the deal. At inexpensive price points, are they worth buying - both from the perspective of the consumer as well as Gallo's? Wines tasted:

- Cook's California Champagne

- Nobilo Marlborough Sauvigon Blanc (also sold, though in a separate deal)

- Black Box Chardonnay

- Clos du Bois Pinot Noir

- Ravenswood Vintners Reserve Old-Vine Zinfandel

Trade bodies warn that tariffs continue to harm the drinks industry - Constellation and Gallo deal to finally go ahead - British supermarket Waitrose launches old-vine Chenin Blanc from South Africa - Spanish breed of terrier awarded protected status in Jerez - Wine of the Week: skin-contact Austrian wine!

Fires return in California - New restrictions for pubs and restaurants announced in the UK to consternation of chefs and students alike - Major whisky producers condemn sexist language used in The Whiskey Bible - "Zero waste" wine range launched by London wine merchant - Wine of the Week: Beaujolais!

Fires continue in California, although possibility of rain next week - Greece bans sales of alcohol after midnight - Ongoing challenges for Australian wineries in China - New single-vineyard classifications announced in Soave* - Wines of the Week: same vineyard, same producer, different vintages from Chambolle-Musigny *as promised on the pod, the Italian mouthful for the new classifications is Unità Geografica Aggiuntiva

Trends in millenial drinking: plant-based wine launched in Australia; millenials driving restaurant and bar sales in the UK - Supermarket sales slow in the UK - News from Burgundy: the 2020 harvest is in, while 22 Premiers Crus announced in Pouilly-Fuissé - What are the most planted grape varieties in the world? - Wine of the Week: California Mondeuse

Wildfires burn across California, Oregon, and Washington - Following the bans on alcohol in South Africa, illicit sales grow - Champagne sales in the UK rise as the harvest comes to a close - Sales of alcohol halved in UK during lockdown, as the US adjusts to the "new normal" - Wine of the Week: Holus Bolus Syrah 2017 from Sta. Rita Hills