Weekly Wine Report: Château Lafleur Leaves Bordeaux AOC & Napa’s Pickett Fire

Sep 1, 2025

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Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Weekly Wine Report on the Vint Wine Podcast. Hosted by Billy Galanko, this new segment brings you the week’s most important wine stories, blending news, history, and context to help you discover something new in the world of wine.

In this first edition, we cover two major developments:

Château Lafleur leaves the Bordeaux AOC system
One of Pomerol’s most revered estates will reclassify all six of its wines as Vin de France starting with the 2025 vintage. We unpack what this bold decision means for Bordeaux, the restrictions of AOC rules, and how climate change and regulatory pressures are reshaping the region’s future.
Napa’s Pickett Fire and the threat of smoke taint
The fire near Calistoga has already caused an estimated $65 million in vineyard damage. We explore the science of smoke taint, why it’s so difficult to detect before fermentation, and how Napa growers are managing the risk as harvest approaches.

🎧 In this episode:

Why Lafleur’s departure could signal broader shifts in Bordeaux
The role of AOC regulations in shaping winemaking freedom
How climate change is accelerating change in Pomerol and beyond
The impact of Napa’s Pickett Fire on vines, grapes, and future wines
The chemistry of smoke taint and why it’s such a challenge for winemakers

Whether you’re a collector, sommelier, or simply curious about wine, this episode provides fresh insight into how news on the ground connects to what ends up in your glass.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Vint Wine Podcast
00:19 Welcome to The Weekly Wine Report
00:48 Château Lafleur’s Big Move
01:42 Understanding Bordeaux’s AOC Restrictions
02:05 Impact of Climate Change on Bordeaux
06:30 Napa Valley Fire Update
09:31 Understanding Smoke Taint in Wines
12:47 Conclusion and Future Episodes

👉 If you enjoy the Vint Wine Podcast, be sure to follow or subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. And if you found today’s episode valuable, we’d love it if you could leave us a rating or review—it really helps others discover the show.

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!