Wine 101 A Year In Wine Review
Dec 3, 2025
Explore a year-in-review of wine trends, highlighting the rise of East Coast Malbec and innovative American red blends. Discover Napa's diverse Cabernet Sauvignon styles and the evolving landscape of Pinot Noir thanks to new winemakers. Delve into the uncertain future of rosé and regional Sauvignon Blanc flavors from across the U.S. Uncover the renaissance of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, plus the unique world of skin-contact wines. All this reveals the exciting diversity in American wine today.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
East Coast Malbec's Subtle Revival
- Malbec is finding a new, subtler expression on the U.S. East Coast with higher acidity and finesse.
- Keith Beavers highlights Old Westminster (Maryland) as a standout showing Cahors-like elegance in American Malbec.
Red Blends As Creative Blank Canvas
- The U.S. 'red blend' category is a creative blank canvas freed from strict European blending codes.
- Keith Beavers argues red blends showcase American winemakers' experimentation and regional expression.
Surprising Blends That Work
- Keith Beavers highlights Newfound's Grenache–Carnion–Morvedra and Old Westminster's Anthem (Cab Franc + Petit Sirah) as surprising, successful blends.
- He notes Anthem opens with decanting and pairs well with meals despite being lighter.