Karen MacNeil
WINESPEED
June 9, 2026
winespeed-by-karen-macneil

GO TO CURRENT NEWSLETTER

May 15, 2026

Wine People Close Up with ALLAN SCOTT’S Josh Scott

This week, my Wine People Close Up video interview is with Josh Scott, owner and CEO of ALLAN SCOTT FAMILY WINEMAKERS in Marlborough, New Zealand. The Scott family were early pioneers who began growing Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand way back in the 1970s—quite a prescient accomplishment given NZ Sauvignon’s now global success. The wines are delicious and super affordable. Watch here.

You’ve got to see this.

Last year (2025), the two countries that imported the most Champagne were the US followed by the UK. Together, these two countries consume a massive amount of France’s top bubbly. What country was third in Champagne imports? The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

A. Brazil

B. China

C. Switzerland

D. Japan

The Great White Wine Emojency  

If you’ve ever used the red wine or sparkling wine emojis (and so many of us have), it seems odd that there’s isn’t a white wine emoji. Especially odd now, at least in the US, where white wine consumption has surpassed red.

 

New Zealand (home to lots of zesty white wines) isn’t sitting this one out. As recently reported in the ARENI newsletter (Areni is a wine think-tank), the New Zealand Winegrowers association has decided to tackle the injustice.  In April 2026 they officially launched The Great White Wine Toast, a global public campaign demanding the creation of a white wine emoji.

 

Alas, birthing a new emoji is easier said than done. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Continue reading