Tom Wark's Fermentation

1 week ago | tomwark.substack.com | Tom Wark

When consumers are barred from obtaining the alcohol product they want, when alcohol producers are barred from getting their products into the hands of the consumers who want them, and when the middlemen wholesalers tell lawmakers exactly what the law will be, the system is working exactly as planned. Take, for example, New York State. New York distilleries have the right to ship their whiskeys, gins, and vodkas across the state and into the homes of New York consumers.

1 week ago | tomwark.substack.com | Tom Wark

On Wednesday, it was announced that Constellation Brands, one of the largest drinks companies in the world, sold its value brands to The Wine Group while retaining its higher-priced luxury wine properties. Interestingly, this announcement obscured an announcement one day earlier that the publicly-traded company was retreating from its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion commitments. Constellation is now at least the third major drinks company to back off DEI initiatives since the end of 2024.

2 weeks ago | tomwark.substack.com | Tom Wark

Tariffs on wine are now in effect. The impact (higher prices) will, in some cases, be seen immediately, while the majority of increased prices for wine will begin trickling onto the price sheets of importers and wholesalers over time. States should and can take action to help their wine industries and consumers navigate these new waters. The primary way a state can help its wine industry and consumers mitigate the impact of across-the-board tariffs is to take action to lower prices for wine.

2 weeks ago | tomwark.substack.com | Tom Wark

The 20% tariffs on wines from the European Union that Donald Trump has unilaterally imposed will undoubtedly harm the American wine marketplace and cost Americans more money…if they choose to continue buying wine. The full 20% tariffs are set to go into effect on April 9th. However, there is some good news concerning the potential to see even higher tariffs placed on EU wines. And good news is something we could also use.

3 weeks ago | tomwark.substack.com | Tom Wark

It is estimated that 55.7 million Americans took part in Dry January this year, according to a poll conducted by Morning Consult. Thirty-nine million of those participants said they completely cut out alcohol during that dry month. Then there is Sober October. According to the Boca Recovery Institute’s survey, upwards of 25% of Americans (63 million) stated in a survey that they planned to depart from alcohol consumption in October.