Tom Wark's Fermentation

If you've followed my journey through nearly 20 years of publishing FERMENTATION, I appreciate your support as I transition to Substack. For those new to my work, this platform is dedicated to exploring the connections between culture, politics, beliefs, media, and wine. I delve into the workings of the wine industry, examining who it benefits, who it overlooks, and how it interacts with societal changes and cultural trends. Expect a mix of advocacy, critique, analysis, news updates, research findings, and my personal experiences in wine marketing, advocacy, and media relations.

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Articles

The Mystery and Tradition of Wine Will Be Its Savior

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

Wine, as an object and symbol, is poised to appeal to younger people in a way that is not altogether expected or predicted. Nonetheless, if those of us (all of us) who work in and around wine can communicate the mystery, traditions, rituals, and transcendent experience the beverage can offer, it will be the appeal of these qualities that will deliver it from demise.
A New Attempt To Link Alcohol To Cancer Is Nothing To Fear

6 days ago | tomwark.substack.com | Tom Wark

For some time now, the news has bombarded us with the message that alcohol consumption contributes to the risk of contracting seven different kinds of cancer. That number will soon be increased to 8 different kinds of cancer with Pancreatic being the addition.
It's Time To Ignore "The Wine Industry"

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

It’s time to ignore calls for change in “the wine industry”. Recently, I’ve been devoting myself to a good deal of reading around the state of the wine. It would be hard to count the number of times I’ve encountered “The wine industry is…”, “The wine industry should…”, “The wine industry must…”, and “The wine industry will…”As I’ve read these various observations, I found I was far less interested in the is’, shoulds, musts, and wills, than I am in the “it”….The “it” being the “wine industry”.
Hatching Wine Plans in the Comfort of Nostalgia

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

The University Club of San Francisco is one of the oldest social clubs in San Francisco. It is the very definition of “old school”. It is a brick, Italianate building constructed in 1909 at the corner of Powell and California atop Nob Hill, where the former Leland Stanford Mansion once stood. All four floors of its interior are wood-paneled from corner to corner. Its ambiance brings to mind well-dressed gentlemen, sitting back in leather chairs, smoking and reading and talking and drinking.
New York's Protectionist Spirits Shipping Law Challenged As Discriminatory

1 month 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.
What Does Constellation's Retreat from DEI Mean for the Wine Industry?

1 month 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.
A Plan to Mitigate the Impact of Wine Tariffs

1 month 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.
A Silver Lining on Wine Tariffs Emerges

2 months 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.
First Dry January & Sober October, Now We Have "Sober Spring"

2 months 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.
New Warning Labels for Alcohol

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

Warning: New Alcohol Warning Labels LeakedCan American handle brutal honesty in drinking guidance? Amid the chaos of the Trump Administration’s first 100 days, revelations continue to surface. Wine and spirits professionals are particularly on edge, thanks to the ongoing threat of exorbitant tariffs. Sadly, there’s more to worry about than tariffs. New alcohol warning labels are apparently next.