Number (in millions of US $) donated by Jeff Bezos, of Amazon, to the World Central Kitchen. Bezos returned from his 11-minute trip to space last week and donated to chef José André’s charity which focuses on feeding disaster victims globally. Andrés accepted, announcing that with Bezos’s donation he will be able to expand his goal of fighting systematic world hunger.
Percentage of growth in the luxury tequila sector in the past five years. According to the Impact Databank, super-premium and luxury-priced tequila brands are changing the image of the spirit in the US. In the last few years, celebrities such as George Clooney, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Nick Jonas, and Guy Fieri with Sammy Hagar have all launched their own premium tequila brands. Some women have too. Rita Oro and Kendall Jenner to name a few.
Number of millions of bottles of Bordeaux sold in the U.S. last year representing a 21% increase in sales volume over the previous one. According to Vin de Bordeaux, sales numbers have seen the highest increase recorded since 1986. The U.S. is the second leading export market for Bordeaux wine after China.
Number of co-sponsors in Congress of a new bill legalizing wine shipments through the United States Postal Service. According to Wine Searcher News, over the past 14 years, the USPS has lost more than $80 billion as UPS and FedEx make big profits from shipping alcohol all over the country. An estimated $180 million in revenue for USPS is forecasted if the bill passes.
Auction price for a single bottle of 1951 Penfolds Grange Hermitage Bin 1 Shiraz. According to the Drinks Business, the previous Australian auction record was $103,000 making this 1951 Shiraz the most expensive bottle of Australian wine ever sold. 1951 was the first year Grange was made. There are reportedly 35 bottles of the original vintage still in existence. If you have one please invite me when you open it.
Number of millions of acres of vineyard planted in the U.S. as of 2020. California claims the majority with 620,000 acres, followed by Washington State with 60,000 acres. Oregon has 37,000 acres, and finally, New York has 35,000 acres. Interestingly, 20,000 acres of those grapes in New York are not made into wine, but rather grape juice, jellies, and jams.
Price (in billions of US$) for Ste. Michelle Wines Estates, one of the largest wine companies in the U.S. Tobacco giant Altria announced this week they will be selling SMWE to the New York based private equity firm, Sycamore Partners Management. Altria says the sale will allow it to focus on non-tobacco products, such as non-combustible vaping devices. SMWE is best known for the brands Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest.
Value (in US $) of vodka, whiskey, and other liquor hidden from authorities on a farm in India. According to the Drink’s Business, tipsy buffaloes helped expose the illegal liquor stash in the animal’s watering trough. Police raided the property thanks to a local vet who reported the inebriated animals. The buffaloes have all recovered.
Amount (in millions of US $) invested in vertical indoor farming ventures in 2020, more than double the amount invested in 2019, according to The New York Times. Vertical farms which grow fruits and vegetables hydroponically are estimated to be 100 times more productive than traditional land-based farms. One such farm in Kentucky is the size of 50 football fields and at any one time, grows 3 million pounds of beefsteak tomatoes alone.
Value (in billions of US $) of alcohol sales at Costco in 2020, nearly double the amount ten years before. Retail stores that sell alcohol have benefitted dramatically as wine, beer, and spirits sales have shifted away from restaurant dining during the pandemic. Costco has 559 store locations in the U.S. and is the largest retailer of wine in the country.
Percentage of adult Americans who don’t drink wine. According to the latest Wine Market Council Alcohol Consumer Report, a fourth of the U.S. adult population abstains from alcohol completely, mostly due to religious reasons. Another 26% of adults choose to drink beer and spirits over wine. Only about 14% of U.S. adults consume a majority of the wine in the country, even though the U.S. is the third largest importer of wine by volume in the world.
Number of coffee shops per every 100,000 people in Boston, the leading city in the U.S. for coffee shops per capita, according to a study by the blog Overheard on Conference Calls. The number two city was Washington DC with 58 coffee shops per 100,000 people, and Seattle, the home of Starbucks, came in third with 56. (By the way, there are 142 Starbucks in Seattle alone). The cities with the fewest coffee shops were Laredo, TX; El Paso, TX; and Jacksonville, FL. Do cities with a great coffee scene drink more wine? Hmm. Can someone please study that?
