Randy Caparoso

Consumption is down, but forming circular firing squads won't fix it. One industry veteran makes the case for dropping the snark and finding common ground.

From White Zinfandel's '80s explosion to today's funky naturals, consumers always signal where they want to go. Are you paying attention to the right trends?

It is said that when you start off in the industry⏤in farm management or a winery, in marketing or sales, retail, restaurant, as a wine scholar or

A leading wine industry publication profiles Randy Caparoso.

The more consumers appreciate wine, the more real they want their experience to be. By Randy Caparoso Lately we’ve been reading a lot about the

Wine, as Benjamin Franklin (supposedly) once said, serves as “constant proof that God loves us.” By Randy Caparoso Why are there perpetually conflicting

In Part 2 of his “Sobering Thoughts at the Start of 2025” thinkpiece, Randy Caparoso examines the generational shift that’s at the heart of wine’s current

No one is oblivious to the recent decline in wine consumption. But is it cause for outright panic or measured reevaluation? By Randy Caparosso The

Want to learn about younger wine consumers? Watch and listen. By Randy Caparoso (with Anna Delgado) “When was the last time a wine writer sat down to have a glass with a young person?” I recently read that query in a Substack page called Wineshop…

Old vines are an essence of why great wines have always had an enduring appeal. By Randy Caparoso Just minutes before the virtual awards webinar showcasing the 2024 Old Vine Hero Awards (presented by the London-based The Old Vine Conference on March…

At 2024 ZAP, it became clear that California Zinfandel has finally grown up By Randy Caparoso There is, undoubtedly, no organization that’s done more for a single varietal category than Zinfandel Advocates & Producers, a.k.a. ZAP. When ZAP first…

When it comes to wine choice, consumers have always been more sophisticated than industry professionals. By Randy Caparoso I started out on Burgundy but soon hit the harder stuff. Not really. But I always loved that line from Bob Dylan’s song, “Just…

A legendary wine tasting experience discusses the merits of “natural wine.” By Randy Caparosso The Lodi-based Victor Book Club has been around for less than five years (and during the first two years, it wasn’t called anything). It may not last much…

The Old Vine Registry endeavors to maintain a list that is “dynamic, alive, up-to-date, and growing.” By Randy Caparoso Last month, on June 26, 2023, The Old Vine Registry officially launched worldwide. This is a big deal in more ways than you can…

A writer remembers words of wisdom from a true winemaking legend. By Randy Caparoso The late André Tchelistcheff, Beaulieu Vineyards‘ winemaker from 1938 to 1968, was a giant among men. Not physically — at about 5’3″, he made me look tall — but his…

The shrill talk about the American wine industry having a “problem” defies all logic and common sense. Like everyone else in the wine industry, when Rob McMillan of Silicon Valley Bank speaks, I listen. I take notes and repeat just about everything…

How can we end the dumbing down of wine conversations? By Randy Caparoso Before you go jumping to conclusions about the nature of my incendiary question, let me be clear about who I’m targeting. Not a bad influence I’m not talking about the…

Today’s cutting-edge wines are more terroir-expressive than the usual commercial styles. What I don’t get, though, is how formulaic it’s all become. I love alternative style wines. They’ve kept my interest in wine piqued for the more than-45 years…

a boon for the industry? By Randy Caparoso For the longest time, a certified USDA organic seal on a food or beverage product has been the signpost sought by consumers who prioritize the health of the environment and themselves. In the market for…

An outdated classification model will cause more problems than it solves. By Randy Caparoso Who doesn’t love the UK wine trade? Most of us in U.S. wine-related industries have grown up hanging on to every word uttered, or published, by Hugh Johnson,…