Wine news June 6, 2018

ABC reports that Australia is stating that wine blocked at China's port is an "irritation." "I'm not papering over where there's challenges, but it is also critical that we don't lose sight of the bigger picture here which is a trade-investment relationship that is very strong, very broad and very deep," he added."

Forbes reports that Walmart is developing its own private label wines. "The collection, which is sourced from California, France and Italy and will retail for about $11 a bottle, is the latest expression of Walmart’s multipronged push to generate higher margins, in part via private brands that yield fatter profits, from "premium food" like handcrafted caramels and fair-trade certified coffee from is Member's Mark Sam's Club brandto new apparel lines like Terra & Ski and George."

The Wine Enthusiast explains Rhone style wines. "So, a group of winemakers around California’s Central Coast united to form the Rhone Rangers. Led by figures like Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyard, Bob Lindquist of Qupéand the Haas Family at Tablas Creek in Paso Robles, they united to promote Rhône varieties. Today, the association is active with chapters in California, Michigan, Virginia and Arizona."

Decanter reports that alleged wine fraudster, who was featured in the book The Billionaire's Vinegar, Hardy Rodenstock has died. "But doubts were raised about the provenance of the bottles by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in the US, culminating in a series of lawsuits from billionaire businessman, art and wine collector William Koch, who had bought some of the Jefferson bottles."

John Legend bought Kris Jenner a Champagne vending machine reports The Drinks Business. "They added: “A Moet vending machine is ultra exclusive and the epitome of luxury,” the source adds, “and it totally screams ‘Kris Jenner!”