Category: Uncategorized

Global Tourism Rises 4% in 2025 Amid Strong Demand

International tourist arrivals continued their upward trajectory in 2025, increasing by 4% year-on-year as destinations across most regions reported sustained recovery and growth. According to the first World Tourism Barometer of the year, an estimated 1.52 billion international overnight visitors were recorded globally in 2025 – almost 60 million more than in 2024.

This performance signals a return to pre-pandemic growth dynamics, aligning closely with the average annual growth rate of approximately 5% observed between 2009 and 2019. The resurgence was underpinned by strong global travel demand, the solid performance of major source markets, and the continued recovery of destinations in Asia and the Pacific, many of which had lagged behind earlier phases of the global rebound.
Structural enablers also played a critical role in supporting international mobility throughout the year. Expanded air connectivity, the restoration of flight capacity, and improved visa facilitation measures contributed significantly to easing cross-border travel and stimulating demand.

Commenting on the outlook, UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Alnuwais noted that global travel demand remained resilient despite persistent inflationary pressures in tourism services and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. She emphasized that this momentum is expected to extend into 2026, supported by a relatively stable global economic outlook and the continued recovery of destinations that have yet to fully return to pre-pandemic performance levels.

Overall, the 2025 results underscore tourism’s renewed role as a driver of economic activity, employment, and international exchange, while reinforcing the sector’s capacity for resilience in an increasingly complex global environment.

Source: UNWTO

VIK, Chile, Named the World’s Best Vineyard 2025

The list of The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2025 has been revealed at an awards ceremony in Margaret River, Western Australia, yesterday, with Vik (No.1), Millahue, Chile, named as The World’s Best Vineyard 2025. The list features vineyards from 15 destinations across six continents, with 11 new entries.

Vik succeeds the 2024 winner, Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal in Rioja, Spain, now part of the Hall of Fame. Vik is a pioneering winery and luxury hotel spanning a 4,450-hectare nature reserve, with 327 hectares of vineyards planted across 12 distinct microclimates. The winery combines sustainable viticulture with striking architecture.

Schloss Johannisberg (No.2), Rheingau, Germany, is named the Best Vineyard in Europe, renowned as the world’s first Riesling winery, with over 1,200 years of winemaking heritage. Bodegas Ysios in Rioja, Spain, is ranked at No.3.

Klein Constantia Wine Estate (No.6), Western Cape, South Africa, is named the Best Vineyard in Africa and recipient of the Highest Climber Award, sponsored by Jack’s Creek, climbing 35 places since 2024.

Aperture Cellars (No.14) in Sonoma, USA, earns the Highest New Entry Award.

Highest Climber Award, sponsored by Jack’s Creek, goes to Klein Constantia Wine Estate (No.6), Western Cape, South Africa, also awarded The Best Vineyard in Africa.

The Best Vineyard in North America goes to Jordan Vineyard & Winery, Alexander Valley, USA (No.13), renowned for immersive experiences among rolling hills, olive groves and sustainable vineyards. 98Wines, Yamanashi, Japan, wins The Best Vineyard in Asia (No.20), offering a multisensory vineyard experience with views of Mt. Fuji.

The Best Vineyard in Australasia is awarded to Cloudy Bay Vineyards, Marlborough, New Zealand (No.26), a new entry in the list, while Aperture Cellars, Sonoma, USA, earns the Highest New Entry Award (No.14).

For the full list, see here: https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/the-worlds-50-best-vineyards-2025-the-list.html

G.H. Mumm Appoints Trina Smith as Terroirs Pacific Winemaker, Strengthening Sparkling Wine Excellence Across Australasia

G.H. Mumm has appointed award-winning winemaker Trina Smith as Mumm Terroirs Pacific Winemaker, overseeing production across Australia and New Zealand. Recognized as one of Australia’s foremost sparkling wine specialists, Smith brings over two decades of global experience spanning California, South Africa, and Italy.

Based in the Barossa Valley, she will lead winemaking for the Mumm Terroirs Collection, including Marlborough Prestige Brut, Brut Rosé, Central Otago Blanc de Noirs, and Tasmania Prestige Brut, while collaborating with the Maison’s Chef de Cave and regional growers.

Smith’s appointment reinforces Mumm’s commitment to crafting wines that express the unique terroirs of Marlborough, Central Otago, and Tasmania, three of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading cool-climate regions. Her leadership follows the successful launch of the Mumm Tasmania Prestige Brut (2022), a benchmark for Tasmanian sparkling wines and a reflection of the region’s growing significance, now accounting for over 40% of Tasmania’s total wine production.

Trina Smith states: “I’m thrilled to step into this role and continue building on Mumm’s legacy in Australasia. My focus will be on crafting wines that truly express the character of our region. Marlborough, Central Otago and Tasmania are world-renowned cool-climate regions, producing sparkling wines of exceptional finesse, energy and character and I look forward to shining an international light on our sparkling wines.”

Barton & Guestier Unveils Limited-Edition Côtes de Provence “Tourmaline” in Collaboration with Isaure Atelier

Barton & Guestier (B&G), one of Bordeaux’s oldest wine houses, celebrating 300 years of French winemaking history, announces the release of the limited-edition Côtes de Provence “Tourmaline” 2024, created in collaboration with Montreal-based French artist Isaure Atelier. Known for her instinctive, expressive style, Atelier brings a fresh, vibrant interpretation to the iconic B&G bottle, all while capturing the spirit of the Mediterranean in a collectible design.

A self-taught artist based between Montreal and Paris, Isaure Atelier is recognized for bold forms, radiant palettes, and feminine, sensual silhouettes. For this special edition, she drew inspiration from the delicate hues of rosé quartz and the sun-drenched landscapes of southern France. The result is a 100% screen-printed, tailor-made design that transforms “Tourmaline” into a work of art—instantly recognizable on the shelf and deeply expressive in hand.

“I love to live life through colourful creations,” says Isaure Atelier. “When Barton & Guestier invited me to design for this special edition, I immediately imagined the warmth of Provence, the elegance of the French Riviera, and the feeling of sharing summer apéritifs under the sun. “That’s the story I wanted to tell through the artwork.”

The 2024 vintage stays true to “Tourmaline’s” signature character, showcasing a delicate pale pink hue and a vibrant aromatic profile of ripe peach, apricot, and crisp apple, layered with notes of raspberry and pomegranate. On the palate, it’s fresh, lively, and beautifully balanced, finishing clean with a lingering touch of red fruit, a true collector’s item for rosé lovers and design enthusiasts alike.

Building on the success of the previous vintages, which earned Double Gold at The Fifty Best Rosé and Grand Gold at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, the 2024 vintage arrives as French rosé continues to dominate the U.S. market, growing at an average annual rate of 5% since 2019.

“B&G ‘Tourmaline’ reflects the best of who we are: timeless yet modern, rooted in tradition while always evolving,” says Carlos Varela, CEO of Barton & Guestier. “Collaborating with Isaure Atelier allowed us to bring that vision to life in a way that celebrates both art and wine. As the rosé category continues to thrive, we’re proud to offer a release that marries exceptional craftsmanship with meaningful, beautiful design.”

Raise Your Glass to New Zealand for International Pinot Noir Day – August 18th

There’s something irresistibly seductive about Pinot Noir. It’s the grape varietal that makes sommeliers swoon, winemakers sweat, and wine lovers fall head over heels. And while Burgundy may have long been considered its spiritual home, New Zealand has been quietly (and sometimes not-so-quietly) redefining the Pinot Noir conversation.

This August 18th, as the wine world raises a glass to International Pinot Noir Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate New Zealand’s most captivating red wine export.

Pinot Noir was first planted in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand’s North Island in 1883, but it wasn’t until 1987 that it was commercially released. By the 1990s, gold medals in Australia and London had propelled New Zealand Pinot Noir onto the global stage. Suddenly, whispers of a “new Pinot powerhouse” were spreading around the wine world.

“New Zealand Pinot Noir is something else,” says Charlotte Read, General Manager Brand at New Zealand Winegrowers. “It leads with a concentrated core of fruit, supported by a vibrant backbone of acidity thanks to our cool climate, and displays the hallmark fragrance and elegant, fine-grained tannins that great Pinots possess. It’s exciting to observe the distinct regional styles that emerge from differences in soil type and climate across the areas where Pinot Noir is grown in New Zealand.”

Pinot Noir is now among the top five most searched red varietals globally, with Wine-Searcher reporting an increase from 10.5% to 15.5% of total search market share. Within New Zealand, Pinot Noir accounted for 32.4% of wine searches in 2024, second only to Sauvignon Blanc.

And it’s not just hype; it’s in the glass. Lively acidity, silky tannins, and versatile food-friendliness make it a natural companion for a wide range of dishes, from roast chicken and salmon to mushroom risotto and duck confit. With more wine lovers gravitating toward fresher, chillable reds, Pinot Noir is perfectly suited to the modern table.

It’s no surprise that Pinot Noir has become New Zealand’s top red wine variety and the country’s second-largest wine export after Sauvignon Blanc, with over 1.5 million cases shipped annually to more than 100 countries. Exports alone reached $2.1 billion in 2024.

So, this International Pinot Noir Day, why not pour yourself a glass and discover why this grape has captured the world’s imagination?

My picks for the occasion:

  • Tarras Central Otago Pinot Noir – vibrant, rich, full-bodied and endlessly drinkable
  • Thornbury Pinot Noir 2019 – classic structure with a rich, fruit-driven
  • Lord Rutherford Pinot Noir 2013 – a cellar gem that showcases how gracefully New Zealand Pinot can age

Raise your glass, take a sip, and let New Zealand Pinot Noir remind you why wine can be both playful and profound!