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RTDs, THC drinks, NA growth, Gen Z’s return to alcohol, and the RNDC→Reyes CA shakeup—what’s next for 2025? Insights from Uncle Nearest, Booze Biz & Business of Drinks 🎙️ ⁨@ThirstyThursdaysat3PMEST⁩

Watch here on YouTube! https://youtu.be/NJwLcZqJ9Cs

This quarter’s Thirsty Thursdays roundtable brings Kate Jerkens (Uncle Nearest), Caitlyn LuBell (Booze Biz), and Erica Duecy (Business of Drinks) to decode what’s really moving the beverage market in 2025.

🔍 What we cover

Macro pressure vs. “non-essential” spend: Rising student/auto debt and delinquencies are squeezing discretionary purchases—especially for younger consumers.

Gen Z is drinking again: New IWSR Bevtrac data shows Gen Z alcohol participation rebounding toward other cohorts.

NA momentum (esp. beer): No-alcohol leads no/low with ~+7% volume CAGR through 2028; NA beer is surging globally.

THC beverages 101: Rapid retail growth (hemp-derived and dispensary channels), dosage strategy (2–5mg “sessionable” vs. 10mg “value”), and the Farm Bill/regulatory watch.

Distribution shakeup: RNDC exits California; Reyes and mid-tier distributors step in—opening doors for some brands and bottlenecking others.

Functionality as table stakes: Hydration, adaptogens, gut-health cues, and mood-positioning (“calm/energy/focus”) now drive trial—especially in NA/THC.

💡 Takeaways

Follow the consumer, not the category: RTDs, NA, and THC are winning because they fit occasions (casual, at-home, brunch, “zebra striping”).

Plan for compliance volatility: THC bevs = opportunity + regulatory risk. Track state rules and the Farm Bill timeline.

Rethink route-to-market: Mid-sized distributors can give brands real focus post-RNDC, but onboarding capacity is tight.
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CTAs:
• 👍 Like if you value real-talk data.
• 💬 Comment: Where’s your 2025 bet—RTDs, NA, or THC?
• 🔔 Subscribe for quarterly roundtables and weekly briefs.
• 🔗 Share with your sales/marketing team.

Subscribe for data-driven beverage insights every Thursday @3pm ET, drop a comment with your 2025 category bet, and share this with a colleague who needs the update.

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🍇 Meet Washington Syrah winemaking legends as they debate terroir, clone selection, barrel vs. stave aging & NA wines! Winemaker gold right here 🎯 ⁨@ThirstyThursdaysat3PMEST⁩ #Syrah #winetalk

🎙️✨ In this epic winemaker roundtable, Jessie Ott sits down with Washington Syrah royalty including David Rodriguez, Trey Busch, Caleb Foster, Bob Betz, and Dichotomy Wines.

🍷 The crew covers:
🔬 Clone selection & vineyard elevation tricks
🪵 Barrel aging vs. staves — winemaker hot takes!
🌍 Terroir & the soul of Syrah
🚫 Why NA wine still "misses the point"
🍇 Whole cluster fermentation & stem inclusion
🎧 Vinyl labels & vineyard storytelling

🔥 Top Takeaways:
The Rocks District Syrah is instantly recognizable 🪨
Clone and site matter more than most drinkers realize 📍
Winemakers are NOT sold on non-alcoholic wine 😬
Rootstock vs. own-rooted vines: a passionate debate 🌱
💬 "If you're using staves in stainless, you're just adding flavor—not transformation."

This episode is a must-watch for wine lovers, sommeliers, and industry insiders. 🎯

🍷 This is the Washington Syrah conversation you didn’t know you needed! Jessie Ott of @ThirstyThursdaysat3PMEST hosts a powerful LIVE roundtable with some of the GOATs of West Coast winemaking—David Rodriguez, Trey Busch, Bob Betz, Caleb Foster & Jarred & Rosie Signer-Jenner.

From clone selection and vineyard elevation to stave vs. barrel aging, and even the impact of rootstock and whole-cluster fermentation, this is winemaking geekery at its finest! 🤓💥

Plus: brutal honesty on non-alcoholic wines 😬, the secrets behind The Rocks District 🍇, and why Washington Syrah needs its own Sideways moment.

Whether you're a sommelier, wine nerd, or casual drinker—this episode delivers 🔥 insight, laughs, and storytelling gold. 🎙️🍷

Welcome to Thursday Thursdays at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time hosted by Jessie Ott where she talks about **beverage innovation**. She interviews pioneers from **agriculture** to glass and invites listeners to subscribe for new episodes. This podcast is all about the **drink** industry and explores subjects from **farming** to the finished product. Make sure to subscribe for more!

#thirsty #thirstythursdays #fnbinnovation #WashingtonSyrah #SyrahInWashington #Winemaking2025 #WinePodcast #SyrahSecrets #TerroirExplained #AVADeepDive #WinemakerWisdom #WholeCluster #BarrelVsStave #PhelpsClone #OldVineSyrah #NextGenWinemakers #WineInnovation #WashingtonWine #WallaWallaSyrah #RattlesnakeHills #SnipesMountain #SyrahStory #WineAndClimate #GenZWine #WineEducation #PodcastWine #WineTrends #WineYouTube #WineTech #FoodAndBeverage #AVATales #WineInsights #SyrahRoundtable #Vinification #WineFuture #CraftWinemaking #ModernWine #WineDebate #WineryLife #WineCommunity #WineCulture #SyrahLovers #WineGeeks #WineMarketing #BeverageInnovation #GenZMarketing #WineCollaboration #LiquidOnTheLips

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Live tasting with 5 top Washington Syrah winemakers discussing terroir, clones, staves, high‑altitude vineyards & vintage trials 🍇 Watch with ⁨@ThirstyThursdaysat3PMEST⁩

Youtube: https://youtu.be/DDyejw2eqX8

📌 Summary:
In this episode, I hosted a Washington Syrah tasting featuring five winemaking legends: Bob Betz MW, David Rodriguez, Trey Busch, Rosie Signer‑Jenner & Caleb Foster. They poured their signature Syrahs and went deep into vine clones, site selection, barrel vs. stave aging, trellising influence, stem inclusion, Rocks District terroir, and why Washington Syrah still flies under the radar.

Takeaways:
🌍 WA Syrah blends altitude, sandy loess & cobble soils for unique savory, earthy, floral notes
🧾 Oak staves add flavor—but barrels remain essential for stabilizing wine
🌿 Whole cluster fermentation adds spice & freshness—mirroring Northern Rhône style
🚜 Vineyard choices (trellis, rootstock, block trials) deeply shape final flavor
🎯 WA winemakers are fearless experimenters—cloning, harvesting earlier, terroir expression

CTA:
🍷 Want to taste along? Grab these wines or barrel samples via show notes!
💬 Comment your dream Syrah pairing or favorite WA bottle

🔖#thirsty #thirstythursdays #fnbinnovation #WashingtonWine #Syrah #WallaWalla #RocksDistrict #WashingtonSyrah #WinemakersRoundtable #WineTasting #WineIndustry #WineEducation #WineInnovation #BetzWinery #Enodav #DichotomyVineyards #SleightOfHandCellars #GunpowderCreek #StonyVine #TerroirDriven #WholeClusterFermentation #OakStaves #WinemakingTechniques #VineyardTrials #WineYouTube #MasterOfWine #SyrahLovers #WAWinemakers #CannedWine #Viniculture #VineyardStories #CraftWine #SmallProduction #TastingRoomTalk #WineCommunity #VineyardDiversity #ExperimentalWine #WineStorytelling #ViralWineTasting #WineTrendsetters #Shorts #viral #viralshorts #shorts #foryou

Welcome to Thirsty Thursdays, where Jessie Ott explores **wine tasting** with experts from Washington! This episode features an in-depth look at **wine flavors** and **winemaking**, emphasizing the distinctive qualities of **Washington wine**. Discover insights into **wine education** and production straight from the **vineyard**.

NOW ON YOUTUBE!!! Thank you for Listening! Join us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!

Host Jessie Ott's Profile on LinkedIn