Winebits 722: Big Beer, Bordeaux scandal, Patagonia wine

This week’s wine news: Big Beer may be even more top heavy than Big Wine, plus a wine scandal in Bordeaux, and retailer Patagonia will sell wine

• Big, Big Beer: Two companies control two-thirds of the U.S. beer market, which may make it even more top-heavy than the U.S. wine market. The Guardian newspaper reports that there are 9,000 breweries in this country, but that two of them — Anheuser-Busch InBev (42 percent) and Molson Coors (24 percent) account for two out of every three bottles sold. In fact, the top five producers control 79 percent of all the beer sold. This compares to about half of production for the three biggest wine companies. The story is well worth reading, explaining how the oligopolies restrict consumer choice and reduce competition — as they do in wine.

• Scandal in Bordeaux:The owner of a prestigious Bordeaux winery has been found guilty of promoting his friends in the appellation’s controversial ranking system. Wine-searcher says that Hubert de Boüard de Laforest, the owner of Saint-Emilion’s Chateau Angélus was found guilty of using his clout to help friends and clients improve or retain their rankings in the 2012 Saint-Emilion classification. In some parts of France, the wineries are regularly ranked for quality, and a move up or down — or even staying the same — can mean millions of euros in business. de Laforest, a winemaker and consultant, was fined €60,000 (about US$69,000), of which €20,000 (about US$23,000) was suspended.

• Bring on the wine: Patagonia, the outdoor apparel and gear retailer, has its own wine. Outside Business Journal notes that the company’s food division, Patagonia Provisions, has unveiled a collection of wines, ciders, and sake. The nine wines are part of what the retailer calls  “our collection of artisanal fermented beverages made using restorative land practices and bottled with minimal intervention.” Which translates to a $48 bottle of New York state marquette. Not to worry if you haven’t heard of marquette — the grape is a rare hybrid, best known for thriving in cold climates.