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It’s Thursday!
Curse and Coffee friends,
Today, we explore how The Michelin Guide is getting into wine.
Hit reply and let us know what you think (we read all of your kind words).
Coffee at the ready…
The Big Sip
The take: Michelin owns the most influential wine publication on earth. Now it's launching a competitor to itself, and claiming the new system will be "more powerful" than the one it already bought.
What happened: Michelin announced Monday it's launching Michelin Grapes, a three-tier wine estate rating system debuting in Burgundy and Bordeaux in 2026, just five years after acquiring 100% of Robert Parker Wine Advocate.
Why it matters: Robert Parker changed how wine was made. Producers reshaped their entire approach to chase his scores, creating a generation of "Parkerized" full-bodied reds. Now the company that owns his legacy is building its replacement and asking us to trust both.
What to watch: Whether wine regions will have to pay for Grape ratings the way American cities pay millions for restaurant stars. Boston paid $1 million. Texas spent $2.7 million. Burgundy has deeper pockets.
They bought the Pope of Wine. Now they're starting their own church.
Sponsor Break
Before we slurp into today’s brew…
Here are some wordies from today’s sponsor.
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