ARENI Global: In Conversation

What makes an allocated wine offering work — and when does it fail?

In this episode, Pauline Vicard sits down with Peter Yeung to unpack the mechanics behind scarcity in fine wine. From waitlists and wishlists to pricing strategy and sell-out psychology, they explore how allocation systems shape brand value and customer loyalty.

Drawing on insights from ARENI Global’s upcoming New Fine Wine Consumers study, they also examine why younger collectors approach wine like a video game: they don’t just want access — they want to understand the rules.

Because in fine wine, it’s not just about getting the bottle. It’s about playing the game — and belonging to the community.

For more information on Peter's course Allocated Wine Offerings, visit: https://www.xchateau.com/store/

Areni's study The New Fine Wine Consumer: How Under 40 Find Their Way Into Fine Wine launches on February 19. More info here: https://areni.global/new-consumers-new-narratives/

Why is the world drinking less — and do they really drink less fine wine?

For the first episode of 2026, Pauline and Felicity unpack one of the most pressing shifts reshaping the wine industry: global deconsumption.

Far from being a simple generational story, they reveal how economics, demographics, social change, regulation and new health narratives are collectively transforming alcohol consumption across every age group.

Drawing on Areni Global’s upcoming research on new fine wine consumers (launching Feb. 2026), they explore how economics, demographics, social change, regulation and new health narratives are transforming alcohol consumption across every age group, and how the fine wine sector must adapt to stay relevant.

This podcast series is part of a larger Areni Global research project. Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to our articles and publications: https://bit.ly/AreniNewsletter

Does spirituality have a role in winemaking?

Where else to have this conversation than in Burgundy, the region that claims 1,000 years of a wine history that began with monks. We sat down with Aubert de Villaine, co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée Conti, who is not just acknowledged as one of the greatest winemakers of all time, but also one of the most spiritual.

We were joined by Ted Lemon, owner of Littorai in Sonoma, a deep thinker, who articulated his vision for winemaking.

The conversation ranged across what spirituality means in the context of fine wine today, but also how it influenced the historic growth and development of wine.

It was the most unconventional discussion that Areni Global has ever hosted, but also one of the most meaningful.

For more articles, reports and insights on the future of fine wine, visit www.areni.global and subscribe to our newsletter.

What does terroir mean today? How does it differ from the idea of sense of place? Is terroir a matter of nature or nurture? Do these questions even matter today?

And if they do, how much does an understanding of terroir influence winemakers in their everyday work?

For this fifth episode of the Areni Live Series, we take you inside one of the most unfiltered and thought-provoking conversations we had during our 2025 think tank.

Gathered around Jacques Devauges, manager of the iconic Domaine des Lambrays in Burgundy, and Samantha O’Keefe, owner and winemaker of Lismore Wines in South Africa, a small group of fine minds from all around the world explore one of the geekiest, yet most fundamental, topics in fine wine today.

Behind the famous glazed roofs of Beaune lies a story where wine, care, and community are inseparable. Founded in the 15th century as a hospital for the poor, the Hospices de Beaune has evolved into one of the world’s most unique institutions — part working hospital, part wine estate, and a living expression of humanity, charity and hospitality.

In this fourth episode of the Areni Live Series, we sat down with Guillaume Koch, Director of the Beaune Civil Hospitals, and Ludivine Griveau, Winemaker and Estate Manager, to explore how the wines of the Hospices sustain local healthcare, preserve Burgundian heritage, and reflect deep human values.

Together, they explore:

How a centuries-old hospital came to own — and still run — one of Burgundy’s most celebrated wine estates.
The delicate balance between charity, healthcare, and fine wine.
What Humanity, Charity, and Hospitality mean in practice for those who care for both people and vines.
How the annual wine auction sustains local healthcare while shaping the global perception of Burgundy.
Why understanding the Hospices de Beaune offers a deeper understanding of terroir itself.

Recorded live in the King’s Chamber of the Hospices, this conversation reveals how a centuries-old model continues to unite purpose, place, and people.