A number of US hotels are introducing wine on-tap into rooms via the Plum machine. The gadget preserves two bottles of wine for weeks, and enables guests to help themselves a glass at a time, catering to travellers’ desire for premium hotels to provide convenience with a personal touch.

An abundance of lackluster single-serving wine options inspired Dana Spaulding, the founder of Wander + Ivy, to produce luxe, premium versions. With young wine consumers cautious about splashing out on big bottles, the smaller containers allow for more casual experimentation.

With Costco's inexpensive alcohol offerings bringing in record revenues and Trader Joe's ‘Two-Buck Chuck’ gaining a cult following, the low-cost wine industry is booming. Given the traditionally dim view of this booze segment, what has been driving its success beyond the price alone?

America's Rebel Coast Winery is developing a sauvignon blanc that contains THC, the psychoactive chemical component of cannabis. Though people are increasingly embracing cannabis culture, lacing wine – a socially acceptable tipple – with the chemical could go a step further to normalizing its use.