Chianti Makers Not Toasting Powdered Wine

Angry Italian winemakers say a product that changes water into wine is more insulting than miraculous, Der Spiegel reports. The vintners complain that the "wine powder," made by a Swiss company that caters to hikers, is a "terrible copy" of Italy's Chianti and gives the entire European wine industry a bad name. 

The makers of the powder, which has an alcohol content of 8%, deny they are copying Chianti or any other kind of wine. "We're not even permitted to call the product wine," said a spokeswoman. "No grapes were used in its production. It's simply a product that is flavored to taste like wine." Sales have been strong and the company expects its upcoming powdered beer to do even better.
(More wine stories.)