Wine Business - Wine News

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'Sideways effect' boosted pinot noir sales

Ever since the wine-centric film was released in late 2004, winemakers have credited it with a surge in the popularity of pinot noir, highly praised by the film's protagonist and the signature grape of Oregon's wine industry.

Washington wine exports growing

Wines from Reininger Winery in Walla Walla have been on store shelves in Japan and British Columbia for seven or eight years. But this month, several cases of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and a red blend were shipped to China through Transnational Ventures Inc., a Port Townsend-based sales and marketing company.

Truth on the Wine Label

Still to be resolved is whether local winemakers can mix bulk wine imported from countries such as Spain, Chile, Australia and Argentina with their own wines without telling the consumer. Such bulk wine can sell for as little as 40 cents a liter.

Slovak wine with a new sparkle

The biggest wine producer in Slovakia is to change its owner

WA: Lake Chelan's emerging winery scene earns our attention

With AVA designation pending, the Lake Chelan wine region is gaining a reputation as a tourist destination with winning wines in a grand setting.

Italy: Wines of the Castelli Romani

Its a local tradition. Just about every rural family has a vineyard which produces wine for its own use, and, if the amount satisfies the households needs, its sold - by the litre - for a very reasonable price.

Umpqua grape harvest proves fruitful for church

How can picking wine grapes at the Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyard in central Douglas County have any tie to laying bricks in the building of a church in faraway Romania? The connection would be the members of the North Roseburg Evangelical Free Church. In the fall they can be found with clippers in hand, picking buckets of grapes on the hillsides of a vineyard in the Umpqua Valley.

Gisborne grape vines start season with strong bud burst

Montana's viticulturists are satisfied with bud burst in its vineyards all over the country - the first crucial stage in the lead-up to the grape harvest.

Boosting fruit-set in cool climate winegrapes

Solutions to fruit-set issues faced by winegrape growers in north-eastern Victoria, King Valley, Orange and Canberra regions will be targeted at a seminar in Tumbarumba on Tuesday, November 18.

California prepared to slash water deliveries

The state could cut as much as 85 percent of the water it delivers to local suppliers, the second-lowest allocation estimate in modern California history, officials said Thursday.

The delta's wake-up call

Last Friday, the governor's Delta Vision Task Force released its strategic plan addressing the bay-delta's ecosystem and water-supply problems.

SSU wine program revives entrepreneur course; to offer tasting room certifcate

"I suspect that we are going to get a lot of young people who work in tasting rooms that want to prove to their bosses that they are serious and ready for management," said Linda Nowak, director of the Wine Business Program.

Winery 'destination marketecture' gains traction

Building relationships directly with consumers is especially key for vintners these days amid fierce competition, sales channel bottlenecks, fickle tastes and economic worries.

Obsidian Ridge's Rocky Mountain High

A high-altitude Cabernet from the Red Hills of Lake County grown 'for the rest of us', which comes from the "rockiest site I've ever seen." But don't take Obsidian Ridge Cabernet for granite.

Viticulture briefs

A WTO appeals panel issued an 83-page verdict that faulted India for failing to justify the import tariffs. But it also said the United States had failed to produce evidence that India was breaking international trade rules.

Disease resistant, this big-berried variety has a longer shelf life than other Muscadines

Veteran grape grower retires

Morris has closed the vineyard he has operated in Columbus since 1975, the only one of its kind in the city, he says.

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Press Release: More Than 3,000 Acres Certified Under the Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Program Lookout Ridge Releases 2005 Wines: New Concept in Wine Philanthropy Donates a Wheelchair for Each Bottle Sold Ricardo Claro, Owner Of Chile's Viña Santa Rita Dies

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How to strengthen the foundation of your wine business during uncertain times

Deborah Steinthal, Founding partner, Scion Advisors, in conversation with Steve Dorfman, Partner, Ciatti Company

Green Wine Summit Announces Keynote Speakers

California Congressman Mike Thompson to Address: "How the Election Outcome Will Change the Future of the Environment"

Michigan Wine Consumers Forgotten as Special Interests Get Protection from the State Says SWRA

State's Appeal of Wine Shipping Case Slap in the Face To Michigan Consumers and Hurts State Tax Coffers

Cowboys turn connoisseurs in Texas wine region

Dude ranches and country dance halls sit alongside wineries and haute cuisine. A hard morning on horseback can be followed by an afternoon of wine and cheese. And nobody minds a bit.

Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. Announces "40 For 40" Charitable Donation Campaign

Southern Employees Asked to Recommend Worthy Organizations in Company-Wide Program Focused on "Giving Back"

Ore. vintners: 2008 a very good year

A cool spring and a dry autumn have Oregon winemakers thinking this year's harvest may produce superb wines, possibly one of the better vintages of the decade for the state's $1 billion wine industry.

ReCORK America Teams With Whole Foods Market(R) in Northern California to Recycle Wine Corks

The six-month trial will involve 25 Northern California Whole Foods Market stores, including Reno. Each store will have a convenient collection box situated in the wine department. Customers will be encouraged to add wine corks to their list of recyclable packaging.

Wines of Germany and European Union Launch Destination Riesling Web Site

Web site features interactive food and wine pairing tool, enabling users to find the perfect wine to accompany any dish or vice versa

Red wine, please, easy on the scorched earth

Wine language is poetic-a way of describing not what a wine objectively tastes like, but what it was like for the writer to taste the wine. Good wine writing presents an experience, not an analysis.

Vineland Welcomes Dr. Isabelle Lesschaeve as Research Chair, Sensory and Consumer Sciences

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, an independent, not-for-profit corporation established to create a world-class centre for horticultural science and innovation, today announced the appointment of Dr. Isabelle Lesschaeve to the new role of Research Chair, Sensory and Consumer Sciences.

SANTA ROSA Whole Foods recycling corks

Whole Foods Market stores in Sonoma County began collecting used wine corks Monday under a trial program to recycle the stoppers.

Torres first with Chinese oak

Miguel Torres and other wine producers around the world are experimenting with Chinese oak.

Ag Expo Will Cover a Lot of Ground

Presentations will underscore the triple bottom line required for sustainability

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Conscientious Medoc wine-maker wins ecology award

The 225-hectare (556-acre) Château Larose Trintaudon at Saint-Laurent-Medoc in the area close to Bordeaux, is the first French wine house to get the certificate with the not so catchy name of AFAQ 1000 NT level 3.

South Africa: Cape Selected to Host World Experts in Wine Tourism

Some of the foremost role players in international wine destinations are set to meet in the Cape to discuss important new trends in wine and wine tourism, when the city of Cape Town and the Cape Winelands Municipality will co-host the annual general meeting of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network in November

New DOV raisin production system offers considerable promise

The early October gathering drew about 50 growers, packers, consultants and bankers to a three-year-old vineyard near Fowler, Calif. Boghosian Raisin Packing Co. hosted the event billed as a look at the "new raisin economy."

Canada: Rain, cool temperatures tough for grape growers

As colder temperatures settle in across the Annapolis Valley, Racca Vineyard owner Allan MacIntyre hurries to harvest his prized Cabernet Franc grapes. The 4.7-hectare vineyard is located in Habitant, Kings County, stretched out in the shadow of Blomidon.

Iran: Reduced grape harvest

The harvest operation of Grape has been started from the vineyards of the province and it's anticipated that considering the drought and coldness, over 180 tons of Grapes will be harvested that will have a reduction by 50 percent in comparison to that of the past year

New Koch lawsuit to go ahead

A New York federal judge has denied an attempt by a wine collector to dismiss a fraud lawsuit brought by William Koch. In an 31 October ruling, Judge Barbara Jones said Florida collector Koch is entitled to seek punitive damages from major California collector Eric Greenberg.

Red wine pills 'help fight obesity'

In research published yesterday in the Cell Metabolism journal, French scientists say they have identified an artificial drug that, in mice, mimics the benefits of resveratrol without some of its side-effects.

Record month for wine exports

New Zealand Winegrowers is celebrating a double-record breaking month for worldwide exports.

Iron Chef Wine

The latest branded wine takes its inspiration from the Food Network show Iron Chef.

Canada grape growers win battle with wine council over prices

Price grapes will increase 1%, arbitrator rules

Wines Shipped in Lighter Bottles

At Fetzer Vineyards, the company is switching to lighter weight glass to cut shipping costs and to be more environmentally friendly. The winery's new bottles are on average 14 percent lighter, with the 750-milliliter bottles now weighing 15.5 oz. when empty.

Chateau Montelena Announces Termination of Sale Agreement With Reybier Investments

The winery will operate under the leadership of Barrett and Managing Director Greg Ralston, with Winemaker Cameron Parry and Vineyard manager Dave Vella continuing to oversee production.

Exporting to India Just Got Cheaper

U.S. wines exported to India will enjoy lower duties in the wake of a World Trade Organization (WTO) decision striking down India's imposition of additional duties on wine, spirits and other agricultural products.

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Molson Coors builds 5 per cent stake in Foster's

US brewing major Molson Coors yesterday declared it had built up a 5 per cent stake in Foster's Group and gave strong indications it had designs on the company's beer division.

Queensland wine pioneer honoured

Former Toowoomba lawyer, John Robinson, established the Robinsons Family vineyards at Ballandean almost 40 years ago, and has been presented with the 2008 Bassett Award.

Wine exports hit new high

New Zealand's wine industry is on-track to achieve its export target of $1 billion of exports a year by 2010.

Ottawa voters end Sunday ban on wine, beer sales

Residents of one western Michigan county have voted to end a decades-old ban on Sunday beer and wine sales, despite concerns about wording of the ballot issue.

Oklahoma votes boost wine industry

Voters also provided a lift to the state's winemaking industry with State Question 743, which allows winemakers in Oklahoma and other states - with some restrictions - to sell wine directly to liquor stores and restaurants.

Australia in talks with India on reducing import duty on wine

The volume of the imported wine market in India stands at 1,80,000 cases annually in which Australia has a 25 per cent share, he added.

Shepard Fairey Designs Wine Labels

Shepard Fairey, of the iconic Obama "Hope" poster, has been tapped to design a wine label for Kenwood Vineyards.

Australian wine industry faces clear and present danger

The Federal Government's clear indications that the grape and wine industry may soon be under a tax siege has triggered a flurry of debate and submissions to try to discourage hasty and unwarranted government action.

New Wines Spread Holiday Cheer From the King of Rock "N" Roll's Graceland(R) Cellars

A big dose of holiday cheer has arrived on wine store shelves from Elvis Presley's Graceland(R) Cellars with the release of Blue Christmas(TM) 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Nevada: WNC offers ways to explore wine, grape industry opportunities

World-renowned wine maker and grape grower John Caldwell of Caldwell Vineyards will present a Nevada Wine & Grape Seminar on Nov. 7, at Western Nevada College's Fallon campus.

NZ: Grape growers in Marlborough, Nelson preparing for frost on Friday and Saturday mornings.

Dozens of helicopters from around New Zealand are expected in Marlborough on Thursday night to prepare for the cold snap.

Buds snug in ice rugs

Every time I see a photograph of a budding grapevine covered in icicles, it amazes me that the buds are not frozen solid and the coming year's grape harvest has not been destroyed before it even gets started. But the fact is the ice forms a little protective coating around the bud and stops this from happening.

Napa Vit Fair Draws Enthusiastic Crowd

No sales were allowed at the fair, but a number of vendors confirmed strong interest, including Ned Neumiller of Lampson Tractor, which displayed an array of Kubota tractors and other farm equipment. "People are still buying, though we make sure we offer attractive financing."

Sometimes It's Good to Show Up Late

look for wines where tannins are almost an afterthought. You should notice them after you've evaluated the wine's other qualities.

Montelena-Cos d'Estournel sale collapses

The sale of Chateau Montelena to the owner of Bordeaux's Château Cos d'Estournel has collapsed, it has been revealed.

Ottawa voters end Sunday ban on wine, beer sales

Residents of one western Michigan county have voted to end a decades-old ban on Sunday beer and wine sales, despite concerns about wording of the ballot issue.

Study of Wine's Heavy Metal Hazard Raises Doubts Among Other Experts

Researchers say a large glass per day may contain unsafe levels of certain metals, but other scientists question the extent of the problem

Winery sale sours: Deal to sell Chateau Montelena, made famous in '76 Paris tasting, collapses

Chateau Montelena was founded in 1882 by Alfred Tubbs, a San Francisco rope-maker who became wealthy selling cordage for sailing ships and mine operations. He built the castle-like stone winery and hired a French-born winemaker.

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10 Questions for Raymond Coursen of Elyse Winery

"I believe that I haven't made my best wine yet."

2008 Ontario Grape Prices Finalized

Prices were not fixed until this month, following binding arbitration

S.F. trio seeks the truth in wine

Terroir, a shop and bar that bills itself as a natural wine merchant, slipped quietly through the back door of the city's wine scene at the end of last year. After a steady succession of new wine bars in nearly every neighborhood, it seemed like the concept had reached saturation.

Three convicted in theft of wine sold online

The ringleader, Jordan Patrick Crass, 30, of Santa Rosa admitted that as a former warehouse employee of Jackson Family Wines in Windsor, he stole at least $100,000 in wine, altered the company's computer records to cover up his actions and then advertised the wine on Craigslist.

Wine Cellar Inventory Management Tool CellarTracker Hits Over 10 Million Bottles Tracked

With over 10 million bottles, catalogued or consumed CellarTracker has the largest database of wines recorded in the world. CellarTracker provides collectors and wine enthusiasts free access to web-based wine cellar inventory management software.

Aussie wine producers see red in Canada: Critchley

How can you live in a country where the government tells you what you can drink? That comment was made by a number of Australian winemakers who while being anxious to export to Canada are critical of the role played by the various provincial liquor control boards.

NZ: Choppers called in to save grape crops

Helicopters will be in short supply this weekend as vineyards prepare for frosts in three major wine-growing regions.

Canada: $4-million provincial bailout for grape growers

The Ontario government has quietly handed $4 million to the Grape Growers of Ontario in a rare move to purchase wine grapes without a buyer this fall.

Syrah grapes had big role in creation of Australian, Californian wines

Down under, the Aussies call it Shiraz. Not only does it make great Hermitage wines on that continent as well, but it experienced a huge boom as a varietal in the global wine trade when Australia began to export inexpensive, good tasting expressions of the grape.

Cellar reading: 'Riesling Rules' - really

With Riesling's explosion onto the wine scene, this hedonistic but intellectual wine is getting a boost from a timely, concise and extremely comprehensive guide: "Riesling Rules."

Fueled by passionate entrepreneurs, Clackamas County's wine industry is exploding

The number of commercial vineyards in the county has doubled in the past few years, from 22 in 2002 to 44 in 2007, according to state agricultural statistics.

Rutherford Appellation Wineries Announce "Roll Out The Barrels"

Premier Napa Valley Wineries Offer an Exclusive Barrel Tasting Experience to Celebrate the Significance, History and Essence of the Rutherford Appellation

Montelena-Cos d'Estournel sale collapses

The sale of Chateau Montelena to the owner of Bordeaux's Château Cos d'Estournel has collapsed, it has been revealed.

Wine may 'protect against dementia'

Wine may protect against dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, according to a study by Gothenburg University in Sweden.

Harpers sold to William Reed

UK drinks magazine Harpers is being sold to the William Reed Group for an undisclosed sum, sources confirmed today.

The Sipping News: Wine-producing states vote blue

For some reason, Democrats can't shake the perception that they hang with a bunch of wine-swirling, cheese-eating elites. This despite Barack Obama raising a glass of beer with voters more than once and even having a tribute brewed to him in Kenya. Hillary Clinton knocked back a shot of Crown Royal, though the fact it was Canadian whisky didn't exactly help.

Olive Harvest Of Hope

Growers collect olives for artisan oils, build family legacy

Robert Craig marks 30 years of pioneering reds

Standing at his winery on the summit of Howell Mountain, Robert Craig has a view of much of the Napa Valley - a perspective that comes from 30 years of making wines from mountain-grown grapes.

Together again

After 16 years, Efren DeHaro and Bob Foley (Robert Foley Vineyards, Hourglass, and Switchback Ridge) are working together again. The two had collaborated for 14 years at Markham Vineyards in the 70s and 80s.

Calif. drought forces cattle ranchers to downsize

California's worst drought in decades is forcing the state's cattle ranchers to downsize their herds because two years of poor rainfall have ravaged millions of acres of rangeland used to feed their cows and calves.

The Grape files Chapter 11

Atlanta-based The Grape Enterprise Group Inc., The Grape's franchisor and owner of two of the chain's 14 operating restaurants, requested protection in United States Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Georgia.

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Napa Voters Approve Measure P

Residents of Napa County on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to extend Measure J, the agricultural lands preservation initiative passed in 1990, for another 50 years. Like its predecessor, Measure P required a vote of the people in order to redesignate agricultural, watershed or open space land within the county and make it available for development. Supporters said that the five-member Board of Supervisors should not wield sole control over the future of open space within the county.

Sierra View lands job building wine distribution center in Napa

A Roseville construction company has been selected as the lead contractor on a massive refrigerated wine distribution center at the south end of Napa County, the biggest project in the company's history and one of the biggest this year for any company in the region.

Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan is Fourth Woman in U.S. to Obtain Esteemed Master of Wine Title

Remy Cointreau USA, Inc. (RCUSA), a leader in the beverage alcohol industry, today announces Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, RCUSA National Educator, receives Master of Wine (MW) title from the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW).

Lett Leaves Lasting Legacy

David Lett, known affectionately as "Papa Pinot," died at his Dayton home on Oct. 9, succumbing after a lengthy illness.

Labels can make a wine; they can also break the bank if not protected

Even the most practiced oenophile will admit to occasionally buying a bottle of wine based purely on its label. Perhaps, the label design caught his eye, or he found the name intriguing or unique. Or perhaps, she heard great things about the vineyard and winemaker, and went specifically in search of that particular bottle of wine. If you are the winemaker, no matter how it got into his or her hands, you want that person to remember your wine and come back for more.

Wastewater System Impresses

The eyes of the global wine industry will be on the 12th & Maple Wine Co. in Dundee as it vets a new wastewater treatment system during this year's crush

WINE: Winners of the Tri-Cities Wine Fest

A Walla Walla winery took home top honors at the 30th anniversary Tri-Cities Wine Festival on Saturday night at the Pasco Red Lion Inn

Future of Autralian wine cask in doubt

The alcoholic product otherwise known as the "goon bag" or "chateau cardboard" is at a crucial junction where the options seem to be adapt or perish.

Consumers win wine war in Australia

A NEW price war has broken out in the wine industry thanks to a large 2008 vintage, increasing retail competition and the economic downturn.

What makes Chilean wines great

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Chilean wines are making a comeback, in a major way

TX: Deep Ellum's Calais Winery names its wines for nearby streets

Benjamin Calais didn't follow a traditional route to winemaking. He's never worked in a winery. He's never gone to the University of California at Davis, first stop for many U.S. winemakers, and he's never taken so much as a winemaking class in his native France.

Australia: Checks on vineyard workers' rights

The workplace ombudsman has advised 200 West Australian wineries and vineyard contractors they may be audited ahead of this year's grape harvest.

Women winemakers of Walla Walla are working the dirt and pushing the bar with passion

Women making wine in the esteemed Walla Walla Valley work the soil and schlep just like the men, balancing the demands of their craft with the rest of life.

Rocker Jackson Browne is set to become the latest celebrity vintner

The singer/songwriter feels sure he has the perfect soil and weather conditions to grow grapes on his remote estate - but he's still not sure he wants to become a "gentleman farmer".

Racke USA Expands Its U.S. Sales Force

Five New Ambassadors Represent Key Wine Markets Throughout Country

Cotes du Rhone Announces Sponsorship of PBS Reality Series, The Wine Makers

Côtes du Rhône, the second largest Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (A.O.C.) wine region in France, is excited to announce its sponsorship of The Wine Makers, a new reality series from PBS. The series is slated to premier in early 2009.

GenomeQuest(TM) Helps University of California, Davis Researchers to Identify a New Virus from Declining Grapevines

Next generation sequencing data and On-Demand Informatics enables cutting-edge academic research team to quickly track down an RNA virus from declining grapevines.

Bottlenotes.com Launches New Web Site, Unites Largest Online Wine Community in U.S.

Redesigned Site Amped Up With New Features for Wine Enthusiasts to Learn About, Share, Explore and Buy Wines From Around the World

DHL cuts 9,500 U.S. jobs: Delivery firm to end U.S.-only operations, will continue shipments to other countries.

DHL said it was making the cuts to improve profitability and "to prepare the company for the economic challenges ahead."

Resident opposes Wal-Mart on alcohol sales - and wins

Dupalo decided he'd had enough of the liquor-fueled behavior and the drunken driving he said was surely a direct result of the availability of alcohol.

A new SSU study confirms the long-standing belief that the hit film "Sideways" sent pinot noir soaring.

The 2004 hit comedy featured an affable wine aficionado who loved pinot noir and reviled merlot.

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O'Dell leaves Foster's

Top Foster's executive Jamie O'Dell has quit the company. O'Dell, managing director for Australia, Asia and the Pacific, will leave on Friday

Australia: Foster's scraps sale option for wine unit

Australian brewer Foster's Group, Ltd has shelved the option of selling its wine business because of global market conditions, a lack of buyers and the prospect of a big loss of shareholder value, the Australian Financial Review reported on Tuesday

Majestic Wine suffers as champagne goes flat

Majestic Wine, Britain's biggest wine warehouse group, said today that a 6.4 per cent fall in sales of champagne, led by a cutback in corporate spending, has hit profits.

Wine.com Celebrates Ten Years in Online Wine Business

Wine.com, the leading online wine store, is celebrating its 10th year in business this month. To thank its loyal customers the company is reducing prices on thousands of wines, passing through savings that have accrued due to its growth and scale.

Cecchetti Wine Company Sales Take Flight

In its first full year of business, Cecchetti Wine Company is approaching 100,000 cases in total sales of its Line 39 Lake County wines and Redtree California wines, according to the Sonoma-based company. www.cecchettiwineco.com

Bottle Green serves up wine in a can

Bottle Green Ltd is pleased to announce a new partnership with Vinovation International, the company responsible for the exciting and innovative canned wine brand, Wild Pelican.

Racke USA Expands Its U.S. Sales Force

Five New Ambassadors Represent Key Wine Markets Throughout Country

Tasting the increase of wines on the Bulgarian market

Rather new on the Bulgarian market are wines from Austria. Generally overlooked around the world, that unfortunate fate is seeing reversal in Bulgaria thanks to local importer Wine.Unlimited

America Keeps Reaching for Red Wine

Consumption of reds outpaces that of whites; Pinot Noir enjoys big gains

Cotes du Rhone Announces Sponsorship of PBS Reality Series, The Wine Makers

Côtes du Rhône, the second largest Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée wine region in France, is excited to announce its sponsorship of The Wine Makers, a new reality series from PBS. The series is slated to premier in early 2009.

Leading European wine maker eyes Indian joint venture

The German wine-maker, Langguth Wine and Spirits, is looking for an Indian partner to set-up a joint venture in the country

The Carbon Footprint of Wine

Wine enthusiasts such as Colman and winemakers are increasingly becoming aware of the impact their favorite beverage has on the environment, from the pesticides and fertilizers used to grow wine grapes, to the greenhouse gases released while transporting the wine from the vineyard to often far-reaching locales.

Wine Seller! Lesley Stahl's Daughter Channels Her Grandfather's Entrepreneurial Spirit

Ms. Latham's new company is a luxury line of wine-themed clothing that she formed with her husband, 30-year-old Andrew Major.

India: Grapes may turn sour for growers

Grape output in northern Karnataka could fall by 25%-30% because of a destructive fungal disease brought on by cold night temperatures. Grape vines in the region have been afflicted by downy mildew has night temperatures fall below 20 degree Celsius, leaving farmers hoping for warmer weather.

Send Real Drinks for $1 with New Facebook Application

BarTab, a new Facebook application that gives users the ability to send real drinks to friends for $1, today announced their official, exclusive launch in Arizona. The BarTab service turns Facebook virtual drink icons into real drinks, redeemable by cell phone (electronic coupon) at participating bars in Arizona.

Controversy Flows in Russian River Valley

Gallo petition to expand vineyard district borders opposed by some growers inside and outside

Riverside County's acreage requirements get commission's OK

Riverside County's Planning Commission has approved a proposed zoning change requiring special occasion venues in Temecula Wine Country to be built on larger plots of land.

Fresh & Easy Introduces Five New Wines Under $9 and a 10% Off Wine Promotion

Grocer also introduces a new canvas wine bag for only $1.99

Foster's Group implements RedPrairie at 14 sites across Australia and the USA

RedPrairie, a leading consumer driven optimisation company, announced that Foster's Group, a global premium beverage company, has rolled out RedPrairie's Warehouse Management System to 14 sites in Australia and the USA. Since implementing the RedPrairie solution, Foster's has gained operational efficiencies, better visibility into its supply chain and can offer more flexibility and better service to its customers.

GenomeQuest™ Helps University of California, Davis Researchers to Identify a New Virus from Declining Grapevines

GenomeQuest, Inc., the leader in sequence informatics, today announced researchers at the University of California, Davis used its recently announced On-Demand Informatics Solution to process and analyze next-generation sequencing data, successfully leading to identification of a new RNA virus from a declining Syrah grapevine cultivar.

Foster's rethinks $4.5 billion wine sale

Global beverages company Foster's Group Ltd has reportedly dumped the option of a straight cash sale of its $4.5 billion wine business from its list of possible outcomes, given ongoing market and economic weakness.

Online Wine Retailers See Shift - Not Drop - in Wine Sales

Online wine marketer, My Wines Direct (www.mywinesdirect.com), reports a shift in consumers' buying behavior towards lower priced wines rather than less buying overall. Despite reports of lighter traffic in tasting rooms and higher dropout rates from wine clubs, My Wines Direct is recording double digit growth during the financial meltdown.

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Grower traces heritage to John Muir

Napa grapegrower and winemaker Bill Hanna is Muir's great-grandson. Hanna, his wife Claudia, and their two adult children, Michael and Kristin, farm between 40 and 50 acres of winegrapes off Orchard Avenue, north of Napa.

Legal battle over shipping wine threatens entrepreneurs' dream

In the wake of a Sept. 30 federal court ruling, Solar and Resnick fear that Michigan may "level down" the alcoholic beverage retail market.

Personalized Wine Gift Boxes Arrive Just in Time for the Holidays

Laser Engraving, With No Minimum Order, Makes Perfect Holiday Gift

The Perfect Holiday Gift for the Wine Enthusiast, WinePod(R) Personal Winemaking System

WinePod(R), the world's first personal winery, is a revolutionary winemaking system that presses, ferments and manages wine in one sleek, wine glass shaped, self-contained unit.

Financial crisis hitting sales of top wines

Prices of the most expensive wines have plunged in recent weeks, showing that not even the swish sectors of the economy are immune to the global crisis

DrinkUpNY.com Launches Value Wine Site: DrinkUpForLess.com Specializing in Wines Under $20

DrinkUpNY.com has announced the launch of a sister site, DrinkUpForLess.com that specializes in wines priced under $20, with many varieties as low as $4.99. The new site will still offer DrinkUpNY.com's policy of free ground shipping in the United States on all orders over $99.99.

Aussie thirst for Kiwi wine continues with older families tucking in

After a bumper harvest, New Zealand wine producers will be happy with recent research from Nielsen showing the Aussie hunger for Kiwi wines hasn't abated at all.

Bottles That Make Good Guests at Your Thanksgiving Table

Choosing the wine for any occasion is well known as an exercise in agony. Thanksgiving, for some reason, fills people with an extra dimension of dread.

Australia: Wine regions study warns on climate change

Warm-climate wine regions are expected to be most at risk from climate change.

Marani Brands Sets a Date with the Big Dog

Announces Its Attendance at the Upcoming Big Dog Small Cap Conference in Las Vegas

Constellation Brands to Present at November 18 Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference

Constellation Brands, Inc.,a leading international supplier and marketer of beverage alcohol, today announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Rob Sands will present at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference held at the Crowne Plaza Times Square in New York City, Tuesday, Nov. 18

Book details rise of Veuve Clicquot worldwide champagne empire

If you like champagne, "The Widow Clicquot" by Tilar J. Mazzeo is definitely worth a drink. Mazzeo's book details the life of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, who took control of her late husband's wine business and turned it into a worldwide empire known for its orange-labelled bottles of champagne called Veuve Clicquot, French for the Widow Clicquot.

Oz Clarke is UK's best-known wine writer: official

Oz Clarke is the most-recognised wine critic in the UK, a new poll claims. The Wine Intelligence survey, which polled the views of more than 1,500 regular UK wine drinkers, revealed that Clarke was the most familiar to them.

A Diplomatic Champion for Chile

Just a few days after Mariano Fernandez assumed his post as Chile's ambassador to the United States, he scored his first diplomatic triumph. Serving as a judge at the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition, he convinced the four other judges at his table that a wine he particularly liked was worthy of a gold medal.

Grape news for heart health

American researchers have found that something within ordinary grapes has a direct impact on cardiovascular risk

Australia: Winemakers warned of lorikeet threat

The Department of Agriculture and Food has warned winemakers their grape crops could be at risk from rainbow lorikeets.

Hungry Owl Project in Marin helps winery battle pests

Winery owner Jess Jackson - who previously worked to reintroduce the red-tailed hawk and the peregrine falcon to his 14,000 acres of vineyards - sees owls as a way to control rodents without hurting the environment

Kendall-Jackson first to woo Obama

California winery Kendall-Jackson has announced that it is sending 'a few congratulatory cases' of its Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay to President-elect Barack Obama.

Copia to Sell Building by New Year

Nonprofit to downsize Napa operation and open San Francisco site

Registration Open for Direct to Consumer Symposium, February 24, 2009

The second annual event will occur on February 24, 2009 at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa Valley.

Tool's Maynard James Keenan to sign bottles of his wine tonight at La Jolla Whole Foods

An Ohio native, Keenan moved to the Arizona town of Cornville in 1995, four years after Tool was formed in Los Angeles. He put in his first vineyard in 2000 and debuted his first wines in 2004.

Greg Swaffar president, Summit Engineering, Inc.

Each Wednesday, the Napa Valley Register's Business Focus asks "10 Questions" of a local entrepreneur or businessperson. Readers are welcome to suggest business people to be profiled.

Dunne on Wine: Value wine can offer quality, too

The Thanksgiving banquet might well be the Thanksgiving snack this year. Turkey will rule the table, but side dishes may be more modest and sparse.

Daily News

Sealed Bid Auction for Napa's Kirkland Ranch Set for December 3

Daily Links

Industry Reacts to Proposed Alcohol Tax

California governor's proposed nickel-a-drink tax an effort to close budget gap

Airline sales push Cecchetti Wine to 100K cases in second year

Family owned Cecchetti Wine said earlier this week that sales of its Line 39 Lake County wines and Redtree California wines took off starting in late 2007, just months after it began selling them in the spring of last year, and have since grown exponentially.

Legacy Brings Old World Italian Wine to the New World Chinese Consumer

Legacy Wine and Spirits International Ltd. reports that the company has begun the process of importing select brands of Chianti, Syrah, Montepulciano d' Abruzzo, Nero d' Avalo and others from the wine producing regions of Sicily, Venice, Piedmont and other lesser known areas of Italy.

Merchants can lead you to wines of value

To find tasty wines that don't cost a lot, I told them, look for "weird" grape types such as gewurztraminer, carmenere and semillon. I also suggested choosing wines from unfamiliar regions such as Greece, southern Italy and Portugal. And I made it plain that wines under screw caps and in boxes should not be considered inferior merely by the packaging.

NZ: Sacred Hill Wine Thief Series continues its reign

Sacred Hill Wine Thief Series Chardonnay 2007 continues its reign of successes. Sacred Hill Wines has walked away Gold for its 2007 Wine Thief Series Chardonnay at the 2008 Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

Fuzion is the newest red to tempt wine lover's hearts

Red wine has a new crowd favourite. And it's not from Australia. The wine is called Fuzion and it hails from Argentina. Small quantities have been trickling into the stores over the summer and disappearing as fast as they arrived.

Australia: Time to start counting grape vine branchesc

Wine grape experts say growers who speculate about the size of their vintage need to get out there and start counting. By counting the number of branches in about 20 bunches, growers can get a good idea of how many grapes their whole vineyard will produce.

India: Grapes arrive in Nashik

The grape season has begun with the arrivals of grapes in Nashik, the grapewine capital of India. The grapes, which have still not reached Nashik Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), are being purchased by fruits trading firms directly at their vineyards at the rate of Rs. 55-60 a kg.

Australia: Researchers seek smoke-resistant wine grapes

The University of Adelaide has set out to find grape varieties less susceptible to smoke from bushfires.

Grape receiving and inspection platform for wineries

Key Technology has introduced the new Grape Receiving and Inspection Platform (GRIP) for wineries, changing the traditional sorting table area.

Break open the red fizz

This is sparkling shiraz that combines the grunt, gruffness and grit of Australia's most famous grape with a bead of bubbles, brimming with all the joys of spring.

Castel doubles wine sales in China

Active in China since 1998, Castel saw its sales volume reach 5.5m bottles in 2008, double that of 2007. The company expects a further rise of 18%, or 6.5m bottles, in 2009.

Christie's previews Hospices de Beaune wines

As Christie's prepares to launch the annual Hospices de Beaune wine sale, the London-based auctioneer has released its impressions of the 2008 vintage

Sam's Club(R) Introduces Fair Trade Certified(TM) Wine

Noble Malbec Reaps Awards and Sows Seeds of Change

Napa vintners give away $7.26 million

More than 50 organizations received grants at the ceremony Thursday, held at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville. This year's grants bring the total proceeds of the Wine Auction's 28-year history to $85 million.

Former commissioner championed Fresno Co. ag

Former Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner Cosmo Insalaco weathered devastating freezes, pushed agri-tourism and was recognized as a leader in the central San Joaquin Valley farm community.

Mark West Creek dispute pits water vs. wine

Inside Jim and Betty Doerksen's century-old farmhouse on St. Helena Road, stacks of paper and aerial photos are spread across a dining room table, beneath an antique rifle mounted on the wall.

Daily News

Study Shows US Millennials Embracing Champagne & Sparkling Wines -- But Only For Special Occasions

Daily Links

Vick dogs featured on wine labels

Georgia, Handsome Dan, Curly and other pit bulls rescued from Michael Vick's dogfighting operation are getting a shot at fame as stars of a line of boutique red wines.

House bill would bar Michigan wine deliveries by retailers

Michigan wine retailers would lose the right to deliver their products directly to consumers under a bill introduced and quickly approved by a House committee Thursday.

How wineries are packaging their eco-credentials

In the old days, wine associated with organic agriculture was left dusty on the shelf. But in this new era of eco-luxury, green is something to be proud of. Wineries are devising all kinds of ways to market their eco-practices.

Australia: Financial crisis worsens wine over-supply

The financial downturn is expected to accelerate the need to reduce wine production.

Consultants help customers uncork the secrets of fine wine

Unless you are a wine connoisseur, it can be hard to know the difference between chardonnay and Riesling or pinot noir and merlot.

French Wine Explorers Releases New Website and 2009 Tour Schedule

French Wine Explorers, the leader in wine and culinary tours to France, has released the 2009 Tour Schedule for small group departures.

CA: A rare wine, Tocai Friulano, still produced by Larkmead

Those fortunates invited to tour the property will see the history in a one-acre block of Larkmead's 113 acres in vines. A precious few will taste the wine produced from the 125-year-old Tocai Friulano fruit harvested from the single acre. Of the 5,000 to 7,000 cases of all varietals that come from Larkmead annually, only 142 cases contain Tocai Friulano.

Italian wines inspire California wineries

There can be little doubt of the huge influence that Italians and people of Italian ancestry have had on the California wine industry.

Move Over, Napa: Boutique Wines From Israel Are Making a U.S. Debut

Based in Evanston, Ill., Israeli Wine Direct aims to introduce Americans to Israeli wine and to find an outlet for boutique Israeli wineries in the United States.

Australia: Wine grape growers get end of year bonus

Wine grape growers received an end of year bonus on Wednesday with rebates presented at the Leeton Soldiers Club

Timbercorp loses $19 million on table grapes

The company has revised down its profit projections to $44 million taking into account the ``one off provision'' to take into account losses from varieties that failed to attract the premium expected, as well as losses while the new plants mature on the 412 hectare project.

Bids for sale of Kirkland winery in Napa to start at $22 million

Kirkland Ranch Winery, a large winery southeast of Napa that was involved in the nearly $60 million reorganization of Viansa Italian Marketplace & Winery, is being offered for sale in a sealed-bid auction in early December.

Washington state wineries seek status for grapes

Several wineries and vineyard owners in Eastern Washington are banding together to lobby for a specific wine-grape growing region northwest of Yakima.

Sauternes harvest latest ever

Sauternes chateaux are still working on one of the latest vintages on record. Properties expecting to finish today or tomorrow include Chateau Guiraud, Chateau Raymond Lafont and Chateau Suduiraut. Chateau d'Yquem finished on October 29.

Bordeaux 2005: 'It's a buyer's market'

Around the world, prices on Bordeaux 2005s are being reduced - and buyers are trading down - in response to the fiscal crisis.

Venerable Burgundy auction gets a makeover

'Irrelevant" was the word a high-ranking representative of a leading Burgundy negociant firm, who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of offending the tightly knit Burgundy wine community, used to describe the current Hospices de Beaune auction. That's a startling assessment of what was - and probably still is - the world's most important wine auction.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon more than $50

Thoughts of holiday gifts arise this time of year. With the challenging economic times, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is becoming a luxury for an increasing number of wine aficionados, even as new Napa Valley wineries continue to open.

Water Sidelines Winery Permit

Opponents fill zoning hearing on Mark West area project; board asks for more information

A Wine Tour at the Corner of Oak and Vine

...it is here among the warehouses and parking lots that young winemakers, like Jeff Cohn of JC Cellars and Michael Dashe of Dashe Cellars, are opening shop.

Copia looks to sell, but stay

Faced with staggering debt, Copia is planning to sell off its 12-acre riverfront property on the Oxbow.

Cosentino seeks to solve noise, permit woes

Yountville winery fined, wants expansion to triple production

Study: Paying more for alcohol saves lives

Each time the state of Alaska raised its alcoholic beverage tax, fewer deaths were caused by or related to alcohol, according to the study that examined 28 years of data.

Growers Still Get Credit

Banks see vineyard land as a sound investment; operating loans may tighten

More than 100 homes burned in California blaze

A brush fire roared through the canyons of Santa Barbara County late Thursday, forcing residents in the town of Montecito to evacuate as flames engulfed multimillion-dollar homes and more modest ranch-style houses.

Daily News

Water flows freely in Southern Ontario but wineries face stringent wastewater regulations

Daily Links

Wash. farmers fight proposed 30K-head feedlot

Under laws dating back 60 years, the state allows some wells to be drilled without a permit, as long as water usage is held to 5,000 gallons per day. They include livestock watering, small industrial uses, domestic use or noncommercial watering of a small lawn or garden.

Editorial: Two big water deals now gain traction

On Thursday, federal officials, environmentalists, Indian tribes and others announced agreement with a utility, PacifiCorp, to remove four dams that block the Klamath River. This pact could potentially end years of litigation and fighting over the Klamath, while restoring salmon to a river that once was a major fish factory.

Ottawa County toasts its first legal Sunday of beer and wine sales

Ottawa County voters recently ended what some considered an idiotic law: a shot of Jack Daniels, or any other hard liquor, was OK by glass on Sunday. Beer and wine were banned.

Economic crisis chills Asia's fine wine thirst, but liquidity attractive

The day before some of the world's most expensive wines went under the hammer, Hong Kong's stock exchange closed at its lowest level in more than four years after a week of disastrous losses on worldwide markets.

Kiwi wine no longer a one-trick pony

This year sees the traditional varietals take a back seat to the rise of Riesling, the punch of pinot noir and the scope of syrahs, while niche grapes such as gewürztraminer and viognier boost their presence also.

Wine giant Joseph Gallo shares secrets of success

Bob Gallo, co-founder Julio Gallo's son, and Jim Coleman, Julio's son-in-law, are co-chairmen of the privately held company's board of directors, putting the family's second generation firmly in control of the business.

Wine prices go into the red

It is enough to make the super rich cough into their carefully cellared claret - prices of some of the world's most revered wines are falling sharply.

Burgundy wine auction hit by economy, weather

Battered by storm damage and the weak global economy, French Burgundy wine prices fell at an annual charity auction held Sunday, experts said.

Wine connoisseurs debate which is better

Some argue that selling wine in lighter packaging, rather than the traditional glass bottle, would make for a more environmentally friendly product. But the argument for boxed wine doesn't seem practical for local vinters or serious wine drinkers

Leafroll Viruses Spread in Finger Lakes

Insects may be important factor; Brix reduction and pH increase documented

Economic crisis chills Asia's fine wine thirst, but liquidity attractive

"What happens in the financial world can actually fuel the wine collecting market. If putting it (cash) in a bank account is not safe any more, why not buy a couple of cases of wine," says Carson Chan, managing director of auction house Bonhams Asia.

Online Wine Sales Deliver a Personalized Experience, Shifting Industry Trends

E-commerce Wine Sites Overcome Traditional Obstacles as Technology Advances

Harry & David and Wine.com Uncork Wine Offerings

Premium Gift Baskets with Wine Pairings Offered in Harry & David Catalogs and on Website for Holidays

Liquid Gold in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Here, in this ruggedly beautiful and mountainous region, dominated by towering redwoods and cavernous canyons, wines are as much about place as they are about time.

Hospices result 'better than anticipated'

Yesterday's auction at the Hospices de Beaune took over €3m - less than last year but with a reduced number of barrels for sale.

Copia on the brink

It is mighty hard to tell what's going on these days with Copia, Napa's troubled center for wine, food and the arts.

Wine Spectator's full top 100 list released

In 2008, we reviewed more than 19,500 wines from around the world in blind tastings. More than 5,300 of them earned outstanding ratings (90 points or higher on our 100-point scale).

Water restrictions ordered to help California fish

California officials ordered on Friday an additional 17 percent cut in the amount of water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to protect a fish in the most populous U.S. state's fresh water hub.

Daily News

Water supplies come under scrutiny in British Columbia A New Glass Wine Producer Enters The North American Market Seguin Moreau takes 49 Percent stake in Boisé France

Daily Links

REITS, private equity, others show increased interest in wine industry

A 3-year-old REIT focused on the wine industry has been making significant investments this year. The VinREIT portfolio currently has 1,590 acres of vineyards and 10 wineries, including RB Wine Associates' Rack & Riddle custom winery in Hopland, Billington Imports' Havens Wine Cellars in Yountville and Cosentino wineries in Napa County's Pope Valley and the Lodi area.

Tasteless - just like they want it

Andrew Macaluso and Nicole Chamberlain are traveling California test marketing and selling the innovative new product they developed while working toward their degrees in enology and viticulture in Cal Poly's wine and viticulture program.

Share Our Strength Launches Collaboration Wine to Help Support the Fight Against Childhood Hunger

Share Our Strength, a national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry, announced today the launch of Collaboration Wine. Collaboration is a private label joint venture with Clos LaChance Winery and WineStyles, the nation's largest wine store franchise.

Regal Life Expands Into China Wine Import and Distribution Marketplace

Regal Life Concepts, Inc. announced that it has entered into a Letter of Intent to acquire up to a 51% equity interest in Guangzhou Awa Wine Co., Ltd. ("Awa Wine"), a rapidly growing China-based Wine import and distribution company.

Canberra landmark wine: this sweet drop comes once in a century

A total of 3600 bottles of the special edition Centenary of Canberra Riesling were packaged under the watchful eye of Brindabella Hills Winery co-owner Roger Harris, who sipped from a small glass of the wine as he looked on.

Australia: Big wineries call for market prune

Australia's wine industry appears set for a major shakeup amid growing pressure from leading winemakers to slash production and cut the total number of wineries.

Tennessee groceries may stock wine in near future

State law currently requires any alcohol stronger than beer to be sold in liquor stores only. The Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association is trying to change that. They say the sale of wine at grocery stores could generate anywhere from $17-50 million in extra revenue from the state.

CA: $125,000 federal grant for sustainable wine program

California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance receives specialty crop block grant to create a certification system for the effort.

New look launched for Arniston Bay wine range

The Arniston Bay Original South African wine range is being re-launched in the UK market. The re-launch is designed to "upgrade" the range, and will include screwcap closures and updated packaging on all varietals.

Judges' grape expectations in Australia

Judging has begun at the Wrest Point Royal Hobart International Wine Show, with more than 2700 wines entered.

Hospices result 'better than anticipated'

Yesterday's auction at the Hospices de Beaune took over €3m - less than last year but with a reduced number of barrels for sale.

Boisset Family Estates and Constar Celebrate the 2008 Vintage Beaujolais Nouveau with a Lightweight, Environmentally Friendly Plastic Bottle

Each year, on the third Thursday of November, French vintner Boisset Family Estates flies thousands of bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau to eager wine lovers around the world, a harvest tradition celebrating the arrival of the refreshing, fruity wines. This year, however, Boisset is breaking with tradition. Instead of packaging its Beaujolais Nouveau wines from the historic wineries of Mommessin and Bouchard Aîné & Fils in glass bottles, the progressive winemaker is using plastic.

Tough Economy Hits Hospices de Beaune Auction

Annual charity event in Burgundy raises almost $3.9 million, a smaller take for the second straight year

Expo Details Sustainable Practices

About 350 viticulturists and other specialty farmers gathered in Monterey to soak up information on eco-friendly business practices during the Sustainable Ag Expo held at the Monterey Fairgrounds. Although both days featured breakout sessions on viticulture research, the event, organized by the Central Coast Vineyard Team, catered to all kinds of farmers--not just winegrape growers.

InBev says it has closed Anheuser Busch takeover

InBev SA on Tuesday formed the world's largest brewer when it closed its $52 billion takeover of Anheuser-Busch Cos.

Obama team considers Vilsack to lead Agriculture Dept.

The Obama transition team considers former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack a near shoo-in for secretary of agriculture, according to a source close to the transition. Vilsack, who dropped out of the presidential race last year after a short-lived bid, was an early backer of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. But during the general election, he campaigned hard for Obama in Iowa.

Daily Links

A New Glass Wine Bottle Producer Enters The North American Market

Encore Glass of Benicia, California and Fevisa Industrial of Mexicali, B. C., Mexico are very pleased to announce an additional wine bottle supplier for the domestic US wine market.

Growing Pains and the