WINE BUSINESS MONTHLY
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PUBLICATIONS
January
Monday, 01/05/09
Daily Links
Washington's largest winery demonstrates optimism, expanding premium vineyards
"This is a long-term investment in our highest-tier vineyards," said Kevin Corliss, director of vineyard operations for Chateau Ste. Michelle in a recent interview with Wines & Vines. Moreover, the efforts are targeted, taking advantage of specific site conditions with an eye to serving the needs of its premium wine production.
The Wine Group announces replacement of 187 ml glass bottles for Glen Ellen and Fish Eye with 250 ml Tetra Paks.
The Wine Group, LLC is a San Francisco based privately-held company that produces such well-known brands as Franzia, Concannon, Big House, Glen Ellen, Corbett Canyon, Foxhorn, Fish Eye and Mogen David. Founded in 1981 by a management buy-out of the wine assets of The Coca Cola Bottling Company of New York, The Wine Group is now California's second largest wine producer by volume and the world's most cost and carbon efficient vintner.
Wine as an Economic Indicator
The recession is forcing middle-market consumers to move down-market. What has become of the high-end oenophiles, though? Surely they've been affected by the downturn.
Wine lovers trade down
Even though the signs of a recession have been around for more than a year, it didn't hit home for many wineries until October and November when the sales figures plunged. Distributors and restaurants, in an effort to save money and to brace for a poor holiday season, purchased less wine, blindsiding many wineries. Total wine sales still are growing, but the growth has clearly shifted to wines under $10, a reversal of the long-term trend of people buying better wine, Fredrikson said.
Top 10 NW wine stories, fresh off the vine
Wineries and vineyards came under new ownership, a giant in the British Columbia wine world stepped away, and we lost Papa Pinot. With that, here are my top 10 stories for 2008 from the wine regions of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho.
Washington lawmakers likely to hear booze bills
The state already allows out-of-state shipments by wineries to in-state consumers. Jean Leonard of the Washington wine industry's lobbying group Washington Wine Institute says she's unsure where the latest proposal will go in the Legislature.
Sonoma Stories: A winery with a mission
Gordon Holmes at Lookout Ridge winery in Sonoma Valley bottles "Wine For Wheels." Profits are used to provide wheelchairs to people around the world who otherwise wouldn't have one.
Wannabe Winemaker Thinks Ahead
While the financial industry was awash in bad news last fall, Chicago investment manager Ira Kreft found himself washing lugs 300 miles from his office. At age 50, he was participating in an internship of sorts--two unpaid, self-solicited weeks of hard harvest labor in two northern Michigan wineries--experiences intended to help him transition from the world of finance to vineyards and wineries.
Wine treasures are hidden in a Woodinville industrial park
The North Industrial Park -- is one of the fastest growing wine-producing corners in the rapidly expanding Woodinville wine country.
Sake surges in the US
During the past five years, the volume of sake brought from Japan has grown about 14 percent a year (987,475 gallons in 2007 and estimated at more than 1 million gallons for 2008), with an estimated total retail value around $150 million.
Colorado wine industry's 2008 Restaurant Program announced
The Colorado Wine Industry Development Board is holding another restaurant recognition program this year to acknowledge the restaurants that are making a special effort to bring Colorado wines to consumers.
Stevenot Winery will stay open, owner says
Despite foreclosure proceedings against several Stevenot Winery properties, the famed Calaveras County winery itself will not close and will soon expand, Stevenot owner Jack Munari said Friday.
The Chronicle Wine Selections Argentine Malbec
Between 1990 and 2006, Argentina's Malbec plantings increased 133 percent. Today, Mendoza - Argentina's most renowned winegrowing district - leads the way with 83 percent of the country's Malbec vineyards.
Goldeneye: all about Pinot Noir
Anderson Valley's renown for Pinot Noir has developed over 30 years, most intensely in the last decade or so. Goldeneye, which has been producing Pinot Noir in Anderson Valley since 1997.
Recession will end, eventually
That is the bold prediction from Robert Eyler, director of the Center for Regional Economic Analysis at Sonoma State University.
Vintner plants a future for family farm
When it came time for Jamie to take over the farm's management, he came up with a novel idea -- growing wine grapes as a means of keeping the business solvent.
Indian Grape Processing Board to be set up in Pune
According to the Financial Express, the central government has approved and cleared the creation of the Indian Grape Processing Board (IGPB) at Pune in Maharashtra.
California governor's panel says Calif must build water canal
In a report issued Friday, the Delta Vision Committee said California should begin building a canal to divert water from the Sacramento River as soon as 2011. It is one of the most controversial strategies included in a final report released by the governor's office after more than two years of hearings.
Can lasers help California farmers conserve water?
Seventy-six years after the invention of the modern sprinkler helped revolutionize farming, a professor of environmental engineering is pointing a laser beam across an alfalfa crop in Southern California's Imperial Valley, looking for a better way to conserve the millions of gallons of water sprayed each year on thirsty crops.
Agriculture's next big challenge
President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Iowa's former Gov. Tom Vilsack to be his secretary of agriculture. Vilsack was an excellent choice, but some have criticized the appointment because he supports agricultural biotechnology and commercial agriculture. The critics assume that anyone who holds these views is an enemy of organic farming and sustainable agriculture. We disagree.
Grape extract can destroy cancer cells
Recent research has revealed that grape seed extract are capable of treating and preventing blood cancers such as leukemia. Researchers found that the extract killed 76 per cent of leukemia cells within 24 hours in laboratory tests without harming healthy cells.
BevMo! Installs Wine Market Assistant Kiosk to Provide Premium Self-Service Resource for Beverages and Loyalty Card Information Station
Customers obtain ratings and reviews for wine, beer and spirits offered by BevMo!. In addition customers can sign up for the ClubBev! savings card on the kiosk.
Australia: Water woes - tax, fee fears dry up interest
The Government's offer to irrigators on 15ha farms or less is up to $170,000 in taxable compensation, training and plant removal grants to exit irrigated farming but to continue living on their property.
Australia: Wine production needs 10-20pc fall, says expert
The Winemakers' Federation says the industry may be about to face its most challenging vintage in decades. It is tipping that water shortages will fail to dent the overall crop yield, leading to low prices for grape growers.
Grape extract "kills leukaemia"
Although the research is in its early stages and it has not been recommended people eat grapes to stave off cancer, US scientists believe the results could mark the start of promising new treatments.
Tuesday, 01/06/09
Daily Links
Death of John Marynissen seen as 'big blow' to Niagara wine industry
Marynissen was determined to the end, battling a succession of health problems last year before he died Friday in hospital at the age of 84.
Store your wine where you have space
The Under-Cabinet Wine Cooler holds up to four bottles of wine at a time and you can easily control the temperature for either red or white wines.
Lodi Growers Realize a Dream
Mencarini family of Abundance Vineyards opens a tasting room
Wines find a place on the fair trade list
TransFair USA, the Oakland-based group that has certified everything from coffee and tea to bananas and flowers as being ethically produced, now is putting its seal on wines from Chile, Argentina and South Africa
Wine and tourism industries could prop up job market
According to a 2008 tourism report in Sonoma, comparable to other North Bay counties, tourism could actually benefit from the poor economy because more Bay Area travelers will choose weekend trips to the Wine Country instead of air travel.
Could Wine Bridge the Gulf Between Georgia and Russia?
Tbilisi is actively seeking to resume the export of wine to the Russian Federation, a step Moscow officials say they are willing to approve but one that they predict on the basis of changed attitudes and price levels will not allow Georgian wines to resume the standing they had with Russians in Soviet times.
Kentucky wine shipping law overturned
The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2006 decision from U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Simpson III that knocked down a state law prohibiting shipments of such wine purchases from out of state.
Like with everything, wine consumers turn cautious
Wine industry experts are comparing this year to 2001, when a recession trimmed restaurant spending then the U.S. economy halted for a few weeks following the terrorist attacks in September.
NY: Wölffer Estate Vineyards Owner Dies
Christian Wölffer, the owner of Wölffer Estate Vineyards who helped bring attention to the region's wines with his aggressive marketing and pursuit of quality, was killed on New Year's Eve while swimming in Brazil. He was 70.
Chile, U.S. grape interests wait on order date
An agreement to move the effective date of the California desert grape marketing order from April 20 to April 10 has been agreed to in principle, according to a lawyer representing Chilean exporters.
Italian sparkling wine exports blossom
Italy's sparkling wine exports registered a 29% increase in sales last year, with UK sales rising nearly 100%.
Napa: New at Clos du Val
Dick Maher, wine industry veteran and long-time board member of Goelet Wine Estates, has assumed the role of interim president/CEO of Clos du Val Winery in the Stags Leap district.
Turning wine into wheelchairs
With the sale of each bottle of one of his premium Lookout Ridge wines, an impoverished and disabled person somewhere in the world receives a wheelchair.
A 50-Year Farm Bill
To the problem of soil loss, the industrialization of agriculture has added pollution by toxic chemicals, now universally present in our farmlands and streams. Some of this toxicity is associated with the widely acclaimed method of minimum tillage. We should not poison our soils to save them.
Farming community feels economic bite
Times are tough all over, including in the farming community, hit by rising energy prices last year and falling commodity prices in recent months, according to some of the farmers attending Smith's Implements open house on Monday.
Industry Veterans take Access Beverage, Inc. toNext Level
California based wine and spirit company, Access Beverage, Inc., has successfully completed a reverse merger and today has commenced publicly trading on the Pink Sheets under the ticker symbol ABVI.PK.
Positive Exhibitor Registration at ProWein 2009
As of December 2008, Germany is the leading exhibitor nation with over 700 exhibitors, followed by Italy and France with more than 450 exhibitors each and Spain and Austria with over 250 exhibitors each.
Wednesday, 01/07/09
Daily News
Huneeus Family Makes Investment in Flowers Vineyards and Winery
Press Release: Lodi Winegrowers Achieve Sustainable Certification on 10,000
Press Release: G3 Lab Services Expands Wine Analysis Capabilities
Daily Links
Greater Phoenix Wine, Women & Shoes Comes to AZ
Three years ago, Napa Valley vintner, Elaine Honig, was discussing the growing popularity of wine and food pairing events and jokingly stated that wine and shoe pairing events would be much more fun. Today, Honig's inspiration has grown into the innovative experience known as Wine Women and Shoes
Looking ahead and back at Michigan's wine industry
Michigan's wine industry is one of the few that's growing in the state. Let's take a look at some specific stories likely to play out in 2009.
An easy-to-keep resolution: Be a wiser wine consumer
Focus and refine the familiar with a 10-step process to approach your favorite drink
The Best Things in Life Are Free
Gary Vaynerchuk, co-founder of Wine Library, has been taking advantage of free business tools for nearly three years to grow his 11-year-old wine retail business.
Recipe for winemaking -- ambition, luck and passion
Marchesi made his first fortunes selling seat belts to carmakers in Australia and Europe, and then non-leaky sunroofs to U.S. car maker General Motors. It wasn't until he approached his 50s that he realized his dream of buying several bankrupt wineries in Tuscany.
VC Family Estates Beats All Industry & All Chilean Wineries to win the Energy Efficiency Trophy by the CPC for 2008
The primary initiative undertaken by VC was the construction of a solar energy plant in the Gracia Winery, based in the Cachapoal Valley, in 2007.
Vintners want red tape cut so wine lovers can get out-of-province labels
The Canadian Vintners Association is targeting the country's liquor control boards in hopes of persuading them to allow direct-to-consumer wine sales from out-of-province wineries.
India: Grape prices may soar this summer
With the outbreak of downy mildew being confirmed in both the grape growing states of Maharashtra & Karnataka, domestic consumers should be prepared to shell out at least 20-25% extra for the popular variety of table grapes like Thomson Seedless when the crop hits the domestic market during March-April.
Sending off sour grapes
Table grape growers in Victoria are sending produce to market before it's ripe in an effort to get higher prices.
AUS: Grapes of rot in Riverland vintage
It's predicted many grapes will be left to rot this vintage in South Australia's Riverland.
Marani Brands Retains Nexus Investor Relations to Lead Shareholder Communications Program
Marani Brands, Inc., a growing player in the world of international wine and spirits, today announced that it has retained Nexus Investor Relations to build and lead an expanded shareholder communications program
Missing Link Networks, Inc. Releases "Small Winery" Edition of Industry Leading eCellar Platform
Now, the same eBusiness software used by Quintessa, Grgich Hills Estate, Heitz Wine Cellars, Flora Springs and Spring Mountain Vineyard is available in a version priced to meet the needs of small wine brands.
Industry Veterans take Access Beverage, Inc. to Next Level
California based wine and spirit company, Access Beverage, Inc., has successfully completed a reverse merger and today has commenced publicly trading on the Pink Sheets under the ticker symbol ABVI.PK
Major Vineyards Proposed in Napa
An additional 1,000 acres of premium grapes will go in, pending county approval