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• NYC's Biggest Restaurateurs Are Turning Miami Into America's Hottest Dining Scene
  "Covid hits, and all of a sudden this becomes the Garden of Eden."
  
  
• Restaurant Sales Almost Fully Recovered In March
  Industry sales surged 36% year-over-year, nearly hitting 2019 levels as consumers spent their stimulus checks at any restaurant that was open.
  
  
• Great drop! Growing South Australian wine exports through recovery and expansion program
  South Australian wineries will benefit from a new A$5.4 million wine market expansion program that will support them to diversify into new markets, grow sales of premium SA wine across the globe, and create more jobs.
  
  
• Viña Concha y Toro expands in China
  Concha y Toro has added a new distribution subsidiary VCT China (Gan Lu Wine Trading), which used to be the company's sales office in Shanghai, to its network of global offices.
  
  
• Interview, Part 2: Robert Hanson, Constellation's President Of Wine And Spirits
  Hanson discusses innovation activity, the new 40-state alignment with Southern Glazer's, and the company's ongoing digital transformation.
  
  
• Nancy Light to Retire from Wine Institute
  Vice President of Communications Nancy Light will retire from Wine Institute on May 14 after 24 years to pursue her next chapter."I feel deeply indebted to Wine Institute members, President Bobby Koch, my Wine Institute colleagues, trusted consultants and industry friends for helping me to experience the career of my dreams," said Light. A successor will be announced next week.
  
  
• Erica Moyer to retire from Turrentine Brokerage
  Mike Needham will become the new California Interior Grape Broker. ... Also in the Turrentine Update, the number of gallons actively for sale in 2021 is beginning to decrease, but the number of lots being listed are still increasing. This highlights two dynamics: Continued consumer sales in larger retail and the continued challenging sales for smaller and medium wineries in on-premise.
  
  
• Patrick Y. Shim launching 1927 Capital Management with California Winemaking Family
  "Patrick Shim is the ideal partner in the establishment of a family office," says Mr. Don Galleano, President of Galleano Winery and third-generation winemaker at Cantu-Galleano Ranch in Mira Loma, CA
  
  
• Joshua D. Mendoza-Widaman Named Estate Winemaker for Pine Ridge Vineyards
  Josh most recently spent nine vintages as winemaker at Lewis Cellars.
  
  
• Saverglass Expands with a Multi-Service Warehouse in Fairfield, California
  With more space and more docks to work from, the 430,000 square foot multi-service warehouse is designed to optimize lead time and reduce costs while bringing the same level of service to its customers.
  
  
• Enartis Announces Partnership with Universal Biosensors in offering the Sentia Wine Analyzer
  The Sentia Hand-Held Wine Analyzer is now available for purchase for the measurement of free SO2. Using proven technology, the Sentia analyzer provides rapid, accurate analysis of SO2 with no sample preparation, no calibration and minimal staff training.
  
  
• Beer garden, restaurant, event space proposed for Napa's Oxbow District - napa register - paywall
  Temporary dining and recreation uses are proposed for the former Copia south garden space, to be known as Oxbow Yard.
  
  
• Ornellaia Bianco 2018 is Released to the Fine Wine Market
  Ornellaia Bianco 2018, a Sauvignon Blanc-led blend with a touch of Viognier, is imported exclusively into the U.S. by VINTUS in a very limited amount, at a suggested retail price of $255.
  
  
• Ohza Celebrates National Mimosa Day with Golden Ticket Contest
  The ready-to-drink cocktail company is giving away the ultimate trip for four to its birthplace, Cape Cod, Mass.
  
  
• Nichino America Introduces a Preemergence Herbicide for Use on Vine and Nut Crops in California
  Craze™ Herbicide from Nichino America, Inc. is now registered in California for use on grapes and nut crops as well as nonbearing stone fruit, the company announced today.
  
  
• CA passes pandemic aid for smaller family farms
  With approval of Senate Bill 85, state funding to the tune of $3.35 million from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will help ensure much-needed direct relief to farmers left out of previous aid efforts as well as language and culturally appropriate technical assistance.
  
  
• Action by insurance commissioner will define scope of farmers' coverage gaps
  With California farmers and ranchers finding increasing difficulty in purchasing wildfire insurance for their businesses and properties, the California Farm Bureau welcomed today's call by the state insurance commissioner for data on commercial insurance coverage.
  
  
• Funds aid in recovery from the financial impacts of COVID-19
  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of more than $330 million to help agricultural producers and organizations in the food supply chain recover from the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  
• Lodi Winegrape Commission Extends Partnership with SommFoundation
  In partnership, the Lodi Winegrape Commission will provide a virtual masterclass on sustainable viticulture and LODI RULES - the first comprehensive and, arguably, most rigorous sustainability standard in the country.
  
  
• Meeting Registration Open for EDWGGA Discussion on Early Season Management
  El Dorado Wine Grape Growers invites all interested persons to a timely discussion on powdery mildew and early season management and cultural practices led by Lynn Wunderlich, U.C. Cooperative Extension Central Sierra Farm Advisor, on Wednesday, April 21.
  
  
• Opici Wines & Spirits Proudly Appoints New Distributor Partner in New England
  Opici Wines & Spirits is proud to announce the new distributor appointment of Martignetti Companies in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
  
  
• Could wildfires ruin our wine?
  "A crystal ball would be nice in terms of climate change," said Stuart Spoto, the Oakville Station winemaker. "I let the experts take the lead. Having UC Davis in our backyard is beyond words for the benefit we get."
  
  
• Bay Grape: Not your typical Napa Valley wine shop - napa register - paywall
  The willingness of Josiah Baldivino and his wife Stevie Stacionis to admit that their decision to open a second location of their popular Oakland wine shop Bay Grape in Napa came on the heels of a ...
  
  
• Controversy as Gallo Gains East Coast Foothold?
  some retailers didn't particularly like that Gallo got special permission to operate three South Carolina tasting rooms?
  
  
• One Year Later: How U.S. Winemakers Averted Disaster
  Many were able to adapt. Through flexibility and timely government loans, some producers did better in 2020 than they ever imagined was possible.
  
  
• Boozy beef: White Claw's higher alcohol proof sparks war with Four Loko
  Bad blood is brewing between adult beverage brands Four Loko and White Claw after the hard seltzer's recent move to boost alcohol proof has the premium malt liquor company bubbling over with shade.
  
  
• Bardstown Bourbon Releases Second Collaboration With The Prisoner Wine Company
  The Bardstown Bourbon Company recently released its second collaboration with The Prisoner Wine Company. The new release is a 100-proof, ten-year-old Tennessee bourbon aged for 18 months in French Oak red wine barrels used to age the wine company's product, The Prisoner Red Blend.
  
  
• Texas Restaurant Association Teams Up with Texas Food & Wine Alliance, Houston Rockets, Multiple Hospitals, and others to Vaccinate Hospitality Workers
  The vaccine drive will kick off in Houston on Monday, April 19 and Tuesday, April 20 for a clinic at the Smart Financial Centre. The clinic will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Memorial Hermann Health System will serve as the vaccine administrator with support given by Fertitta Entertainment and the Houston Rockets. Memorial Hermann will administer approximately 12,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine (6,000 per day) to individuals ages 16 and older.
  
  
• Two North Fork wineries to operate under new names
  Both Shinn Estate and Laurel Lake Vineyards announced in recent weeks that they will be operating under new names.
  
  
• 'It's a tragedy.' French winemakers face devastation after worst weather in 30 years
  The frost has affected 80% of vineyards in France's primary wine growing areas, according to the European Committee of Wine Companies. "This is expected to cause a yield loss ranging from 25% to up to 50% in some regions," the trade body told CNN Business on Wednesday.
  
  
• Napa Valley Cannabis Association to host talk with Senior Cannabis Advisor to Gov. Newsom - napa register - paywall
  
  
  
• Illinois vineyards and wineries try to rebound from pandemic
  Heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, wineries and vineyards across Illinois are hoping to recover as warmer weather returns and restrictions loosen.
  
  
• Anheuser-Busch Looks Beyond Beer to Secure Its Future
  The brewer reveals its approach to product innovation
  
  
• Watch: Winegrape growers prepare for drought as buds break on vines
  Between the 2020 wildfires and the looming 2021 drought, Napa County farmer Dave Wilson is battling his share of challenges. He'll be tending his 65 acres of vines through a growing season certain to be dominated by a drought reminiscent of the one he battled in the mid-2010s. SHOW MORE
  
  
• Google Earth's New 3D Time-Lapse Feature Shows How Humans Are Affecting the Planet
  The biggest update to Google Earth since 2017 combines more than 24 million satellite photos, two petabytes of data, and 2 million hours of CPU processing time to create a 4.4-terapixel interactive view showing how the Earth has changed from 1984 to 2020.
  
  
• Watch: Karen MacNeil interviews Hugh Johnson
  Hugh Johnson is one of the world's best-selling wine writers, known for The World Atlas of Wine and his annual Pocket Wine Book, both of which were first published in the 1970s. Johnson has also written 25 other groundbreaking books, including the remarkable The Story of Wine.
  
  
• With gatherings soon to resume, will Napa Valley's event economy come rushing back?
  Under the latest guidance from CDPH, events statewide can resume on April 15. The size of allowable gatherings ranges from 25 people to 400, depending on the tier of the county in which the event is taking place, whether it's indoors or outdoors, and if guests are vaccinated.
  
  
• Winter's Last Gasp Devastates French Vineyards
  Unseasonal frosts have hurt French growers. Caroline Henry reports from Champagne.
  
  
• Reservations, contact tracing and social distance: What to expect at reopened wineries
  "Free tastings are on the outs, and paid tasting flights will become the norm."
  
  
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