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• French Wine Firm EPI Buys Majority Stake in Michael Mondavi's Folio
  The Mondavi family will continue to manage the Napa-based marketing and distribution company
  
  
• EPI Wine and Champagne Division Takes Majority Stake in Folio Fine Wine Partners
  Michael Mondavi will continue as Chairman of the newly formed Folio Fine Wine Partners Board, and Damien Lafaurie, President of EPI's Wine and Champagne Division, will join Folio's Board of Directors. Paolo Battegazzore will continue as CEO of Folio Fine Wine Partners with his existing leadership team.
  
  
• Vie-Del Company To Acquire The Concentrate And High-Color Concentrate Business Lines From Constellation Brands
  Vie-Del, the oldest family-owned grape processor and supplier of bulk juices, concentrate, brandy, wine and spirits in California, headquartered in Fresno, will acquire Constellation's grape concentrate and high-color concentrate business. The agreement includes CBUSO's Mega Purple, Mega Red, MegaNatural, and Canandaigua.
  
  
• Grand Jury Blasts Santa Barbara County Over Handling Of Cannabis Industry
  A new Grand Jury report questions how well Santa Barbara County has handled the legalization of cannabis, saying that instead of taking a balanced approach it simply opened the floodgates to the industry.
  
  
• Grand Jury Report on Cannabis and the Board of Supervisors in SB County
  "Instead of a balanced approach carefully evaluating how the cannabis industry would be compatible, both as to amount of acreage and location, the Board simply opened the floodgates. These ordinances must be amended."
  
  
• Physical Distancing in the Winery
  Most winemakers are already good about sanitation protocols, but people are the source and vector for SARS-CoV-2 and it is believed that one employee can get sick from another even if surrounding surfaces are clean. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) advises people to keep six feet, or about two arm's length, apart. Wineries have been preparing adjustments for this physical distancing scenario in vineyards and cellars since the start of the pandemic and are gearing up for harvest.
  
  
• Newsom orders new shutdown of restaurants, other indoor business in 19 California counties
  His order requires restaurants, wineries, family entertainment centers, movie theaters, museums, zoos and cardrooms in the 19 counties to halt indoor operations for at least three weeks. The affected establishments are allowed to operate outdoors, such as restaurant patios.
  
  
• Nielsen COVID-19 insights and analysis for week ending June 20, 2020
  With the July 4 holiday and long weekend almost here (typically more of an off-premise holiday), along with a string of "pauses" and "closures" caused by rising COVID-19 cases in many parts of the country, we should expect to see strong off premise growth rates in the next couple of weeks.
  
  
• Video: Constellation Brands Acquires Empathy Wines: Gary Vaynerchuk & Robert Hanson Discuss Synergies 9:57
  Constellation's DTC strategy. Gary V and wine & spirits president Robert Hanson gush about the acquisition and strategy to deliver "industry-leading growth in the digital commerce space."
  
  
• New "experience audit" guides wineries in boosting sales for re-opening amid COVID-19
  With increased restrictions for businesses amid COVID-19, a Washington State University Tri-Cities professor has created an "experience audit" to assist wineries in analyzing experiences offered and areas where sales and revenue can be boosted.
  
  
• Is Direct Wine Shipping To Consumers A Victim Of Its Own Success?
  Regulators across the country are beefing up on compliance oversight, with more scrutiny aimed at third-party delivery fulfillment companies.
  
  
• Dario Sattui donates $1 million to Calistoga schools
  This donation will fund the creation of the two new classrooms, a playground and an all-day after school program and a new parking lot.
  
  
• Constellation Brands offloads concentrate assets to Vie-Del
  The deal includes grape juice concentrate Mega Purple, Mega Red, MegaNatural and Canandaigua Concentrate brands used in the company's concentrates and high-colour concentrate business.
  
  
• Why the virtual press trip may be the future of wine travel
  There is an argument here for vastly increased accessibility - whereas physical trips to any given location may only be possible once or twice a year in normal circumstances
  
  
• BC Wine Institute disappointed but not surprised by fed limiting wine sales
  The CEO of the BC Wine Institute is disappointed the Ontario government plans to keep limiting the sale of wine from other provinces at least another year.
  
  
• Willamette Valley Vineyards to donate $20K with quest for 'gold' coins
  For every claimed "golden" coin, the winery says it will donate $50 to a local food bank and another $50 to a charity of choice.
  
  
• Video: Mission Hill Family Estate 13:37
  
  
  
• Oregon wineries step up to help couples who were out thousands from wedding plans
  Three Willamette Valley wineries reached out with offers to help the couples after our KGW Investigates story first aired.
  
  
• "Outdoor wineries in San Diego County allowed to stay open"
  A last-minute clarification by county officials will allow wineries with outdoor tasting areas to remain open even if they don't serve food. Bars wineries and breweries have been ordered to close due to the recent uptick in COVID-19 outbreaks, and businesses in the La Mesa area have been hit extra hard due to the protests that turned violent late last month.
  
  
• 'Sky's the limit with him': Late Lompoc winemaker, Steve Arrowood, remembered by family
  Despite Steve Arrowood being diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer five years ago with a six-month life expectancy, and beating those odds, his family said they never thought he'd actually leave.
  
  
• Iowa becomes first state to permanently legalize to-go alcoholic drinks
  The Hawkeye State has become the first in the nation to permanently allow bars to sell booze to-go - a popular service that was supposed to be temporary to help watering holes survive the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  
• Replay Available: Unheard Voices in Wine Webinar Series 1:52:25
  In case you missed it: The panel is fully comprised of black wine professionals who provide meaningful and tangible solutions in an effort to shift the wine industry's current paradigm. Moderator:: Lia Jones, Executive Director, Diversity in Wine and Spirits * Co-moderator: Philippe André, US Ambassador, Champagne Charles Heidsieck * DLynn Proctor, Director, Fantesca Estate* Brenae Royal, Vineyard Manager, Monte Rosso/Gallo *Rick Arline, Wine Director, Auburn Los Angeles * Deniece Bourne, Busine
  
  
• 6 Texas wines to drink now
  Lots of reasonably wine-savvy folks who don't live in Texas aren't savvy at all about our burgeoning wine industry. Some are surprised, even shocked, to learn of its depth and breadth. A few are dismissive. But the more curious ones will always ask which grapes make the best wines in the Lone Star State - and I have a ready answer.
  
  
• Studio 707 Expands Digital and Virtual Marketing Capabilities As Demand for Online Experiences Grows
  The Studio 707 tribe has grown their digital marketing and social media offerings, giving their clients new ways of reaching consumers who are still at home, online and seeking connection. Responding to shifting behaviors during recent the shelter in place period, the agency launched new programs that deliver engaging, entertaining brand stories straight to consumers' screens.
  
  
• Constellation Brands Acquires Digitally-Native Wine Brand Empathy Wines
  As part of the agreement, Constellation will work with the Empathy Wines team to further scale the brand's growth, while leveraging their rich consumer insights and analytics, proven brand building expertise, and high-performing digital technology to build DTC and digital capabilities that Constellation intends to scale across its wine and spirits brands to help deliver strong and sustainable growth for its portfolio.
  
  
• Scheid Family Wines' 30 Years of Philanthropy in Monterey County
  In addition to Meals on Wheels and the Scheid Writing Contest, Scheid Family Wines has sponsored other local events for many years including the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Big Sur Marathon.
  
  
• Serendipity Wines and Mountain Peoples Wine Unite in California
  The combined organization offers significantly expanded sales coverage and distribution capabilities representing a wide range of high-quality wine and spirits products across the state. Serendipity is committed to continuing to lead the way in providing Certified Organic and Biodynamic wines to the California market with an enhanced portfolio and to service their customers and producers.
  
  
• EPI Wine and Champagne Division Takes Majority Stake in Folio Fine Wine Partners
  Michael Mondavi will continue as Chairman of the newly formed Folio Fine Wine Partners Board, and Damien Lafaurie, President of EPI's Wine and Champagne Division, will join Folio's Board of Directors. Paolo Battegazzore will continue as CEO of Folio Fine Wine Partners with his existing leadership team.
  
  
• Wine delivery site Winc's new clean wine brand: What to know
  Winc has launched a wine delivery brand centered on clean wine, from paleo-friendly to keto and natural bottles. Here's what the experts have to say.
  
  
• Major brands "reallocating" funds away from on-trade into e-commerce and DTC
  The observation, made by the IWSR, takes into consideration the moves of major players Campari and Constellation Brands which have both shifted gears towards retail - and particularly e-commerce and social media - in recent months.
  
  
• Beaujolais Blanc Steps into the Light
  While Chardonnay is one of the world's most popular varieties, Beaujolais Blanc remains a mystery to most consumers.
  
  
• How a Restaurant Reopens
  Before customers come back, a million decisions must get made.
  
  
• Dry Skies Ahead
  Some major U.S. airlines have restricted alcohol service during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the rules are not simple
  
  
• For the first time since 2018, Daniel's winery to re-open to public
  A suburban winery is re-opening this weekend after closing to the public for 20 months because neighbors complained of loud concerts.
  
  
• Governor Issues Order Closing Tasting Rooms in 19 Counties
  Governor Newsom issued an order mandating that most indoor recreational activities, including wine tastings, must cease in 19 California counties. Wineries in these counties may continue to conduct tastings in outdoor spaces provided the county does not issue a more restrictive order, and must comply with the reopening guidelines for "restaurants, bars, and wineries", and adhere to the recent mandatory face covering guidance.
  
  
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