Wine News

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• Domestic Wine Sales up 5% through February
  On-premise spending increased 19%, driving growth, however, off-premise spending fell nearly 3% to drag total growth lower.
  
  
• Fed Hikes Rates a Quarter Point
  Are the increases near an end?
  
  
• Winners Announced for Ninth Annual California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards
  Presented by several California wine organizations devoted to sustainability, four green medals are awarded annually in the following categories: Leader, Environment, Community and Business.
  
  
• Eastern Winery Exposition Returns to Normal
  The attendance was excellent, the Exhibit Hall space sold out, and the weather in Lancaster cooperated.
  
  
• 'Late' Bud Break Could Be Return to Normalcy for Sonoma Valley Vineyards
  The litany of atmospheric rivers and storms that slogged the Valley in recent months dropped nearly 30 inches of precipitation, more than double what was recorded in last year's rainy season. But it's the lack of sun, not the excess water, that makes the difference.
  
  
• Rack & Riddle Expands Sparkling Capabilities with Charmat Facility
  Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services (R&R) is excited to announce today that it has expanded its sparkling capabilities through a multi-year lease agreement with Delicato Family Wines, a Top 10 U.S. producer of California wines.
  
  
• More Younger Consumers Seek to Be in the 'Wine Lifestyle,' Duckhorn Portfolio CEO Explains
  The Duckhorn Portfolio Chairman, CEO, and President Alex Ryan highlights the banking pressures tied to Silicon Valley Bank's collapse weighing on the wine industry, consumer trends, and sustainability efforts amid inclement weather for wineries.
  
  
• Australian Wines Showing Signs of Recovery
  Even though some large Australian brands have declined recently, there were pockets of growth among smaller, pricier labels.
  
  
• Leroi Cooperage & Charlois Cooperage USA Welcome Christa Crews as Barrel Sales Representative
  for the Lodi, Sierra Foothills and Sonoma Regions of California As Well As the Pacific Northwest and Texas.
  
  
• Ornellaia's winemaker Axel Heinz to step down
  to take on new challenges in France
  
  
• Glass Prices Remain High While Bottlers Hoard Stocks
  A significant number of customers stashed bottles and are waiting for prices to ease in the second quarter.
  
  
• LibDib Introducing Diverse Powered Brands
  An API integration that pulls information directly from Diverse Powered Brands to the LibDib platform is coming soon
  
  
• Lawsuit Against Crown Valley Winery Alleges Bacteria in Drinks Led to Losses for San Diego Company
  The suit claims that the Ste. Genevieve winery had an agreement with the coffee beverage company to can some of their product, and a substantial amount of that product became contaminated with bacteria.
  
  
• Whiskey's Courtroom Battle of the Giants
  The lawsuit filed in January by Sazerac is the second major suit in the last year against Republic National Distributing Company. Last year Provi filed an antitrust suit filed last year against RNDC and Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits
  
  
• Jack Daniel's Tangles With Dog Toy at Supreme Court
  Justices hear arguments on trademark case over 'Bad Spaniels' squeaky toy
  
  
• Wineries shouldn't be 'overly worried' about banking crisis, says CEO
  Former investment banker Gonzalo Entrecanales, now the chairman of prestige Spanish wine group Entrecanales Domecq e Hijos, tells db why wineries should not be unduly concerned about the recent collapse of two major banks.
  
  
• Appellation St. Helena's Annual BASH Event Takes Place on April 1
  Appellation St. Helena's 12th annual BASH will take place on April 1 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at The Culinary Institute of America Greystone (2555 Saint Helena Highway, St. Helena). BASH is an annual wine and food pairing competition where the wines from twenty ASH member wineries will be paired with savory bites prepared by teams of 'rising star' students at the CIA and professional chefs.
  
  
• Waters Edge Wineries Establishes New Partnerships with Family-Owned Wineries in Italy, Armenia
  Waters Edge Wineries®, an innovative urban winery system bringing the cultural experience of wine to communities across the country, today announced it is expanding its international wine selection through two new partnerships. This spring, Waters Edge Wineries will begin rolling out an elite collection of wines from one of the most well-known wine regions in the world, Tuscany, Italy. In addition, in 2023, the franchise will introduce a rare collection of wines from Armenia.
  
  
• Jackson Family Wines Joins with The Urban Grape to Help Promote Diversity
  Top producer Jackson Family Wines has partnered with Boston-based retailer The Urban Grape on its Wine Studies Award for Students of Color, and will offer internships in California as part of the initiative. Created in 2020 by The Urban Grape's owners, TJ and Hadley Douglas, to mark the store's 10th anniversary, the programme aims to provide career opportunities for its students while increasing diversity in the wine industry.
  
  
• José Andrés Charity World Central Kitchen Appoints New CEO
  World Central Kitchen (WCK), the charitable organization founded by chef José Andrés that has served nearly 300 million meals to communities in need in more than 45 countries, has announced that Erin Gore will be taking the reins as chief executive officer. For almost four years, Gore has led WCK's philanthropic relationships and development team, and most recently served as WCK's interim co-executive leader.
  
  
• Fine Wine A 'Safe Haven' in the Wake of SVB Failure
  Investors are looking for safe havens and diversifying portfolios amid "significant financial market stress" and disruption in the wake of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), rising inflation and Fed tapering, a new report has said. According to CEO and co-founder of Cult Wine Investment, Tom Gearing, said that the last two weeks had highlighted the "inherent risks" that exist within the financial system, as he pointed to newly release data from Cult Wines Global Index that showed fine 6.
  
  
• 'Yquem Day' Sees the Spring Release of the Luminous and Radiant 2020 vintage
  Db's Bordeaux correspondent Colin Hay was lucky enough to make his annual pilgrimage to Château d'Yquem last weekend, talking at length to Yquem's new estate manager Lorenzo Pasquini about the 2020 vintage and release strategy as well as tasting this most anticipated of releases.
  
  
• Fine Wine Favoured Over Gold During Economic Uncertainty
  Amidst rising inflation and a looming recession, investors will be keen to diversify their portfolios to mitigate today's uncertain economic landscape. Furthermore, the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), America's 16th largest bank, and favoured partner of the tech industry, has disrupted markets on a global scale, with bonds being sold at a significant loss causing distress to customers and investors. SVB was also a frequent backer of Californian wineries, providing loans and financial supp
  
  
• Toppled Trees and Road Closures as Sonoma County Weathers Latest Winter Storm
  It wasn't an atmospheric river and it didn't come down like recent deluges, but the latest storm to hit Sonoma County put the region closer to some of its wettest rain years by the end of Tuesday. It also caused a fair share of havoc, with saturated ground and gusty winds contributing to downed trees. Santa Rosa was closing in on 40 inches of rain by Tuesday evening, putting the region in striking distance of some of its wettest rain years
  
  
• Marketing and Selling to the Evolving Wine Consumer
  Winery marketing teams have already embraced social media, replacing longer-form storytelling with quick snapshots and short reels. Now winery owners want to know if they need to change the grapes they grow, how they farm them, make different kinds of wine, package their wine in new formats and in what direction to evolve their marketing. "On-premise data shows that the spirits category bounced back [from the 2020-2021 COVID pandemic] much faster than the wine category," notes Dale Stratton, Pre
  
  
• In case you missed it: Bill to Allow Grocery Stores to Sell Wine Dies in Committee
  Don't expect to find wine at grocery stores anytime soon. A bill aimed at letting the stores sell wine died in committee Tuesday. Supermarkets are disappointed, but package stores say it's a win for small business. "I've grown up in Connecticut my whole life and never had the opportunity to buy in a grocery store," Nicole Bach, of Windsor Locks, said.
  
  
• Five Women Who Are Shaking up Minnesota's Wine World
  Thanks to technology, winter-hardy grapes and the weather, the state's wine landscape is changing, and these women are leading the charge. For more than four decades, winemaker Nan Bailly has led the way at Minnesota's first winery, Alexis Bailly Vineyard in Hastings, started in 1977 by her father, David. But until fairly recently, she was all alone as an Upper Midwest female vintner.
  
  
• Global Wine & Food Event Returns to Wine Country
  Located in the heart of California wine country, the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience (HWFE) will be a weekend-long celebration featuring the best of Sonoma County and world-renowned food and wines. The festival will showcase the region's makers -- farmers, growers, winemakers, and chefs -- alongside globally recognized wines from the greatest wine regions of the world, as it seeks to highlight the vibrant culinary diversity, sustainable farming practices and deep connection to agriculture that
  
  
• United Natural Foods Announces the Elevation of Two Leaders to Better Align Teams to Drive its Customer Centric Strategy and Transformation Plan
  United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) (the "Company" or "UNFI") today announced the elevation of two senior leaders to better align leadership teams and resources to drive its customer-centric strategy and transformation agenda. This agenda is aimed at enhancing shareholder value creation by improving the Company's customer and supplier experience and increasing operating efficiency. Erin Horvath has been appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Louis Martin has been name
  
  
• Sparkling Wine that Seems Like Runway Armani Couture at the Price of the Armani AX Sold at Macy's
  With entry-level bottlings typically priced at $40, California sparklers are less expensive than French Champagne, which generally starts at $70 a bottle.
  
  
• North Coast Wine Challenge Set for April 4 & 5
  North Coast Wine Challenge will honor region's best wines. Meet some of the new judges.
  
  
• Bill to Make Cocktails To-Go Permanent Passes Vermont House, Moves to Senate for Consideration
  Yesterday, the Vermont House of Representatives passed HB 470 which would make cocktails-to-go permanent. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
  
  
• BGPL USA Announces Innovative New Packaging for Veuve du Vernay Sparkling Ice Rosé
  BGPL USA, the U.S. importer and marketer of the renowned French wine houses Barton & Guestier, Patriarche -- producer of Veuve du Vernay -- and Listel has unveiled a new aluminum packaging for the 250ml format of Veuve du Vernay Ice Rosé. Recently making a successful debut at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SOBEWFF), the new container for the #1 selling sparkling wine under $20 in the U.S. meets the demand for sustainability in the wine industry and is the ideal format for individual con
  
  
• Actor Kyle MacLachlan Opens New Tasting Room in Walla Walla
  Actor and Yakima-native Kyle MacLachlan, known for his iconic roles in such cult classics as Twin Peaks and Portlandia, has opened a new tasting room in Walla Walla for Pursued by Bear wines. MacLachlan will welcome guests and sign bottles at the tasting room's grand opening celebration April 14 -- 16.
  
  
• Prowein 2023: The Harpers Rundown
  Innovation, sustainability, organic wine and the 'immediacy' of embracing alternative formats were common threads which ran throughout this year's Prowein, as the event descended once more for a predictably rainy yet bustling three days in Düsseldorf.
  
  
• The Importance of Green Valley of Russian River Valley
  For four decades the appellation known as Green Valley of the Russian River Valley has represented some of the best wine grapes and wines of Sonoma County. Marked by 19,000 acres of undulating hills and a consistency of Goldridge soils, it has drawn important producers to its unique set of characteristics since before being given official designation as an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1983. Importantly, the clay content within Goldridge allows for the soil to retain moisture, which in tim
  
  
• Could the banking turmoil affect you? 5 ways it might
  The news about bank collapses and emergency rescues can seem both alarming and distant.
  
  
• First Ladies Of Washington Wine Celebration Sells Out Clore Center
  It's been a long time coming, so it makes sense that tickets for the First Ladies of Washington Wine celebration Thursday at the Walter Clore Center took almost no time in selling out.
  
  
• Best Arizona wines: Top bottles and winemakers in the azcentral 2023 wine competition
  A hailstorm wiped out the crop from Kent Callaghan's vineyard in 2020. To make wine, Callaghan needed to buy fruit grown by his neighbors in southern Arizona, the ones who through the years had sought his advice and who credit him for spurring along the state's wine industry.
  
  
• How the Banking Crisis Has Had the Same Effect as a Fed Rate Increase - New York Times, paywall
  Some analysts say that the banking industry tumult has slowed the economy as banks pull back on lending.
  
  
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