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More than 4,000 people turned out over the holiday weekend to sample top wines and fine foods at the two principal events that were held back-to-back for the first time.

Groovy wine fund-raiser

The annual Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction was true to its theme -- the 1960s -- starting out as a burst of nonstop energy, fun and dancing in pink nylon thigh-high boots only to drag on a bit too long, its participants looking a bit worse for wear by the end.

Rose wine sheds image as sweet summertime tipple

Rose wine seems to be shedding its image as a sweet, unsubstantial summertime tipple if recent sales figures from around the world are anything to go by.

Pa. Liquor control board has it wrong on Web wine sales

There is nothing complicated about allowing consumers to buy the wine they prefer over the Internet and having it shipped, while still ensuring compliance with state tax and underage drinking laws.

Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, The Charmer Sunbelt Group and Joe Theismann Support TURF - Tailgaters Urging Responsibility & Fun

the unsportsmanlike conduct of a few threatens to ruin the game for everyone else.

'Family' Keeps Growing:

Of the 408 wineries pouring at the recent Family Winemakers of California event, the trade organization identified more than 70 as being new to the annual tasting at Fort Mason Center's Festival Pavilion.

Finger Lakes Prices Dip

Data from 14 wineries show slightly lower 2008 grape prices

Grand Valley-based enologist tracks, promotes Colorado wines

Stephen Menke is a "wine geek." As the state enologist, Menke studies and tastes wine. It's all part of the job.

Wine giant cuts assets

The restructure of its Australian operations announced by the world's largest beverage company Constellation Wine Australia could be just the start of a glut of wine industry assets on the market by the end of this year.

California winemakers brace for smaller supply of grapes

Growers and vintners estimate this year's crop in the state could be 20% smaller than in 2007, hurt by bad weather.

Nova Scotia wineries are getting it right

I recently tasted some of the new wines from Jost Vineyards and Gaspereau Vineyard in Nova Scotia. Here's a region that's going from strength to strength, and one of the reasons is that the producers there are paying attention to matching grape varieties and growing conditions.

Cultivating appreciation of farming

Pair works to ensure vital future for valley's smaller ag operations

Farmworkers leaving the Valley in search of jobs

Drought and economic desperation are driving farmworkers in small towns across the Valley to pull up decades-old roots and look for work elsewhere.

Gallo lab set to open at Shone Farm: SRJC to Become Only Community College with Bonded Winery

For more than 25 years, instructors in the agriculture and oenology departments at the college have discussed the idea of having a fully functional winery to better educate students in all the processes of winemaking and wine marketing.

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Top 100 Brands & 100 Individual Wines in USA Restaurants in 2007 Unveiled by Restaurant Wine Magazine

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Seminar Focuses on Grapegrower Concerns

The Napa Valley Grapegrowers, which spun out of the local farm bureau to focus on education, held its second annual seminar for vineyard owners Friday at Meadowood in Napa Valley.

Aerial spray bill heads to governor's desk

Widespread protests erupted earlier this year over the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) use of airborne pheromone sprays against the light brown apple moth (LBAM) in the Monterey/Santa Cruz area. In response, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger put additional spraying put on hold - and Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) to author legislation reforming the state's process when considering aerial spray in urban areas.

Sonoma, Napa vineyards face new rules over apple moth

Grape growers in a 19-square-mile region of southern Sonoma and Napa counties must follow new quarantine restrictions aimed at halting the spread of the light brown apple moth, state agriculture officials announced Friday.

Moth quarantine may cause grape harvest delays

Discovery of a second light brown apple moth in the Carneros winegrape-growing district--an area that straddles the Napa-Sonoma county line--has triggered a state-sanctioned 19-square-mile quarantine area.

California Ag & Business Groups Applaud Governor's Commitment for Enforcing Farm Labor Laws

More than two-dozen farm and business groups voiced support on Labor Day for Governor Schwarzenegger's commitment to strictly enforce existing laws protecting California farmworkers.

Auction raises $702,000

Beehives and tie-dye briefly came back into style Sunday as the 16th annual Harvest Wine Auction rolled into Cline Cellars on the "love bus" with a groovy 1960s theme.

California Winemakers Warn Drinkers: Grape Crops Could Be Much Smaller This Year

Growers and winemakers in California estimate that the state's 2008 grape crop could be 20 percent smaller than last year, according to the LA Times.

Popping corks out of landfills

A fledgling cork recycling program that aims to divert millions of used wine corks from landfills is gathering such momentum that its organizers aren't sure they can keep up with what has become a flood of the buoyant little bungs.

Grand Valley-based enologist tracks, promotes Colorado wines

Stephen Menke travels a few thousand miles a month visiting wineries around Colorado, surveying the quality and flavor of wines and advising vintners about wine-making and business practices.

Organic wine twice as good as the non-organic variant for the planet

A new research has indicated that organic wine is twice as good as the non-organic variant for the planet, as the former is more eco-friendly.

Wine Bloggers to Name Top Taster

With wine bloggers playing a key role in recommending wines for consumers and in discovering new wines that deserve consumer attention, the upcoming "Top Taster" competition at the October Wine Bloggers Conference takes on important meaning.

Michael Mondavi to release first wine

Former Mondavi CEO and chairman Michael Mondavi is to release his first wine this autumn, The 2005 M.

Rose wine sheds image as sweet summertime tipple

Rose wine seems to be shedding its image as a sweet, unsubstantial summertime tipple if recent sales figures from around the world are anything to go by.

Flying Fish Riesling Joins Fast Growing Category

Poised to take advantage of the white hot Riesling category, Click Wine Group today announced the launch of Flying Fish Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington.

Frederick Wildman and Sons, LTD. Appoints Peter Sheehan as V.P. Director of Sales and Marketing -- National Brands

Frederick Wildman and Sons, LTD., announced today the appointment of Peter Sheehan as Vice President, Director of Sales and Marketing for the company's National Brands Division.

USDA proposes easing Chilean grape rules

The USDA has proposed new rules that could see the requirement for Chilean table grape producers to treat their US-bound fruit with methyl bromide lifted

Manteca students cut grapes and sell them to Gallo

High school students from Manteca set a goal to cut 15 tons of grapes from 1.7 acres of vineyards at the school district farm, planning to sell the chardonnay grapes to Gallo winery and split the profits, about $5,000.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. and the Edrington Group Announce Dynamic New International Sales and Distribution Alliance

The timing corresponds with Pernod Ricard's withdrawal of ABSOLUT(R) Vodka and associated brands on October 1, 2008 from the Maxxium Worldwide sales and distribution network, and RA(C)my-Cointreau's planned departure on March 30, 2009.

Meticulous, Modern and Very French

The Côtes du Rhône typifies what has happened in many French wine regions. Once its wines were the none-too-good tipples of bars and cafes, light and fruity if you were lucky, more likely tart and harsh. That sort of wine still exists in France, though a lot less of it than in generations past. Rarely do you find it in the United States. Once you could sell a lot of bad wine here if it was cheap enough. But now, there is too much competition among the good stuff.

Boisset Family Estates to Launch Fine French Wines in United States Using Constar's PET MonOxbar Plus(TM) Oxygen Scavenger Technology

Constar is supplying PET preforms with MonOxbar Plus™ manufactured at its facility in the United Kingdom to Manypack, which is blow-molding bottles in France for three Boisset Family Estates wines:

Farmer campaigns against Schwarzenegger water plan

A wealthy farmer who once gave lavishly to promote Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's political fortunes and spent time with him smoking cigars has become one of his most outspoken critics. Dino Cortopassi has spent at least $100,000 bankrolling an ad blitz targeting one of the governor's main policy initiatives - upgrading the state's water delivery system.

Quality, quantity of Valley grape harvest look bright

Table grapes have been rolling out of the central San Joaquin Valley -- across the nation and around the world -- for several weeks and will continue to do so through October.

Wesson joins Shafer as national sales manager

Wesson started with Shafer in late July, working with outgoing national sales manager, Melissa Prange, prior to her departure to get up to speed on Shafer's allocation history, distributor relationships and systems and processes.

Daily News

International Riesling Foundation announces "Riesling Taste Profile"

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U.S. Researcher Moves Down Under

Dr. James Kennedy leaves Oregon State to become a research manager with the Australian Wine Research Institute

Mixed results in grape crops

2007 harvest was off in Mendocino County, up in Lake County

Future Trends in Beer and Wine: Emerging Markets, Private Label and Innovation

Health concerns have slowed the growth of alcoholic drinks sales and some countries including France, Germany, Spain and Japan, are expected to decline over the next 5 years. Brewing and winemaking industries need to take concerted action if they do not want to lose some of their historical domestic markets.

Prominent winery going green

Shafer vineyards, one of Napa valley's premier wineries, turns to a more natural solution to control pests and weeds.

Winery Events Abound This September for California Wine Month

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared September 2008 California Wine Month for the fourth consecutive year, lauding the state's wine community as one of the largest and most successful wine producing regions in the world.

Sunday beer/wine sales going on the ballot in Michigan

Sunday beer and wine sales are moving forward in Ottawa County, the only county in Michigan banning Sunday sales.

Chamard Vineyards not aging well

The grapevines at the award-winning Chamard Vineyards are withered and brown, awaiting a harvest that will not take place this year.

Cornerstone Communications garners Award For Excellence in promoting wine

First non-Spanish agency to be honored at annual AlbariAo Festival, one of the most prestigious wine events in Spain.

Larkspur sommelier heads to the vineyards

Colorado sommelier Kevin Furtado to spend three months making wine in Santa Barbara County.

Atomic boffins spot fake wines

A rare wine merchant has joined forces with nuclear scientists to develop a 21st-century tool for unmasking counterfeit vintage wines.

Wine warning among the bouquets

New Zealand sauvignon blanc received plenty of praise at an international conference, plus a few warnings about the dangers of focusing on a single variety, which made up almost 75 percent of New Zealand's wine exports last year.

Winery plans grand opening

The two-day grand opening of a New Jersey winery and grape vineyard in Plumsted, Laurita Winery, is scheduled for Sept. 20 and 21.

Blended Wine: Are two grapes better than one?

Most grapes alone lack the balance to create great wines, but when blended with other grapes a symbiotic relationship is created that makes some of the world's greatest wines.

County's gamble on grape uncorks profits

Liquor control buys high-end wine before its time to keep consumers and make money

'Compressed' harvest expected for grapes

It does look like it's going to be a short, quick harvest the way it's heading today," said Glenn Proctor, a broker with Joseph Ciatti Co. in San Rafael.

Solarbration announces donation to Land Trust

At this year's summer solstice, wineries at the heart of the solar power trend in wine country celebrated the day of the year when the sun shines the longest with their first ever Solarbration on June 21, 5:30 p.m. until sunset.

Unfiltered: "Miss Grape Festival" to (Almost) Bare It All At Auction

Plus, Slow Food rocks San Francisco, London shuns a green chip shop, Church of England mulls wine bar business and French artist turns wine vessels on their heads

The Treasure of the Guadalupe The Rise of Mexican Wineries

The Mexican wine industry as a full-scale marketing entity is still in its infancy. But the quality of some its wines suggests that it is only a matter of time before it successfully get their act together.

Newsom Vineyards Looms Large in Texas Wines

If Texas had a Bordeaux-like list of first growth vineyards, Neal Newsom's Texas High Plains appellation property would be listed as Superior First Growth. He sells to dozens of wineries all over the state, most of which make the grapes into uniformly superior wines

Daily Links

Virus threatens vines across southwest France

A fatal virus that attacks vines is becoming increasingly prevalent across the wine regions of Bordeaux, Gascony and the Charente.

California Grape Harvest Cause for Wrath

Growers and winemakers estimate that the state's grape crop, especially in such prime wine regions as Napa and Sonoma counties and the Santa Rita Hills near Solvang, could be 20 percent smaller than last year and as much as a third less than in 2005.

Grape expectations a world apart

Winegrowers across Europe begin swinging into action to get in their harvest and cope with the vagaries of the weather.

Strong euro hurting German wine exports

The strong euro has hurt the export of German wine to its two most important markets, the United States and Britain, the German Wine Institute said Thursday.

China's Grape Wine Market Report, 2008

This report analyzes the status quo of China's grape wine industry including supply & demand, market, import & export, grape wine consumption changes, and the development trends in details.

Chandon Partners with DKNY to Celebrate DKNY's 20th Birthday

In 2009, DKNY will toast their twenty years with a custom sparkling wine created specifically for the occasion by Chandon.

Quinault sold to LVMH's Arnault

Bordeaux Chateau Quinault has been sold to billionaires Bernard Arnault and Albert Frère.

Banfi scorns report on Brunello 'contamination'

Brunello producer Banfi has strongly disputed reports that grapes other than Sangiovese have been found in their wine.

Gagliano hopes to leave sour grapes behind

Prominent player in sponsorship scandal denies favouritism in obtaining $550,000 federal loan to purchase Quebec winery.

Tassie wine best in the world

The 2007 Tamar Ridge Sauvignon Blanc won the award at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London.

Côtes du Rhône: The modern side to the French wine industry

Côtes du Rhône exemplifyies the myriad changes that have transformed the French wine industry in the last 20 years.

Fiber in Red Grapes Helps the Heart Stay Healthy

Tempranillo found to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Film about key U.S./French wine tasting causes sour grapes

"Bottle Shock", a film based on a real wine tasting in Paris in 1976 where Californian wines beat French rivals, has left some of those involved in the original event with a sour taste.

S.F. grocer indulges offbeat tastes

Though he's not a sommelier for a four-star restaurant or a vintner, Sam Mogannam, co-owner of San Francisco's Bi-Rite Market, sure has a lot to say about wine.

The Sipping News: Get your wine game on

Blind Wine not only guides you through setting up a blind tasting, but also provides needed accoutrements for hosting a tasting, including invitations with instructions on the type of wine to bring, reusable numbered bags, scorecards, and a medal for the winner.

Oregon Pinot Gris

We tasted 35 Oregon Pinot Gris. Most wines were from 2007, a challenging year of late rains and cool weather, which may have had an effect on fruit ripeness.

Self-guided at Hop Kiln Winery

It's obvious that "Larry the Greeter Guy" loves his job as parking lot security attendant at Hop Kiln. At this busy spot, though, it can be less apparent that the tasting room employees do.

Sake samurai thinks outside the bento box

Beau Timken stands outside a Mexican restaurant in the Mission District with a stern look on his face. The owner of True Sake, America's first sake-only store, is holding a Neoprene bottle bag and looking at his watch. It's showdown time.

California 'drought water bank' in the works

The water bank, managed by the Department of Water Resources, will be prepared to move as much as 600,000 acre-feet of water from willing sellers in the north to buyers in the south.

Farmers wage war of words over plan to build delta canal

California's ageless struggle over water has seen battles between man and nature, between cities and farms, and, of course, between rich and poor.

Virginia vintners not worried by heavy tropical rains

Although Virginia may be in a pre-emptive state of emergency as Tropical Storm Hanna approaches, local vintners aren't worried that the rain will hurt their grapes.

Missouri Wines to Join Tour of Missouri

Missouri wines will be along for the ride when the Tour of Missouri professional cycling race returns to the Show-Me State Sept. 8-14, 2008. The Missouri Wine & Grape Board is proud to return as a silver sponsor of the Tour of Missouri and introduce cycling enthusiasts from across the globe to Missouri's world class wines and juices.

BC Grape harvest on schedule

Despite a late and wet spring which delayed this year's grape harvest in the valley, Lisa Cameron, spokesperson for the BC Wine Institute, says things appear to be back on track now.

A far wine country

There's one problem with Tasmania's cool-clime wines: What little there is tends to get drunk very close to home.

Waiter! There's a fraud on my wine list!

Recently there was a little flap involving a fake wine list from a fake restaurant - the so-called Osteria L'Intrepido - that won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. I guess that Robin Goldstein, the man who perpetrated this minor hoax, thought himself clever and he broadcast his deception far and wide. The bogus list included many wines that Spectator had trashed - lots of wines with scores below a rating of 70. Oh, naughty fellow!

Cobblestone in New Zealand

The small property, planted to pinot noir clones, is on the Te Muna Terrace in Martinborough, adjacent to winemaker Larry McKenna's Escarpment Vineyards, and near to Craggy Range's Te Muna Road estate. Cobblestone plans to produce around 500 cases annually of pinot noir from the low-yielding vineyard.

2008 Bordeaux harvest begins

The 2008 harvest in Bordeaux started today with Chateau Carbonnieux in Pessac Leognan bringing in the first Sauvignon Blanc grapes, ten days later than last year.

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Industry Responds to High Fuel Prices

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Altria to buy UST for $10.3 billion: WSJ

UST, which also owns the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, has long been seen as a likely acquisition target for Altria as the largest U.S. cigarette maker looks to expand into other tobacco markets as the U.S. cigarette market continues to decline.

Drastic EU reforms will eliminate Italy's DOC and IGT denominations

Changes planned by the European Common Market Organization (CMO) would replace current appellation systems with two standard European denominations.

Cool Spring And Fall Could Jeopardize '08 Wine Vintage in Northwest

Northwest winemakers are a bit nervous. That's because a cool spring has been followed by a cool end of summer.

"Fingerprinting' helps make great grapes

At about this time next year, nearly all of the 2,800 wild, rare and domesticated grapes in a unique northern California genebank will have had their "genetic profile" taken, which may help grape breeders pinpoint plants in the collection that have unusual and desirable traits.

Winemaking Calculators Go Online

New website's free tools provide busy winemakers with calculators for things like fermentation, fortification, and blending.

Australian Yarraman Winery, Inc. to Acquire Asia Distribution Solutions Limited

Yarraman Winery, Inc. announced today that agreement has been reached on the broad terms of a recommended offer to be made to acquire Asia Distribution Solutions Limited in a transaction valued at approximately US$27 million.

North Carolina wine makers try to make harvest before storm

Vineyard workers rush to pick grapes to beat impending hurricanes Hanna and Ike.

Virginia vintners not worried by heavy tropical rains

Although Virginia may be in a pre-emptive state of emergency as Tropical Storm Hanna approaches, local vintners aren't worried that the rain will hurt their grapes.

2008 Bordeaux harvest begins

The 2008 harvest in Bordeaux started with Chateau Carbonnieux in Pessac Leognan bringing in the first Sauvignon Blanc grapes, ten days later than last year.

Sauvignon Blanc next for northern Europe

Sauvignon Blanc could thrive in northern Europe if average climate temperatures continue to rise, a conference has heard.

International Riesling Foundation proposes sweetness rating

The taste scale is meant to help educate consumers about Riesling and its different levels of sweetness.

New Zealand's Otago pinot noir named world's top red wine

Wild Earth Wines, a Central Otago winemaker, has been awarded the trophy for Top Red Wine at the International Wine Challenge, the world's largest competition.

Croatian Wine: The Toast of the Town

A Croatian grape variety, at one time represented by only a handful of vines in a few scattered Dalmatian vineyards, accounts for nearly 12 percent of American wine sales each year.

Venerable viognier

Viognier vineyards popping up all over the world, not just in the northern Rhône valley

Crushpad and TasteTV Team Up to Create Ultimate Chocolate Lovers Wine

Crushpad, the urban winery that is democratizing winemaking, announced that it has partnered with TasteTV to create "Chocolate Seizure 2008," a wine designed to pair perfectly with dark chocolate.

Designer Wine? Characterization Of Grapevine Transposons May Aid Development Of New Grape Varieties

Study helps to understand how the high genetic diversity of grapevines has arisen and may be useful for the development of new commercial varieties.

TV exec says wine videos and Web go well together

The former executive vice president and general manager of Discovery Communications' The Learning Channel has launched WineTasteTV.com, a Web channel covering all things wine and aimed at upscale consumers.

Wine on your doorstep? Si, por favor!

International wine company, Anglo Wines, has launched an innovative website offering a comprehensive range of wines that can be delivered to your doorstep anywhere in Spain.

Australia: Barossa worries on vineyard tax break

The Barossa Valley wine industry will lobby the Federal Government to stop companies from planting new vines for tax breaks.