April, 2007
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Monday, April 30 2007
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It’s a crime to donate without a license. Vintner Bill Wolf, of Eagle Eye Wine in Napa, learned about this law the hard way after he was cited by the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) for donating his wine to a charitable event.
However, Assemblywoman Noreen Evans is heading a movement to decriminalize donating without a license. Assembly Bill 323, if passed, would allow more California winemakers to donate and pour wines at charitable events. This bill is supposed to address a law that most winemakers don’t even know exists.
According to Evans, “Some vintners are prohibited from donating and pouring wine at nonprofit fundraisers … This is extremely confusing for nonprofits trying to organize fundraising events whose good work relies on contributions from the wine industry.”
Most of the confusion surrounding this law lies in definition of a “winery.” According to the ABC, wineries hold a license called an “02,” which indicates that they have a physical winery on their property. If you carry an “02” license, you can donate to non-profits, if not, it’s illegal.
Although this may not seem like a problem, it can be for labels who do not own their own winemaking facilities. AB 323 would allow some other types of licensed vintners to donate along with those who carry the “02” license.
Instead of paying the fines, Bill Wolf toke the issue before an administrative judge. Wolf noted that, “We felt it was not only unfair to us but the nonprofits we want to support.” AB 323 now heads to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations for further review.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Thursday, April 26 2007
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In 2006, the total value of Napa agriculture dropped to $477.7 million from $548.6 million in 2005, a 13% decrease. It is important to realize though, that 2005 was an unusually large and lucrative winegrape harvest. Winegrape sales were valued at $469.1 million in 2006, down from about $540 million in the previous year.
Cabernet Sauvignon made up 49.3% of all vineyard acreage, but only 36.7% of total grape tonnage. This is partly explained by the fact that Cabernet Sauvignon dominates most mountain sites in Napa, where yields are usually lower than the valley floor. Cab sold for an average of $4,126 per ton.
Pound for pound, Roussanne was a much more expensive grape than Cabernet Sauvignon, and sold for an average of $6,500 per ton. But this grape is quite rare in the valley, and it did not make up a large percentage of overall sales. Merlot bounced back a bit after its post-Sideways slump, selling for an average of $2,691 per ton, and reclaiming its second place position from Chardonnay.
Winegrape sales accounted for 98% of all Napa Valley agriculture in 2006. Other products in the report include floral and nursery crops ($3,556,800), livestock ($3,210,300), poultry and other animal products ($488,500), field crops ($286,300), vegetable crops ($256,200), and timber ($21,200).
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Wednesday, April 25 2007
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Northern California is the proverbial heart of California’s wine country. Narrowing down our geographic focus, the North Bay (Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties) is home to some of the best wineries in California and maybe the world.
If you live in these areas, wine is a part of your life. So much so that it almost becomes second nature. But certain things remind you of how much influence the wine industry has on the North Bay economy and living. A perfect example is a story that the North Bay Business Journal wrote on the “top forty exceptional business leaders under forty.”
The wine industry doesn’t exactly embody youth. Yet, six out of the forty make their living in wine country. That’s fifteen percent! I doubt fifteen percent of North Bay jobs are in the wine industry. Cheers to those who made the list; they are listed below with a brief description from the article.
Naomi Brilliant: 34, Owner and president, Roshambo Winery, Healdsburg
- ”Since starting the winery in 1999, Naomi Brilliant has been fueled by the desire to “make wine culture fun and bring it to every lifestyle.” Every element of the winery is infused with Ms. Brilliant’s personality and the irreverent attitude that has become the brand’s trademark. But the winery isn’t all image, garnering awards and distribution in more than 25 states.”
Holly Finkelstein: 33, Owner, CEO and general manager, Judd’s Hill Winery, St. Helena
- “Though Judd’s Hill Winery has been around since 1989, Holly Finkelstein has helped transform the company since joining it three years ago. She spearheaded a custom crush operation to complement the boutique winery’s 3,000-case annual production.”
John Jordan: 34, CEO, Jordan Vineyard and Winery, Healdsburg
- ”John Jordan oversees all aspects of Jordan Vineyard and Winery, which had $26 million in sales last year. “Building a team that took Jordan from the No. 5 position in the Wine & Spirits most-requested brands poll to No. 1 in one year” has been his biggest accomplishment, he said, noting that staying competitive with the resources of larger conglomerates is a continuing challenge for the small, family-owned winery.”
Vanessa Robledo: 29, President, Robledo Family Winery, Sonoma
- ”Vanessa Robledo has worked with her family over the last 10 years to expand Robledo Family Winery from its modest start at 100 cases to the 20,000-case winery it is today. Before her father started the winery, Ms. Robledo was working to help build the family vineyard management businesses.”
August Sebastiani: 26, Managing director, The Other Guys division of Don Sebastiani & Sons, Sonoma
- ”August Sebastiani runs Don & Sons’ new California wholesale division, The Other Guys, which is targeting sales of 10,000 cases this year of five labels such as Plungerhead Zinfandel. Putting his undergraduate political science degree from Santa Clara University into action, he won a seat on the Sonoma City Council in November.”
Don Sebastiani Jr: 29, Director of marketing, Don Sebastiani & Sons, Sonoma
- ”Just a couple of years after Donny Sebastiani earned his degree in business economics from Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, his father, Don Sr., transformed Cecchetti-Sebastiani Cellar into a nimble, hip wine-branding juggernaut with upscale yet premium-priced selections, such as Smoking Loon and Used Automobile Parts. In the past couple of years, the 100-employee company has garnered accolades such as Winery of the Year from Gomberg Fredrikson & Associates under Donny Sebastiani’s marketing leadership.”
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Tuesday, April 24 2007
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Tickets for Auction Napa Valley went on sale a few weeks ago. But if you can’t afford the $5,000, two ticket package, and you want to bid on the best wine from the Napa Valley, there is hope. In addition to the usual events, there will also be an E-Auction.
The E-Auction offers a chance for wine connoisseurs from around the world to participate in Auction Napa Valley from the comfort of their homes. This years E-Auction marks the third anniversary of the event, and promises to be the best to date.
This year’s bidding system is straight forward and easy. However, deciding what lots to bid on is a more difficult task. The lots of E-Auction open for bidding on Friday, May 25th. According to the Napa Valley Vintners, “Previewed below is Lot number 1, which includes a Viking bbq and the NVV’s own Stacey Dolan to come to your house to help flip burgers! She makes a mean kabob too!”
The E-Auction will feature the best of Napa Valley’s wine, tickets for special events and luxury items. You will have a chance to bid on these rare lots, with the proceeds going to Napa County Charities. Since 1981, Auction Napa Valley has donated over $68 million to Napa County health, youth and low-income housing non-profit organizations.
For more information on Auction Napa Valley and the E-Auction, click here.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Monday, April 23 2007
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Anyone who has lived in or frequented the Napa Valley over the past couple of decades knows how much the region has changed. There was a time in the not so distant past when the valley was known for its prune orchards and state hospital rather than fine wine and restaurants.
Even as the towns of St Helena and Yountville became world-class destinations, much of the city of Napa remained relatively unchanged until a few years ago. The construction of Copia as well as the flood control project, with its new bridges and infrastructure improvements, has made downtown Napa a much more inviting place.
And now the rumors have been confirmed that the Ritz Carlton is coming to the city. The 351 room hotel will be located right across the Napa River from Copia, and will include a number of luxury condominiums.
Local reaction to the announcement has been mixed, but it appears that the project has been given the go ahead. A now defunct project called the Napa Resort and Spa was originally going to be built on the land. The same number of rooms was approved, and all that is left to do is get a few design changes through the city. So it sounds like there will indeed be a Ritz Carlton in Napa; something few would have predicted a decade ago.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Saturday, April 21 2007
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From May 18th to May 20th, 2007, the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance will hold its 25th Annual Wine Festival. Few California wine regions have experienced the growth that Paso Robles has over the past few decades. There are now more than 170 resident wineries; 10 times the number there were during the festival’s inaugural year.
On Saturday May 19th, from 1 pm to 5 pm, visitors will be able to sample some of the region’s best wines at a tasting in downtown Paso Robles. 88 wineries will participate in the event this year, which is expected to attract a crowd of about 6,500. This is California’s largest outdoor wine tasting.
Tickets to the festival are $50 and the Silver Pass can be purchased for $75. The latter admits guests an hour earlier than the general public, allowing for a less crowded tasting experience. Tickets for designated drivers and children are $15.
In addition to Saturday’s tasting, the Paso Robles Wine Festival also includes a golf tournament on May 18th, as well as winemakers’ dinners, educational seminars, special tastings, and winery tours.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Friday, April 20 2007
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Kendall-Jackson founder Jess Jackson’s plan to build a new winery in Knight Valley is stirring up a great deal of controversy in the Knights Valley. Members of the Knights Valley/Franz Valley Association feel that the plans would violate the protective aspect of the scenic route plan for that area.
“The whole Franz Valley/Knights Valley area within the county general plan is even more restrictive, and this project, we feel, will severely and negatively violate the protective aspect of that plan.”
The proposed winery and visitor’s complex would be the first public tasting room in Knights Valley. The permit also includes storage caves in the hillside, a 200 person event center and a 42 acre vineyard.
There has been a great deal of controversy in the community over the winery proposal. It has even spilled over into the Knights Valley/Franz Valley Association board of directors, resulting in the attempted removal of two board members.
Members of the Knights Valley/Franz Valley Association Board listed out their concerns with the project; with the most important being additional buildings built on the agricultural preserve. This is a major problem for those living in the community. But Jackson has addressed the majority of these concerns and the project is moving forward.
We will see if this rift will stop the development, only time will tell.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Thursday, April 19 2007
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The purpose of media is to connect the public to the world around them. This comes in many forms; the written and spoken word, images, sounds and video. This connection is often lost in translation, as some things are too beautiful to be described through words and images.
This is one of the major problems facing many artisan crafts. There is no way that the written word can convey the emotions and beauty of certain things. One of these artisan crafts is winemaking. It is as simple as letting grapes ferment and as difficult as a laboratory experiment.
On April 16th, 2007, Don Sabastiani & Sons released a film that may have changed the way the winemaking process is portrayed. It is one thing to teach the public about crush, but it is another to make them a part of it. And after watching this B. Napa film, it feels as if you were taken along on their epic journey through crush.
It is difficult to articulate the emotional connection that this film brought out. It took the hardship, the beauty, the suffering, the art, the science, the dedication and most importantly, the people of the winemaking process and presented them to you, the wine lover; in a way that brings you right along with them through crush.
The impact of this film is yet to be seen. To anyone who truly loves wine, it embodies the reasons why we love it so much. It’s not just the complexity of taste, or the tradition it represents, it’s the magnificence of the process. To B. Napa, it is their job to “Capture this moment and seal it in a bottle.”
To watch Crush, click here.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Wednesday, April 18 2007
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Fred Franzia is no stranger to controversy. He has been the subject of numerous legal battles over his 49 different labels and business practices. But on the fifth anniversary of the introduction of the Charles Shaw label, he seems to be taking a step in the right direction.
At a lunch-in at the Bronco facility, Franzia announced that he is “exploring the possibility” of building a glass bottle factory in Napa County. And by “explore the possibility” he means, were moving forward with this project.
For the past five years, consumers have bought 300 million bottles of “Two Buck Chuck,” including Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Shiraz. Most of these 300 million glass bottles were imported from China or Mexico. Although it may not seem like much, importing these bottles is definitely not helping the local environment. According to Franzia,
“The real bonus is (it) will eliminate 62,000 truckloads, or approximately 375,000 diesel-driving hours, per year.”
Having a local bottle factory should decrease the total annual diesel truck emissions within the San Francisco Bay by more than 32,000 tons, primarily of carbon dioxide. Additionally, Franzia said “Our new glass plant will be compatible with today’s environmental requirements.”
If that wasn’t enough, the facility will create over 350 “high paying jobs” for local community members, adding to the Napa County tax base. Franzia did not comment on the timeline, but he already purchased the property where the facility is intended to be built.
Taking steps to reduce the impact of his business on the environment is a good step. This rings especially true in California’s bay area, where people seem particularly sensitive to this issue. To many, Franzia is seen as the bad guy, taking steps like this will help lessen that stereotype.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Monday, April 16 2007
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The 20th Annual April in Carneros Open House will be held on April 21st and 22nd from 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets are $25, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to scholarship programs at Santa Rosa Junior College and Napa Valley College. 21 wineries will be pouring wine and holding events for guests including live music and food pairings.
This is a great opportunity for connoisseurs of the region to taste some rare, hard to find wines. For example, one of the participating wineries, Adastra Vineyards, is seldom open to the public. Truly a boutique producer, Adastra makes a very small amount of top-notch Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Chardonnay.
McKenzie-Mueller is another outstanding, family-owned winery that will open its doors for April in Carneros. Owners Karen McKenzie and Bob Mueller make single vineyard Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Malbec, and Merlot from their property on the Napa side of Carneros. They also produce Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc which are both blends of Carneros and Oak Knoll fruit.
A wine tasting at Adastra Vineyards and McKenzie-Mueller is well-worth the $25 price of admission, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Guests will also be able to sample the wines at Bouchaine Vineyards, Castle Vineyards & Winery, Ceja Vineyards, Cuvaison Estate Wines, sparkling wine specialist Domaine Carneros, the brand new Folio Winemakers’ Studio, Homewood Winery, Kamen Estate Wines, Larson Family Winery, MacRostie Winery and Vineyards, Mahoney Vineyards (formerly Carneros Creek), Richardson Vineyards, Robledo Family Winery, Schug Estate, Tin Barn Vineyards, Truchard Vineyards, Ty Caton Vineyards, and Viansa Winery.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Saturday, April 14 2007
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Sterling Vineyards has announced that a portion of the sales of their 2004 Wild Lake Ranch Napa Valley Merlot will be donated to the Land Trust of Napa County. The Land Trust has either purchased or holds the easement to 47,000 acres since it was founded in 1977.
Over the next 10 vintages, proceeds from the Wild Lake Napa Valley Merlot will be used to finance the Land Trust’s next major project: protecting 3,000 pristine acres near Mount St Helena. According to a recent article by Jane Firstenfeld of Wines & Vines, $22 million has already been secured for the acquisition, including a $5 million gift from Randy and Lori Dunn, and a $5 million low-interest loan from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
Sterling Vineyards will release 500 cases their 2004 Merlot on May 1st, 2007. Available only at the winery, it will retail for $50 a bottle, and is expected to generate about $600,000 for the Land Trust over the next decade.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Friday, April 13 2007
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From September 24th – 26th, 2007, the Sonoma County Winegrape Association will put on the Sonoma County Grape Camp. This unique event will give participants the opportunity to be involved with harvesting grapes and blending wine. But it won’t be all work and no play; there will also be plenty of wine tasting, dinners prepared by well-known chefs, and croquet lessons.
On September 24th, the Sonoma County Grape Camp will begin with a welcome dinner prepared by Chef Mark Stark at Hoot Owl Vineyard in the Alexander Valley wine region. Chef Stark is the owner of Willi’s Wine Bar in the town of Santa Rosa.
The following morning, participants will get a feel for harvesting grapes before a tasting and lunch with Winemaker Terry Adams of Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards. Croquet lessons on the winery’s lawn will follow, and then a wine and food workshop will be held by Chef John Ash at the Vintners Inn. The day will end with a paella dinner and wine tasting on the banks of the Russian River.
The final day will commence with a bit more grape harvesting in the morning, followed by a blending seminar led by Winemaker Aaron Piotter of Ferrari Carano. Then it’s time for a lesson in cheese making and pairing courtesy of Jennifer Lynn Bice, owner of Redwood Hill Farm, and Ziggy The Wine Gal, host of the radio program, “Wine Wednesday.” The Sonoma County Grape Camp will conclude with a dinner prepared by Chef Jeffrey Madura.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Thursday, April 12 2007
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With the success of last year’s Festival del Sole, it is no surprise that event organizers are planning a return trip to California’s wine country. This year’s event will incorporate staged opera along with the usual dose of music and art.
Festival del Sole will bring world class instrumentalists, vocalists and conductors to wine country. The musical and theatrical event will feature the Bay Area’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, the University of Texas at Austin Wind Band and the return of the Russian National Orchestra.
Scheduled for July 13 – 22, the 10 day festival will take place at several fitting venues; including Napa Valley Opera House, Lincoln Theater and a new venue, Castello di Amoroso. Festival del Sole will mirror a festival in Cortona, Italy that is held during the summer.
The festival is presented by the Del Sole Foundation for the Arts and Humanities. The daily concerts will be followed by meals prepared by celebrity chefs, paired with the best wines that California has to offer.
For tickets to all Festival del Sole events, contact the Lincoln Theater Box Office at 944-1300 or Lincoln Theater.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Wednesday, April 11 2007
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On April 9th, the long-awaited “Castle Winery” opened for tours and tastings in the town of Calistoga. Owner Darryl Sattui, (also the proprietor of V. Sattui Winery), spent over a decade constructing Castello di Amorosa in Northern Napa Valley, hiring stonemasons and transporting materials from Europe.
Tourists will undoubtedly be attracted to Castello di Amorosa’s stunning architecture, but the building also contains wine production facilities and a barrel room in the “dungeon.” Additionally, the winery will offer a wine club called “Friends of the Baron.” Benefits of joining the club include invitations to parties on the site and preference on using the “royal apartment.”
Castello di Amorosa’s current white and rosato releases include the 2004 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay, 2005 Napa Valley Pinot Grigio, 2005 Napa Valley Pinot Bianco, 2005 Dry Gewurztraminer, 2005 Dolcino Gewurztraminer, 2005 Il Raggio Del Sol Muscato, and 2005 Gioia Rosato d’Sangiovese.
Red wines include the 2003 Napa Valley Merlot, 2004 Napa Valley Sangiovese, 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003 Il Barone Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2003 La Castellana Napa Valley Super Tuscan (blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese).
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Tuesday, April 10 2007
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Every so often, you hear a wild idea, and say “that’s good, I’d try that.” This is not one of them. Japanese Geneticists have discovered a gene which stimulates yeast fermentation in the udders of “sake cows.” They can turn off the gene that makes milk and turn on the gene that makes alcohol, providing the base ingredients for wine.
According to an article on the subject, “Although the process is in its infancy the implications for the wine industry are huge. Should Dr Sakegami’s research come to fruition (or fermentation if you will) we could see the first commercially produced wine from a mobile vineyard within 15 to 20 years.”
First of all, no, the implications on the wine industry are not huge. Who in their right mind would want to drink wine made from the udders of cows. Cow udders don’t provide the controlled environment that is needed to produce quality wine.
Also, just because the cow udders stimulate alcoholic fermentation doesn’t mean that they can produce wine. Wine is made when wine grapes are fermented, how would you get pure grape must into the udders of cows. It seems like there would be other products in there as well, like milk. Milk and Wine don’t sound like a very good pairing.
It’s great that scientists are experimenting with genetics, but perusing this commercially may not be the best idea. If I were offered wine from cows, I would have to say, No Thanks.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Monday, April 09 2007
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In the wake of one of the worst disasters to ever hit the California wine industry, the owners of the Wines Central warehouse are working to cleanup and repair their building. On October 12th, 2005, $200 million worth of wine was destroyed in a suspicious fire that investigators believe was the result of arson.
Mark Anderson has been arrested and charged with arson in the fire as well as several counts of embezzlement. Prosecutors contend that Anderson was stealing wine from clients and set the fire to cover up his activities. Anderson has pled not guilty, and even if he is found responsible, many wineries will still be affected by the devastating loss of the fire for years to come.
Although Wines Central had insurance for the building itself, individual wineries were responsible for insuring their own products. Many of the smaller wineries lacked proper coverage and were deeply hurt by the fire. One example was Coho Winery, which lost all but 12 cases of their 2003 vintage.
Debbie Polverino, manager of Wines Central, recently told the Napa Valley Register how taken aback many wineries were when they heard news of the fire.
“They didn’t think anything would happen, and nobody expected arson. Some of the smaller wineries are having a hard time. ... Wineries lost face for a year in the market. Some were able to release their new vintage early and others had to sit it out. A few didn’t have anything left.”
Although Polverino added that, “Most wineries have been compensated by their insurance companies at this time,” this is not the case for everyone. Even wineries that were adequately insured are facing red tape and headaches as they try to collect for their damages.
At this point, all that Wines Central and Polverino can do is look to the future and take steps to prevent this catastrophe from ever repeating. “We are moving forward and expect to rebuild our business and put this nightmare behind us.”
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Saturday, April 07 2007
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On April 2nd, Medlock Ames Winery announced the anniversary of their move to sustainable energy. They run their entire operation on Solar Power, from lighting the winery, to powering their electric vehicles.
For Medlock Ames’ commitment to the environment is clear. For them, sustainable energy is not just an ideal; it’s a way of life. They have made sustainability an integral part of their business; only using organic farming methods in their vineyards.
The dedication to Solar Energy has not only saved the winery money, but has also endeared their winery to many who feel that certain agricultural practices are hurting the environment. Their solar panels produce 140,000kWh annually, which is more than enough to fully power their business.
Winemaker Ames Morison said, “We chose to invest in solar power as a long term commitment to powering our business with clean, renewable energy.”
But generating power is only one piece of the sustainability equation; it has become a part of every aspect of their business. They have enlisted Owls and Hawks to patrol the vineyard for voles and gophers that can devastate the soil. Their vineyard is often occupied by sheep and geese, which eat unwanted vegetation and help, fertilize the soil.
It doesn’t end there; Medlock Ames also utilizes the “horse and plow” method to cultivate their vineyard. This may seem like a bad idea, but tractors compact the ground and pollute the environment, something they are trying to move away from.
Medlock Ames dedication to sustainability is commendable. They have established themselves as leaders in the movement towards environmental accountability and renewable energy. For more information on Medlock Ames, visit their website.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Wednesday, April 04 2007
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With more and more people using the internet to find and buy wine, it isn’t hard to see the opportunity presented by direct to consumer sales. This, coupled with relaxed state regulations, is making this channel a legitimate force in the wine industry.
Recently, VinQuest released their annual survey “to measure the size and dynamics of the U.S. consumer direct sales channel.” They surveyed 3500 + bonded wineries in the United States; with 230 actually participating. Paul Mabray feels that their sample size isn’t large enough to be statistically significant; but doesn’t give the numbers behind his reasoning.
With 6.5% participation of wineries, it seems like enough to render relatively accurate results (assuming random selection of participants). After consulting Statistics: Edition 3, by Freedman, Pisani and Purves (who was my Stats 2 Prof. at UC Berkeley), “If a large number of those selected for the sample do not in fact respond to the questionnaire or the interview, non-response bias is likely” page 336, Paragraph 1.
Non-response bias can kill the legitimacy of survey. If a statistics professor looked at VinQuest’s data, they would immediately dismiss the results. However, since their data is not being submitted to the court of law (or statistical journal), there are trends that can be accepted and examined.
Here are some of the major points found by VinQuest’s survey;
- Total direct to consumer sales by U.S. wineries in 2006: $2.4 Billion
- Value of wine shipped directly to U.S. consumers in 2006: $1 Billion
- 2006 wine club sales at U.S. wineries: $598 Million: 66% Increase
- 2006 online sales at U.S. wineries: $197 Million: 45% Increase
- 2006 tasting room sales at U.S. wineries: $1.3 Billion: 18% Decrease
- 2006 event-driven sales at U.S. wineries: $100 Million: 30% Decrease
One statistic I take issue with is “2006 tasting room sales at U.S. wineries: $1.3 Billion: 18% Decrease.” VinQuest’s study said “Visitor counts and sales per guest were down in many key U.S. wine regions, leading to lower tasting room and event sales in 2006.” What exactly is a “key U.S. wine region”?
If you are going to publish results that are intended to be taken seriously, you have to fully disclose your methods and results. Selective reporting of results is a huge red flag; and is grounds for dismissing the entire study.
However, taken at face value, these results are promising. The online wine industry is growing, and as state regulations begin to loosen up, this trend will continue the way its going. This is good for both winery and consumer.
Options for consumers will grow; beyond what their local grocery store offers. Wineries will not be forced to dump their wine at half price to wholesalers. And the collective knowledge of the public’s perception of wine will increase with growing exposure to more wineries and regions. It seems to be a win, win, win.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Tuesday, April 03 2007
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Placer County may not get anywhere near the amount of wine tourists as Napa or Sonoma, but a recent story by the Auburn Journal shows that the issue of public tastings is still a controversial subject in the region. Pescatore Vineyard has a permit to produce wine on-site, but not to allow public tastings or sales.
Neighbors argue that Pescatore’s owner, David Wegner, is proceeding with public tastings anyway. They point to language on his website, which in fact states, “It (Pescatore Vineyard) is a perfect place for wine sampling, small group tours or other special occasions.” Neighbors further contend that this activity leads to increased traffic and drunk drivers.
In response, Wegner cites Placer County zoning laws that state lands used for agriculture are allowed to conduct on-site visits and tastings. He also argues that because his winery is very small, he needs to offer on-site tastings and sales to survive.
It seems that County Agriculture Commissioner Christine Turner empathizes with Wegner’s situation. To Ms. Turner, the potential scale of the operations must be taken into account. “Some people think we’re going to be like Napa and Sonoma counties. But there’s no way we’ll have that level of activity. We don’t have that amount of land.” The Placer County Board of Supervisors will have the final say on the controversy.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Monday, April 02 2007
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What is your wine doing to make the world a better place? Most answer with; “it brings happiness into the lives of those who drink it.” Very true. But for Mike Grgich, its not about personal satisfaction, his wine is being used to support the Roots of Peace non-profit.
Roots of Peace is an organization that is “dedicated to the eradication of landmines by returning de-mined land to productive agricultural use.” For Mike Grgich, this project hits especially close to his heart, being that his home country, Croatia, is one of the main points of de-mining activity.
Grgich was inspired to help the people of Croatia following the War of Independence. After joining the Roots of Peace organization in 2000, he has raised funds to restore the vineyards of Croatia. Since then Roots of Peace has completed several projects in Croatia.
In honor of his efforts, Grgich will receive the Roots of Peace 2007 Global Citizen award on May 6th aboard the Queen Mary 2. CEO and founder Heidi Huhn said, “The grapevine represents the seeds we have in common rather than those (that) separate us.” Cheers to Mike Grgich for his efforts in Croatia and his vineyards.
Proposed Bill allows Vintners to Donate without License
