Calwineries

Few California wine regions produce Pinot Noir with the same depth and finesse as Carneros. Carneros straddles the southern parts of Napa and Sonoma Valleys about 40 miles north of San Francisco.

For all the beauty that wine is and represents, there is a very dark, dangerous side of alcohol. Alcohol abuse is a semi-taboo subject among people in the wine industry. It’s not hard to see why an industry built on alcohol sales would avoid a subject that shows the negative effects of their products.

These posters were scare tactics to keep Russians from drinking during Prohibition, which lasted from 1914 – 1925. It was introduced at the beginning of World War I to keep peace within the non fighting population.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.