June, 18, 2013 A BEER A DAY HELPS KEEP KIDNEY STONES AWAY

(TheDrinksBusiness) - A new study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology has found that certain beverages can increase a person’s chance of developing kidney stones. The study found that daily doses of sugar-sweetened drinks can increase the chance o...

June, 18, 2013 US: Napa wine executive accused of embezzling $900,000

(PressDemocrat) - A former senior executive from The Wine Tasting Network, a Napa wine company and a division of 1-800-Flowers.com, is wanted as a fugitive after failing to appear in federal court Monday on charges of fraud. Martin Christopher “Chris” Edwards, 48, of Napa, is su...

June, 18, 2013 US: Sonoma County grape value jumps 41% in year

(PressDemocrat) - A strong grape harvest and growing demand for young vines boosted Sonoma County agriculture above $821 million in value in 2012, a 41 percent increase over 2011, according to a new report from the county agricultural commissioner. The jump was driven largely by a record year fo...

June, 17, 2013 China Thirsts for More European Wine

(WSJ) -  Chinese wine distributors are scrambling to secure bottles from Europe, fearing that a trade spat between the European Union and China—the world's fifth-largest wine market—might lead to significantly higher tariffs on imported European wine. "Every import company is t...

June, 17, 2013 Mums-to-be 'CAN have a glass of wine a day without harming their child's development'

(DailyMail) - Having a glass of wine a day during pregnancy may not harm the child’s development, claim researchers. A large new study says the children of mothers who drank ‘moderately’ in pregnancy actually grew up to have better balance than those who abstained. Britis...

June, 17, 2013 France: 1855 classification seeks UNESCO World Heritage status

(Decanter) -  Bordeaux's oldest wine ranking, the Grands Cru Classés en 1855, is applying for the same UNESCO World Heritage status as the climats of Burgundy, and the cellars of Champagn. Philippe Castéja, president of the  Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855...

June, 17, 2013 FRANCE: VOUVRAY CROPS DAMAGED BY HAIL STORM

(TheDrinksBusiness) - Various news sources and Twitter have reported that the huge storms, which have hit many regions in France, have caused serious damage to grape crops in the Vouvray region. Two hail storms hit the town of Tours on Monday morning, with reports that some of the hail ston...

June, 17, 2013 The world's priciest wine lists

(Stuff) - While perusing the 1,800-selection wine list at New York's Aureole restaurant, my wife nudged me at about number 785 and said, "Pssst. I'm still here." I apologised for being so distracted, but I was completely awed by the breadth of offerings, such as 18 vintages of Domaine Leflaive a...