April, 21, 2012 Gems from the edges of the wine world

(JancisRobinson) - Wine has become such a universal interest that I'm no longer surprised when I hear of yet another country's first commercial vineyard or winery. In fact a common phenomenon in the world's more exotic locations for wine production is for someone to plant a few vines, build a cellar...

April, 20, 2012 US: Welch’s Says Freeze Damages Grapes Used to in U.S. Juice

(Bloomberg) - An April freeze damaged grape crops from Michigan to New York that last year supplied about two- thirds of the U.S. fruit used to make non-alcoholic grape juice, government and industry officials said. About 90 percent of juice-grape crops were damaged in Michigan, the third-largest...

April, 20, 2012 US: Water Issues Have Dried Up

(Wines&Vines) - It’s the time of year when grapevines start budding, so Wines & Vines took a quick survey of growers from Temecula to Mendocino to gauge the timing. We also asked about water, pests and diseases. Here is what they had to say about viticulture in California, from north to south. Men...

April, 20, 2012 US: Need for new vineyards opportunity for cooperation

(NBBJ) - As most people know by now, a very tiny but vocal and bitter minority of opponents and a Kafkaesque California regulatory environment has driven filmmaker George Lucas’s latest project out of Marin County and perhaps California. But, of course, something like this could never happen t...

April, 20, 2012 US: Marijuana-infused wine produced at Calif. vineyards: Dangerous?

(CBS News) - Just in time for 4/20, reports have surfaced that an increasing number of California winemakers are turning to another locally produced intoxicant. The Daily Beast reports several California winemakers are creating blends of marijuana-infused wines on the sly. According to The Daily ...

April, 20, 2012 Nigerians grow nose for SA wine exports

(Businessday) - Nontraditional markets for South Africa’s wines — such as East Africa, Russia, and Japan — are growing.SA’s wine exports have shown healthy growth in the first three months of this year, with Nigerian connoisseurs developing a keen nose for the local grape. Nontraditional ...

April, 20, 2012 Impact Databank Exclusive: Top Italian Labels Driving Imported Sparklers In U.S.

(ShankenNewsDaily) - Impact Databank’s exclusive analysis of the top 10 imported sparkling wines in the U.S. market finds that Italian wines continue to be the biggest volume drivers in this rising segment. Total imported sparkling wine shipments to the U.S. increased 19.7% to 7.65 million cases i...

April, 20, 2012 US: New Sign Program Promotes VA Wine Regions

(WRIC) - The Governor's office announces new signs to promote Virginia wine regions. The wine industry contributes nearly $750 million into VA's economy each year. Read below for details: RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the unveiling of a new Virginia wine region sign program ...