February, 25, 2012 U.S. and Europe Have Different Definitions of Organic Wine

(WineSpectator) - A fight over labeling leaves American producers at odds over the meaning of organic, even as the European Union allows added sulfites.What is the difference between certified “organic” wine and wine “made with organic grapes” in the United States? As far as the contents, ad...

February, 24, 2012 US: Sourcing Winegrapes in a Shortage

(Wines&Vines) - “A monumental change in supply occurred in January 2011,” Joe Ciatti said at a Wine Industry Financial Roundtable sponsored by CPA firm Moss Adams in Napa on Thursday. “An excess of grapes became a shortage.” Ciatti, a well-known broker with Zepponi and Co., emphasized that t...

February, 24, 2012 Why Sommeliers Are the New Restaurant Stars

(WSJ) - Some 30 years ago, a Baltimore lawyer who published a newsletter about wine out of his suburban Maryland home became the most influential and powerful figure in the wine world. Influenced by Ralph Nader's consumer advocacy, Robert Parker wanted to make the previously arcane subject of French...

February, 24, 2012 Wine cache rescues those short of cash

(Reuters) - Some U.S. pawnbrokers are taking liquid assets - literally. Fine wines are among the items they will accept as collateral for loans, along with family jewels and fine art, as a practice common in Britain and France catches on across the Atlantic. Liquidity issues, or a cash shortag...

February, 24, 2012 US: With a Tweet, Cash Mobs Rescue Local Businesses

(CNBC) - What started in Buffalo as a way to help a local wine retailer has turned into a national phenomenon. Cash mobs have become a national movement to support local businesses. What's a cash mob? Think flash mob, only doing something more useful with one's time. The idea is simple: Organ...

February, 24, 2012 France: Bordeaux approves official Chinese names

(Decanter) - Bordeaux's classified growths have approved the first-ever standardised Chinese translation of their names, Decanter.com can exclusively reveal.Auction house Christie's has unveiled an official translation of each of the 61 chateaux in the 1855 classification, after 12 months of collabo...

February, 24, 2012 UK: Vanquish tackles 'authenticity issue'

(Decanter) - Vanquish, the London partner of Spectrum Wine Auctions, is trying to establish the authenticity of 21 lots removed from its auction on 8 February.Questions were raised in advance of the auction over label and capsule discrepancies on wines including Burgundy Grand Cru, Domaine de la Rom...

February, 24, 2012 Canada: Ottawa Senators Forward Zenon Konopka Launches New Wine Line

(Bleacherreport) - Zenon Konopka, respected hockey player and successful businessman, deserves a toast for his latest off-ice venture, one that will have people raising a glass while a worthy charity receives recognition and funds. Whether it’s sticking up for his Ottawa teammates or running a ...