February, 21, 2012 US: Free the Grapes in Massachusetts! Wine Direct Shipping Bill Languishes in Committee, Flouting Federal Court Ruling, Delaying

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Introduced in 2011, wine direct shipping House Bill 1029 is languishing in committee, according to Free the Grapes!, a national coalition of wine lovers, wineries and wine merchants. The bill has the potential to generate significant new revenues, would bring the Commonwealth into...

February, 21, 2012 UK: Gallo launches Moscato with biggest ever investment

(Offlicencenews) - Gallo will launch Moscato wines under its Gallo Family Vineyards and Barefoot labels next month, the winery has announced. Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato is off-dry, with 8.5% abv, rrp £6.79. Its launch will be backed with the biggest marketing investment Gallo has ever mad...

February, 21, 2012 In vino veritas: NZ wine proclaims its carbon toll

(Theneweconomy) - For environmentally conscious wine drinkers, help is at hand, as a winery now declares the carbon footprint The New Zealand Wine Company recently started sales of its Mobius Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which it says is the first wine in the world to let consumers know the amoun...

February, 21, 2012 US: Patch Poll: Should Pennsylvania Privatize the Sale of Wine and Spirits?

House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, who represents much of the North Hills, is pushing to get government out of the liquor business. What do you think? Since July, Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Mike Turzai has pushed to get government out of the liquor business. In a news conference, the legi...

February, 21, 2012 Southern Wine buying Bloomington liquor business

(Bizjournals) - Quality Wine and Spirits, a family-owned liquor distributor, will be acquired by liquor industry heavyweight Southern Wine & Spirits . The Star Tribune reports that Bloomington-base Quality Wine is the state's third-largest distributor after Johnson Bros. of St. Paul and Wirtz...

February, 21, 2012 Vinisud 2012 - An emerging concern about wine in China

(Just-drinks) - Here's the thing about China: is anyone actually drinking the wine? I'm here in Montpellier at Vinisud 2012 and the eary morning sky is full of promise for the day ahead. You can probably see where I'm going with this; yes, it's just like wine sales in China. No one doubts th...

February, 21, 2012 VINIPORTUGAL UNVEILS AMBITIOUS GROWTH PLAN

(Thedrinksbusiness) - Using an annual budget of €500,000, the organisation is targeting 30 restaurants and 30 independent wine merchants in London, Manchester and Edinburgh with promotions and tastings. Speaking to the drinks business, Nuno Vale, marketing director at ViniPortugal said, “We w...

February, 20, 2012 US: ‘Defective’ trusts may boost 2012 tax exemptions

(NBBJ) - Keeping a family-based wine or vineyard business alive from one generation to the next is difficult enough, as was seen in a recent industry survey that one in three vintners wants to get out in coming years. But many small to relatively large family operations may be able to avoid an estat...