August, 30, 2011 Bourbon in Barrels

When it comes to winemaking, the importance of oak barrels is well known, but cooperage is just as crucial for making Bourbon. That’s why distillers are experimenting with new techniques ranging from inserting French oak staves to charring their casks for longer to ensure the best Bourbon flavors ...

August, 30, 2011 US: How Does a Wine Monopoly Lose Money?

In a report issued today, Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner says the state liquor control board's wine vending machines, a wonderful illustration of what happens when a government monopoly tries to act more like a business, are operating at a loss, costing taxpayers more than $1 million since...

August, 30, 2011 Gilt Taste Wine vs Lot18: The Battle For Online Wine Sales

Online wine sales are up, big time. VinQuest's 2011 wine industry research report shows online wine sales increased 38% in 2010. While there are many factors that have influenced the steady growth of online sales, the businesses born out of this climb — more specifically, flash sites like Lot18 an...

August, 30, 2011 US: Vintners look to hand message to messengers

How does a place as small as the Napa Valley build such a massive world-wide reputation? Good marketing. Yes, the Napa Valley is blessed with one of the most perfect grape-growing ecosystems on the planet, but however good the wine, many around the world wouldn’t appreciate it without the un...

August, 29, 2011 US: Meet the ladies of Magnum Force

The First Ladies of Sonoma's wine industry know all about growing patterns, sugar brix and fermentation processes. But once a year, they prove that they also know how to shimmy and chassé for charity when they collectively become Magnum Force during the Harvest Wine Auction. Women such as Ramona...

August, 29, 2011 Canadian winemakers want more access to consumers

Canada's winemakers want more access to consumers, saying strict controls on the distribution of liquor are hindering the industry's development. The country's liquor laws are a hangover from the prohibition era and regulate all aspects of wine production. The 1928 federal Importation of Intoxicati...

August, 29, 2011 Wine Enthusiast announces ‘Wine Star’ nominees

Wine Enthusiast magazine has announced their “Wine Star” nominees. The annual awards “honor outstanding achievement in the wine world, in that given year and over time.” The winners will be announced in December, with a gala black-tie dinner scheduled for New York City the following month. ...

August, 29, 2011 Government of Canada Invests in New Technology for Canadian Wine

(Marketwire) - Andrew Peller Limited will be able to purchase and install new packaging equipment allowing it to increase its competitiveness and reduce production costs with a new investment from the Government of Canada. Member of Parliament Ron Cannan (Kelowna – Lake Country) announced the inve...