August, 25, 2011 US: Governor proclaims Sept. as California Wine Month

Hear ye, hear ye: Governor Jerry Brown has proclaimed September as California Wine Month to help commemorate the state's multi-billion dollar wine industry. Look for a series of related wine events to be held throughout California, including Sonoma Wine Country Weekend during Labor Day and Californi...

August, 25, 2011 US: Wal-Mart Cancels Deal to Install Wine Vending Machines

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Wal-Mart is canceling an agreement to install 23 state-controlled wine-vending machines in some Pennsylvania stores. A company statement Wednesday cites mechanical concerns. However, a lawyer for the contractor, Simple Brands, says mechanical problems affect less than one-half...

August, 25, 2011 Diageo GB: wine business grows 14%

Diageo’s wines business in Great Britain delivered “strong results” with net sales growth of 14% — driven by a healthy Bordeaux campaign, growth in en primeur, and price increases on Blossom Hill. Globally, the drinks giant posted full year net profits up 17% to £1.9bn, citing emerging m...

August, 24, 2011 France: Pommard asks INAO to create first grand crus

The 400-strong union of producers in Pommard in Burgundy will apply to the French appellation authority INAO to promote the premier cru Rugiens and Epenots appellations to grand cru. Currently in force, the 1936 classification did not classify any terroirs in Pommard at the grand cru level, but a ne...

August, 24, 2011 US: Quake Damage Slight at Virginia Wineries

Louisa, Va.—Two wineries near Louisa were only about seven miles from the epicenter of the rare, magnitude 5.8 earthquake that shook up the East Coast Tuesday. Fortunately, both Cooper Vineyards and Weston Farm Vineyard and Winery suffered only minor damage and very little wine loss. ...

August, 24, 2011 Underwater Sparkling Wine: This Wine Goes Well With Fish

BRILLIANT ideas sometimes arise out of pure necessity. Consider Piero Lugano, 63, the suntanned artist-turned-wine-merchant who opened a shop called Bisson in this town on the Italian Riviera in 1978. Not content merely to sell wine, he soon began making it. Ten years ago he decided to try produc...

August, 24, 2011 AUS: Strong $A hangover for wine

AUSTRALIAN Vintage will push ahead with additional currency hedging and shifting more of its wine packaging and bottling overseas to cope with the high dollar, which last year slashed its pre-tax earnings by $9.8 million. The winemaker said turmoil in global financial markets was constricting the...

August, 24, 2011 Wine wars: Lot18 gets new funds as Gilt debuts wine site

Lot18 has secured a small investment from some big-name backers, just as its competition is heating up. The New York City-based daily deals site focused on high-end wine and complementary foods announced Wednesday it has received funding from Quidsi founders Marc Lore and Vinit Bharara. The fresh...