August, 13, 2011 SA accedes to wine trade agreements

South Africa has signed two international agreements to facilitate the wine trade among signatory countries, the agriculture, forestry and fisheries department said on Friday. The agreement on mutual acceptance of oenological practices (MAA) recognises the wine making practices of signatories as ...

August, 13, 2011 US: PLCB, union blast privatization plan at hearing

A proposal to turn over Pennsylvania's state-controlled sale of liquor and wine to private business would drive up prices, limit the selection of products and leave many rural residents without a nearby liquor store, critics warned lawmakers Thursday. Joe Conti, chief executive officer of the Pen...

August, 13, 2011 Move over France, USA topping wine consumption

NAPA VALLEY, Calif. - Basking in the California sun, are plump and picturesque wine grapes, but, most of all, these vines are growing profits. At Leonesse Cellars in Temecula, business is far from sour. These businesses had to adjust their wine bottle price range. Some bottles range anyway fro...

August, 12, 2011 French wines fall victim to Chinese counterfeiting

Copycat kings of the world, the Chinese counterfeit industry has added a new item to its production line: vintage French wine. Impossible to tell a genuine bottle from a fake one, many unsuspecting customers will remain none the wiser until their first sip. And even then, only a connoisseur could ta...

August, 12, 2011 Despite obstacles, Mexico wine industry takes root

Despite a lack of recognition abroad and a drug war that has made tourists flee, Mexico's winemakers see cause to celebrate as drinking habits evolve in the land of tequila. Production increased almost 40 percent in the past five years, causing cheer at the annual Vendimia harvest festival in Baj...

August, 12, 2011 US: Oil magnate adds Renwood to growing winery portfolio

Californian winery Renwood is the latest multi-million dollar acquisition for oil and gas magnate Alejandro Bulgheroni as he expands his wine business beyond South America. Bulgheroni’s company RAI has paid $6.95 million for the bankrupt Renwood Winery, having already purchased a 25-million litre ...

August, 12, 2011 Canada: Ontario Funds Grape/Wine Climate Studies

St. Catharines, Ontario—Realizing that Ontario’s increasingly erratic weather poses a threat to its grape and wine industry, the province of Ontario announced a grant of CA$2.86 million to Brock University in St. Catharines, funding a team of scientists to study how climate change will impact th...

August, 11, 2011 Technology Plays Important Role to Improve the Wine Industry

Great wines come from combining site selection with appropriate viticulture and winemaking skills and style. But now geographic information systems (GIS) technology plays an important role in the wine industry. GIS technology is used to create spatial data (maps) that provide valuable information to...