July, 14, 2011 NZ: Strong yield increases grape harvest by 23%

A marked increase in New Zealand's grape harvest this year has been driven by strong yields and a young vineyard estate which continues to mature. The New Zealand Winegrowers Association estimated the harvest was up 23% to 328,000 tonnes, Rabobank said in its quarterly wine report released this w...

July, 14, 2011 US: Pa. lawmakers hear testimony on direct wine shipments

Four related bills under consideration in the state House would lift Pennsylvania's current law that bans receiving out-of-state shipments from wine producers, retailers and Internet companies. WHY THE CHANGE: You're on vacation in California's wine country and you'd like the vineyard to shi...

July, 14, 2011 US: Privatization of the PA Wine and Spirits Shops is a Bad Deal for Taxpayers

/PRNewswire/ -- The misguided attempt to dismantle the PA Wine and Spirits Shops would cost more than 5,000 Pennsylvanians their jobs and badly-needed revenue that now funds vital state programs, the leaders of the PA CLEAR Coalition said today. "It makes no sense to break up a public asset that ...

July, 13, 2011 US: Minimize Winery Taxes

Napa, Calif.—Along with capricious weather and challenging marketing in a weak economy, vineyard and wineries must also worry about taxes. Recent meetings addressed some of these issues and notably offered suggestions for minimizing taxes and related problems. PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accountin...

July, 13, 2011 US: Fate of Jersey Wineries Still Up in the Air

New Jersey wineries remain in limbo, with still no activity from the New Jersey legislature regarding wineries’ ability to ship directly to consumers, after the Third Circuit and district court ruled that the existing wine distribution laws are unconstitutional and short change out-of-state wineri...

July, 13, 2011 Canada: Market saturation makes B.C. wine industry vulnerable

VANCOUVER - British Columbia’s grape growers are among those who stand to benefit from a new international study headed by Simon Fraser University political scientist Andy Hira that is probing what makes global wine industries successful. “It’s clear that the B.C. wine industry is a major s...

July, 13, 2011 Kenya starts wine industry

The mist lifts from the mountains of Kenya's fabled Rift Valley, better known for its flamingoes and zebras than its wine, as women weave in and out with baskets of grapes on their heads. It is grape picking time at Kenya's only commercial vineyard. Dressed in cowboy boots and jeans with three days'...

July, 13, 2011 Wine: Idaho is finding its way as a wine-making state

Exciting things are happening in Idaho wine. The establishment of Idaho’s first American Viticultural Area in 2007 was a big step in elevating the wines of Idaho onto the national and international stage. An AVA is a defined area for winegrowing, such as the Napa Valley or Walla Walla. The Snak...