December, 28, 2010 Wine auction sales top $350 mln; Champagne anyone?

(Reuters) - Auction houses sold more than $350 million worth of wine worldwide in 2010, an amount roughly in line with or exceeding their pre-recession levels of 2007. And all of them credited their sales in Hong Kong or Asian buyers for the spike in sales figures.Sales in Asia were "particularly ro...

December, 28, 2010 Medicinal Wine Can Create Health Risks

(Bernama) -- Medicinal wines have remained a favourite drink for many Vietnamese men despite serious warnings of potential risks from doctors and herbalists, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported. "Drinking these wines are in theory like taking medicine, so people really should seek out expert advic...

December, 28, 2010 New Use for Napa Grapes: Vodka

A new tipple from Napa Valley uses the same raw materials as the region’s world-famous wines. A local entrepreneur has introduced a varietal vintage-dated vodka made from Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Most vodkas are made from inexpensive grains like wheat, or traditionally from potatoes,...

December, 27, 2010 Legislators likely will consider giving Oklahoma grocery stores strong beer, wine

Some liquor retailers oppose putting wine and strong beer in grocery stores, while some customers and members of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber want to look at changes state alcohol laws.Roy Williams' New Year's resolution involves a bottle of wine and some strong beer. ...

December, 27, 2010 Maryland Lawmakers Considering Wine-by-Mail

HAGERSTOWN, MD - Last week, Maryland's comptroller released a report that could be good news for many wine enthusiasts. Maryland is currently one of twelve states where it is illegal to get alcohol shipped to your home. Many people would like the law to change and a report unveiled details about...

December, 27, 2010 Massachusetts: Liquor, beer, wine sales tax to end Jan. 1

Shoppers in Massachusetts will soon no longer have to pay the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax on alcohol sold in stores. Voters approved a ballot question in November eliminating the levy, and it is set to disappear Jan. 1. Alcohol was exempt until 2009, when lawmakers expanded the sales tax to inc...

December, 27, 2010 Six held in chemical wine scandal in China

Six people have been detained, several wineries shut down and bottles pulled from shelves in China after authorities found wine containing several chemical additives, state media said on Monday. The incident in Changli county in the central province of Hebei - an area dubbed "China's Bordeaux" - ...

December, 26, 2010 Pelican Brands investment group acquires Napa Smith Brewery & Winery

A Pelican Brands investment group has finalized the purchase of Napa Smith Brewery & Winery. The investment group bought the business from Kathy Smith and Greg Cutuli, who opened the brewery and winery in 2007. Pelican Brands, with headquarters in Indiana, manages a portfolio of import and craft...