August, 20, 2010 FRANCE: Bordeaux's Cave des Hauts de Gironde to expand

One of Bordeaux's largest AOC wine cooperatives, La Cave des Hauts de Gironde (CHG), is investing EUR13m (US$16.7m) in a restructuring and expansion programme. Work will start next month on a 6,500sqm extension to facilities at the co-op's HQ in Marcillac, comprising a bottling line and storage a...

August, 20, 2010 California approves new heat rules to protect workers

FRESNO, Calif. — California workplace safety officials voted unanimously Thursday to approve new rules aimed at strengthening and clarifying protections for people who work outside.The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board's decision puts into place special precautions to protect those wo...

August, 20, 2010 Constellation's Amberley Estate sale 'atypical'

Drinks giant Constellation insists its retention of the Amberley Estate brand name after selling off the assets does not set a precedent for future divestments.The multinational corporation has a number of other vineyards on the market but says it will not necessarily keep those brand names after se...

August, 19, 2010 Taiwan cuts tax on rice wine, triggering concerns from US, EU

The Taiwanese government moved Thursday (August 19) to cut taxes on rice wine by reclassifying it as a food ingredient rather than drinking alcohol.The Legislative Yuan officially ratified an amendment to the Tobacco and Alcohol Tax Act, lowering the tax on rice wine sharply to NT$5.4 from NT$29.25 ...

August, 19, 2010 Napa Dramatically Reduces Grapevine Pest

Napa County Agricultural Commissioner Dave Whitmer sent a message to local grapegrowers, wineries and other stakeholders summarizing progress against the destructive European grapevine moth (EVGM). “The situation today is quite different than it was only months ago,” Whitmer wrote. This is g...

August, 19, 2010 V2 Wine Group Launches with Acquisition of Steelhead Wines

V2 Wine Group, a new wine company founded by Dan and Katy Leese in partnership with Pete Kight, launches today with the full acquisition of Steelhead Wines of Dry Creek Valley. Based in Sonoma, California, V2 Wine Group is a wine producer that will also provide sales and marketing services to a limi...

August, 19, 2010 French winemakers launch home tasting service

A new service called Vignerons a la Maison has launched in France, offering consumers the opportunity to have a winemaker come to their house, and hold a tasting of their wines.Director and founder Philippe Kazek will launch the business in September following a survey of more than 200 wine producer...

August, 19, 2010 Bio-mass products are offered to wine industry

BioMass Packaging has introduced to wineries an option of developing completely compostable waste streams using paper and boxes made with the highest level of post-consumer recycled content along with bio-based products. Based in Richmond, BioMass Packaging founder Steve Levine of Napa said the time...