April, 02, 2010 Investing in Wine: All You Need to Nose

Oenophiles likely know: We are in the midst of one of California's best vintages of the decade, the 2007 Napa cabernets. And we are weeks away from the release of the 2009 Bordeaux, a vintage that, wine critics contend, benefited from an exquisite growing season and could surpass 2005, regarded as o...

April, 02, 2010 Wine Industry Hears Controversial Water Plans

Sacramento, CA - The new Delta Stewardship Council (DSC), charged with providing a more reliable water supply for California's multiple needs while simultaneously restoring and enhancing the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, held its first meeting April 1. Its aim: To make progress where other gov...

April, 02, 2010 Overcome Fear of Filing

Avoid common compliance pitfalls in reporting to the TTB. It has happened to you: You see it as the return address on a letter, or write it down as you’re checking your voicemail—and your lips start to tremble, a small drop of sweat forms on your forehead: Those words you dare not utter out loud...

April, 02, 2010 Wine industry facing a hangover

NZ - The Kiwi wine industry is a big hitter, with nearly a billion dollars in exports, fast growth and a stellar reputation for making sauvignon blanc. And yet alarm bells are ringing. An industry outlook for 2010 by Bloomberg business news puts it bluntly: "New Zealand wineries will be in tro...

April, 01, 2010 Proposal Looks To Raise Tax On Wine 12,675%

MONTEREY,CA - Local wine growers said a proposal in California to tax wine $5 a bottle will kill their business, and the California economy along with it. The Alcohol-Related Harm and Damage Services Act of 2010 would increase the excise tax on a bottle of wine 12,675 percent. That means the curr...

April, 01, 2010 Wine, Etc.: Oregon pinot noir vs. California pinot noir

Wine enthusiasts and producers have waged numerous arguments over which state - Oregon or California - produces the best pinot noir. It is a war not likely to be resolved here or anywhere.We have visited both wine regions several times and have spent recent weeks tasting pinot noirs from both states...

March, 31, 2010 Wine industry 'on its knees' after Black Saturday

Australia - A new study has found the Black Saturday bush fires have cost the Victorian wine industry more than $368-million. The research by the Victorian Wine Industry Association found fire and smoke damage has caused a huge drop in wine and grape sales, with some vineyards being forced to throw...

March, 31, 2010 Constellation to sell NY's historic Widmer Winery

VICTOR, N.Y. — The world's biggest wine company is selling an 1880s-era winery to a rival business in New York's Finger Lakes wine country instead of shutting its doors. Constellation Brands Inc. says an affiliate of Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards is paying an undisclosed sum to buy the historic Widmer...