August, 23, 2016 Smoke Taint Addressed as Northwest Harvest Begins

(Wines&Vines) - The first grapes of the 2016 vintage were harvested in Washington state last week, six weeks after the first signs of véraison began appearing on Red Mountain and elsewhere.  But between first blush and crush, dry weather made for a frantic wildfire season in wine...

August, 23, 2016 Sta. Rita Hills AVA Expansion Approved

(Wine-Searcher)  - After years of fighting, a few more wineries can now label their wines under the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. In a triumph of climate over soils, one of North America's best appellations for Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, just got a little bigger. The U.S. government today annou...

August, 23, 2016 NZ ON TRACK TO HIT $2BN TARGET AS EXPORTS GROW 10%

(TDB) - New Zealand wine exports have grown for a 21st consecutive year, rising 10% in the past year to just under NZ$1.6 billion. It means that the country is “well on track” to reach its target of $2bn worth of exports by 2020, according to Steve Green, chair of New Zealand Winegro...

August, 23, 2016 CRAFT BEER'S DARK SECRETS, ACCORDING TO AN ANONYMOUS INSIDER

(Thrillist) - The craft beer industry is not the big happy family it used to be. It's more like the Boltons -- it's got serious problems. But unlike America's favorite murderous family, most of craft beer's fighting takes place out of the public eye. But it's happening, as now there are over 4,000 ...

August, 23, 2016 The Italian Wine Regions You Should Visit Next

(CNTraveler) - Looking for the next Chianti, Barolo, or Brunello? Oenophiles should plan a trip to one of these wine regions in Italy, chosen by experts as the next big thing. Most wine tourists visiting Italy make a beeline for Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, or even Sicily, but these well-loved reg...

August, 23, 2016 You're Doing It Wrong: Teeth Brushing After Wine Drinking

(Eonline) - Assuming that you're an adult over the age of 21, there are few things in this world more satisfying than a glass of wine after a hard day's work. (Just ask Jennifer Lawrence.) While a glass of vino has a multitude of benefits (like anti-aging, preventing cancer and reducing the risk...

August, 22, 2016 TTB Proposes to Shut Down COLA Exemption Appellation Labeling Loophole

(DPF-Law) - The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has proposed amendments to federal wine labeling laws that protect the integrity of the appellation of origin labeling system in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking No. 160 (NPRM 160).  If adopted,...

August, 21, 2016 How Michael David Winery Turbocharged Its Brands

(Wines&Vines) - Improving packaging can have a big impact on a winery’s success, as described by Melissa Phillips Stroud, the vice president of sales and marketing at Michael David Winery, and director of marketing Mike Stroh at the third annual Wines & Vines Packaging Conference he...