October, 15, 2015 West Coast Harvest Total a Mystery

(Wines&Vines) - The 2015 California grape harvest is short, but it’s not clear how short. Estimates range from 50% or more off normal in parts of Paso Robles to just a little lower than average in some areas. After three bumper crops, the lower numbers may even be welcome some places. ...

October, 15, 2015 What Do Wine Lovers Mean by ‘Smooth’?

(WSJ) - WHAT’S THE MOST common word oenophiles use—and misuse—to describe a wine? The answer might surprise you. According to several retailers, it’s “ smooth. ” Ian Dorin, wine director of the Wine Library, a large wine store in Springfield, N.J., told me, &ld...

October, 15, 2015 Chemical Giant Stumps Up for Poisoned Vines

(Wine-Searcher) - A German agri-chemical company will pay out to growers affected by a faulty fungicide. German chemical behemoth Bayer is offering to compensate grapegrowers whose crops have been damaged after spraying with one of the company's fungicides. The agri-chemical company has acknowled...

October, 15, 2015 Brewdog releases ‘world’s strongest’ canned beer

(TDB) - Craft beer producer Brewdog has unveiled a 12.7% abv ale that it claims is the most alcoholic canned beer in the world. Black Eyed King Imp is a “Vietnamese coffee-inspired imperial Russian stout” which is matured in Bourbon casks and aged on vanilla pods and coffee beans, ...

October, 15, 2015 French wine consumption shows signs of life – survey

(Decanter) - Growing numbers of young people and women are drinking the occasional glass of wine in France, according to a national survey that also found the first drop in tee-totallers for 20 years. But, the latest survey from government affiliated body FranceAgriMer suggests more French ...

October, 14, 2015 Nestle drawing millions of gallons of California water on expired permit, suit claims

(LATimes) - Environmental groups sued the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday, alleging that the agency has allowed Nestle Waters to draw water from a creek in the San Bernardino Mountains under a permit that expired more than 25 years ago. The company, owner of the Arrowhead bottled water brand, has d...

October, 14, 2015 Treasury Wine Estates announces acquisition of drinks giant Diageo’s wine business

(Weeklytimesnow) - TREASURY Wine Estates will buy most of the US and UK wine operations from drinks giant Diageo for $830 million. This acquisition will include a cash payment of $754 million and the assumption of capitalised leases worth $66 million. Diageo Wine is a leading player in the US lux...

October, 14, 2015 The Great Brettanomyces Taste Test

(Meininger) - As she passed me the wine - a 2012 Croatian blend priced at €10.00 ($11.25) ex-cellars – the winemaker watched me carefully, looking for my reaction. As I sniffed, I was aware of dark berry fruit, expensive oak – and an animal character that might have been caused ...