March, 12, 2015 Commercial Teaching Winery for the Midwest

(Wines&Vines) - With nearly 150 wineries and total wine production surpassing 1 million cases per year, Michigan needs a reliable supply of workers with backgrounds in grapegrowing, winemaking and wine marketing. Recognizing the need, Lake Michigan College (LMC), a two-year community colle...

March, 12, 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte and Perrier Sex Up Sauternes

(Wine-Searcher) - Bordeaux producer aims to revive the famous sweet wines by dressing them up for a night on the town. Château Smith Haut Lafitte has teamed up with bottled water company Perrier to release an "aperitif" Sauternes destined for the trendiest bars of Paris. Smith's owners ...

March, 11, 2015 Argentina’s Mendoza Must Change Bulk Wine Production, Perez Says

(Bloomberg) -- Argentine grape growers for low quality, bulk wines must improve standards, create new products or switch to other fruits and vegetables to return to profitability, Mendoza Governor Francisco Perez said. A drop in consumption of box wine and over production of the grapes has kept ...

March, 11, 2015 Napa County examines ways to regulate winery expansion

(PD) - Napa County officials on Tuesday took initial steps that may rein in winery development amid a contentious debate between community activists, who argue that the valley has turned into an adult Disneyland that brings traffic and degrades the environment, and the county’s powerful wine ...

March, 11, 2015 California: Agencies admit failing to protect water sources from fuel pollution

(LATimes) - The agencies charged with overseeing oil production and protecting California's ever-dwindling water sources from the industry's pollution all fell down on the job, one state official told a panel of peeved lawmakers Tuesday. During a testy two-hour oversight hearing, officials from ...

March, 10, 2015 Parker: Bordeaux primeurs ‘largely dead’

(TDB) - The practice of buying Bordeaux en primeur has lost all its appeal for collectors unless the vintage is exceptional, according to wine critic Robert Parker. In an exclusive interview with the drinks business earlier this month – just before Parker announced his decision to stop scori...

March, 10, 2015 Applying Lessons From Pierce's Disease

(Wines&Vines) - The Napa Valley Grapegrowers, Napa Valley Technical Viticulture Group and University of California Cooperative Extension joined forces March 4 to present a summary of new findings about pests and diseases as part of the Grapegrowers’ Sustainable Vineyard Prices series. A...

March, 10, 2015 South Africa: Rooibos wine targets health-conscious drinkers

(Reuters) - In South Africa's scenic wine growing Western Cape, the Audacia winery wants to revolutionize the region's famous industry after patenting a new technique that used Rooibos and Honeybush in the production of wine, beer and ciders. With wine lovers globally looking for healthier ways to...