January, 06, 2015 French Laundry DRC thieves probably 'had buyer in place'

(Decanter) - Finding $300,000 worth of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti and Screaming Eagle wines stolen from California restaurant The French Laundry on Christmas Day could be more difficult than is hoped, according to experts. Thomas Keller, the chef-owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant in Youn...

January, 06, 2015 FRANCE: RISE OF THE NÉGOCIANT IN BURGUNDY?

(TDB) - With the rising cost of land in Burgundy and a revamped image of the négociant business, the region’s young talents may increasingly use it as their business model. One winemaker who thinks so is Charles van Canneyt, winemaker at his family’s estate Domaine Hudelot-Noe...

January, 06, 2015 World of Wine: Counting the ways a bottle of wine can be sealed

(Inforum) - Have you ever hosted a dinner party where you wanted to open a bottle of wine that has a cork enclosure? When doing this with just your significant other, who has become used to your limitations, it works perfectly every time. But at a party where you are trying to impress your guests w...

January, 06, 2015 Sonoma County: Investment Group Buys Majority Ownership of Kosta Browne

(WineSpectator) - Kosta Browne, maker of some of California's most in-demand wines, has a new majority owner, replacing one equity firm with another. It’s a move that the founders and co-owners believe further strengthens their Sonoma winery and their plans to expand their mix of single-viney...

January, 06, 2015 White wine is actually ‘red': experts

(NYPost) - Brace yourselves, winos — that chilled glass of Chardonnay you’re sipping may look white, but it’s actually red, experts claim. Scientists have discovered that white grapes contain the same pigments which give red wine its color, implying that “white” wine ...

January, 06, 2015 Unified Symposium Keynote Speaker Offers Preview

(Wines&Vines) - As president of Jackson Family Wines, Rick Tigner sends dozens of employees to the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium every year. He says the company’s production and sustainability teams represent the largest contingents, primed to gain insight and learn about innovations...

January, 05, 2015 North America: Looking Back: Vintage 2014

(Wines&Vines) - The annual Wines & Vines survey of the wine grape growing regions of North America revealed a 2014 vintage that can be summed up by two extremes. On the West Coast, California endured another year of severe drought to produce its third strong harvest in a row, while the Pa...

January, 05, 2015 Corks seal a wine's fate: aging under natural vs synthetic closures

(Phys) - Most foods are best as fresh as possible. I remember picking peaches at my grandfather's ranch in Northern California and eating them on the spot. What a taste! But the exceptions to this rule are the many wines that actually need some aging to taste their best. Winemakers know this, and w...