October, 20, 2014 North Carolina: Feds put new wine region on NC/Georgia map

(NewsObserver) - It’s a good thing October comes right after September in North Carolina, otherwise we might just forget what makes this place so livable. September anywhere east of the foothills in North Carolina is the most torturous of months, with all the heat, humidity and bugs of sum...

October, 17, 2014 France bill aims to call time on ‘le binge drinking

(TheGuardian) - A draft health bill presented to French ministers on Wednesday aims to target binge drinking by hitting people who incite it with €15,000 (£12,000) fines and sentences of up to a year in jail. The proposed legislation makes encouraging “le binge drinking” &...

October, 17, 2014 France: Pichon Baron Gives Birth to a Younger Sibling

(Wine-Searcher) - Part of a growing trend among classified growths, the highly-rated Pauillac château has launched a new second wine. Bordeaux’s Château Pichon Baron has unveiled the first vintage of its new second wine, the 2012 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron, described as a "sp...

October, 16, 2014 California: Wine Harvest Pegged Under 4 Million Tons

(Wines&Vines) - As the last bins are delivered to wineries in California, the early projection is that 2014 yields in the nation’s largest wine grape-producing state will total 3.8 to 3.9 million tons. That’s the word from Nat DiBuduo, president and CEO of the Fresno, Calif.-base...

October, 16, 2014 Winemaker’s Mesothelioma Blamed on Asbestos Filter

(SM) - There is new evidence that some wine-making practices could increase the chance of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma. Italian researchers are reporting the first case of mesothelioma in a person whose only known exposure to asbestos was in the winemaking business. The man worked f...

October, 16, 2014 How Much Will Napa's Earthquake Cost?

(WineSpectator) - With harvest winding down, vintners are getting a better idea of what August's quake inflicted. The dust may have settled from California's Aug. 24 earthquake, but Napa Valley’s wine industry is still calculating the cost, with early estimates running beyond $80 million. ...

October, 16, 2014 Nervous wait for vineyards as frost hits Barossa again

(Decanter) - Frost enveloped young buds in Barossa's vineyards this week, almost a year to the day since heavy frosts caused serious damage to vines in the region. Several Barossa winemakers have been anxiously checking their vines for frost damage after a cold spell hit the region overnight on ...

October, 16, 2014 US: Hiring and Sales Remain Strong

(Wines&Vines) - Wineries continue to seek new employees in almost every facet of the wine business, and wine sales remain strong prior to the peak season. The Winery Jobs Index, based on data from Winejobs.com, grew by 14% in September and 18% over the past 12 months compared to last year. T...