May, 21, 2013 Wine Grapes Aged for Centuries

(Discovery) - Vintners age the best wines, and it seems the grape vine itself took ages to domesticate. Genetic analysis suggests grapes were probably first cultivated in southwest Asia during the Neolithic, approximately 8,000 years ago. However, archeological evidence suggests thousands of years...

May, 20, 2013 Grape Market: 2013 looking a lot like 2012?

(NBBJ) - In the 1993 comedy movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray plays a TV meteorologist covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pa. He soon finds himself repeating that day over and over. Sometimes it feels that way in the wine business — like last year is playing out all ...

May, 20, 2013 Wine and Cola? It Works

(NYTimes) - Some might consider the kalimotxo (pronounced cal-ee-MO-cho) a guilty pleasure; I’ve received more than a few skeptical glances when I’ve ordered it at bars in New York. But I don’t feel an iota of contrition when I drink this Basque-country classic. It couldn&rsquo...

May, 20, 2013 Italian Organization Barrique Rehabilitates Wine Casks To Make Furniture And Benefit Rehabilitation Facility

(TheDailyBeast) - An Italian organization is bringing new meaning to the concept of rehabbing old materials. Barrique is turning used wine barrels into high-concept furniture—all for the benefit of a renowned substance abuse treatment facility. Touring the downstairs gallery at SoHo’...

May, 20, 2013 Is Making Vegan Wine Difficult?

(Wines&Vines) - At first glance, wine produced from grapes or other fruit would by definition be vegan. Vegan refers to a strict vegetarian who consumes no animal food or dairy products. But the recent launch of the Vegan Vine Wine Club called that into question. As it turns out, many wines ...

May, 20, 2013 Wine business tackles climate, erosion policies

(NBBJ) - A number of new regulations related to dirt, air, water and energy are facing the North Coast wine business. In Napa County, vintners and growers trade groups are concerned about a coalescing county climate action plan (countyofnapa.org/CAP) that includes specific numerical targets for ...

May, 20, 2013 Is Your Tasting Room Successful?

(SVBWIne) - The other day I  stopped in at Wal-Mart to get some things. While checking out, a very large woman in very tight clothes came up from just outside the store and angrily told my cashier she lost her debit card after she paid. While I looked around the floor for the card the ...

May, 20, 2013 Wine fundraiser to bring thousands to Napa Valley

(NBBJ) - Bloom may be still a few weeks away for local winegrape vines, but economic conditions for the industry’s key consumers appear to be in full bloom, given the record-fast sellout of tickets to the upcoming 33rd annual Auction Napa Valley fundraiser (auctionnapavalley.org) May 30&n...