Publication: Wines and Vines
Title: Should Out-of-State AVA Use Be Legal?
Link: https://www.winesandvines.com/news/article/194698/Should-Out-of-State-AVA-Use-Be-Legal
The TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) has been considering arguments concerning a proposed regulation that would tighten AVA regulations. The proposed regulation would prevent wineries from purchasing grapes from out-of-state and labeling that wine with the AVA where the grapes where purchased. Some argue that grapes don’t maintain their quality on long journeys and thus can diminish the image of the AVA. But many in the industry benefit from this loophole. Wineries and grape growers alike oppose the regulation because sales can be very lucrative.
Publication: Food and Wine
Title: This Wine Auction Is Giving All Proceeds to Napa and Sonoma Fire Victims
Link: http://www.foodandwine.com/wine-auction-bordeaux-sothebys
Bordeaux wineries are teaming up to help victims of the recent Napa and Sonoma wildfires. Union de Grands Crus de Bordeaux has partnered with Sotheby’s Auction house to make an impressive collection of 75 old-and-rare bottles available for auction running through January 30th. All of the proceeds will go to charity as UGCB aims to help contribute to rebuilding destroyed areas of Napa and Sonoma counties. California and Bordeaux have strong ties in sculpting the wine industry, the UGCB explains, “The strong link that exists between Bordeaux and these California regions has shaped the global wine world and been integral to their mutual growth and survival.”
Publication: Paso Robles Daily News
Title: City Council approves downtown distilleries, breweries and winemaking
Due to high demand by small producers and consumers alike, Paso Robles approves distilleries, breweries, and wineries in downtown Paso through a rezoning measure. The city council explains, “The rezoning of an area northeast of the city park allows for distilleries, breweries and winemaking, which were previously barred… The council also approved zoning changes to allow wine tasting at the future Paso Market Place.” With record-breaking attendance at the recent annual micro-winery Garagiste Wine Festival and places like Tin City popping up in Paso Robles, one could argue the importance of the craft beverage movement to Paso Robles economy.
Publication: San Fransisco Gate
Title: Silver Oak is building the state’s most eco-friendly winery
Link: http://m.sfgate.com/news/article/Silver-Oak-is-building-the-state-s-most-12504651.php
Silver Oak announces that in April they will open a new winery and tasting room with the hopes it will be the most environmentally friendly winery in the state of California. The new winery is being built on the outskirts of Healdsburg and will showcase Silver Oak’s Alexander Valley wines. Silver Oak’s iconic Napa Valley wines have overshadowed their Alexander Valley wines for quite some time, but the new winery could attract more attention to Alexander Valley.
Publication: Good Vitis
Title: An Epic Five Days in Napa
Link: https://goodvitis.com/an-epic-five-days-in-napa/
In Good Vitis, Aaron Menenberg discusses his first trip to Napa Valley in over 10 years and why he had avoided the region for so long. He discusses everything from topography to terroir and focuses on his experiences with stand-out Napa Valley wineries. Find out how this trip changed his relationship with the wines of Napa Valley.
Publication: I’ll Drink To That!
Title: Episode442: Ray Coursen Recalls the Napa Valley of the 1980s and Before
Link: http://illdrinktothatpod.com/
I’ll drink to that! is a podcast that started in 2012 hosted by a former sommelier who interviews famous wine personalities from his living room. In the most recent episode, Levi Dalton chats with Napa winemaker, Ray Coursen, about the wines of Napa Valley from before and including the 1980s. Listen to Ray as he recalls his arrival to Napa in the ‘80s, gives a little history lesson of iconic vineyard sites in the region and discusses how the region has changed over the years.
Publication: Forbes
Title: Alcohol Sales Dropped 15% In States With Medical Marijuana Laws
Forbes reports on a study about the relationship between U.S. overall alcohol consumption with marijuana usage. The study focuses on alcohol sales from supermarkets, retailers and convenience stores and compares sales of states that do not have legal medical marijuana with those states that do. The study found a significant decrease in sales of alcohol in those states with medical marijuana, showing that alcohol and marijuana are strong substitutes for one another.
More Reading: https://californiawineryadvisor.com/weed-wine-what-know-cannabis-wine/
Publication: Wines and Vines
Title: The State of Central Coast Syrah
Link: https://www.winesandvines.com/news/article/194694/The-State-of-Central-Coast-Syrah
A group of winemakers and sommeliers got together to discuss Central Coast Syrah. Syrah has long been an important grape varietal to the area that many Central Coast winemakers have pioneered in California. Pioneer winemakers discuss their approaches to making Syrah and how those approaches may have changed over the years. The talks mostly focused on climate, viticulture, and winemaking techniques and their effects on the varietal.
Publication: San Francisco Chronicle
Title: Wine’s brewski moment: Canned wine is here, but can it avoid the down-market trap?
Link: https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/Wine-s-brewski-moment-Can-canned-wine-go-12522244.php
The San Fransisco Chronicle takes a look at the trending canned wine industry in the U.S. Is canned wine taking over boxed wine? Or is canned wine taking a whole other direction? Esther Mobley takes a look at the popularity of this packaging and its sustainability. Mobley talks to many California producers of popular canned wines who are changing the view of wine in a can to be seen as serious wines rather than low-quality wine.
More Reading: https://californiawineryadvisor.com/best-canned-wine/
Publication: Wine Spectator
Title: 13 Hearty Rhône Reds from California
Link: http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/13-Hearty-Rhone-Red-Wines-California-55968
Wine Spectator highlights 13 Rhone-style red wines from around California. California’s central coast has long been a champion of Rhone-style red wines but now it's possible to find this style all over the state. Wine Spectator rates California wines that use grapes like Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache and Petit Syrah both single varietal and blends. Everything from robust to elegant Rhone-style reds are explored.
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