Wine Country News Roundup
Publication: Grape Collective
Title: JED STEELE MAKES MAGIC: HONEST, TASTY AND AFFORDABLE CALIFORNIA WINES
In the Grape Collective, Dorthy Gaiter highlights the wines of California winemaker Jed Steele. Jed Steele has been working in the wine industry for 50 years and makes wine under four different labels. Dorthy talks to Jed about his career in the wine industry throughout the last 50 years, who has worked with everything from famous labels to little-known wineries. He works with the typical California culprits like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir but also experiments with more obscure varietals like aligoté and blaufrankisch. Dorthy finds out how he makes varietally correct wines for affordable everyday price points.
Publication: Wine-Searcher
Title: Gallo Opens Up in Public
Link: https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2018/01/gallo-opens-up-in-public
At this week’s Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, Gina Gallo gave a surprisingly emotional keynote speech. Gallo is the head of California’s biggest family wine company who spoke about her grandfather being her greatest mentor and the challenges of running a large company like E. & J. Gallo. She discussed her family and her recent revelation of the importance work-life balance.
Publication: Wine Spectator
Title: Northern California Wine-Country Wildfire Impact Study Shows Signs of Hope
Wine Spectator reports on the state of California Wine-Country after last year’s devastating wildfires in Northern California. A recent survey shows that the majority of the vineyards were not affected by the fires. This article eases consumer worries of tainted wines due to the fires explaining that most of the grapes were harvested before the fires hit the area. Aaron Romano talks about the spared vineyards explaining that, “…vineyards served as firebreaks, which is one reason for the limited damage to both winery structures and vineyards. While some vintners will need to replace posts and irrigation systems, the vines are, for the most part, unharmed.” Businesses and wineries are opened and ready for tourists to come visit the area.
Publication: Wine&Spirits Magazine
Title: At Home & At Work in Wine Country
Link: https://www.wineandspiritsmagazine.com/news/entry/at-home-at-work-in-wine-country
This week, the lack of affordable housing for agriculture employees in California wine country and lack of skilled vineyard workers is discussed in Wine and Spirits Magazine. The recent fires have brought to light the issues of affordable housing, putting on hold an affordable housing plan that was initiated last year in order to create sustainability in the agriculture workforce surrounding the wine industry. Elaine Brown discusses how the rise in wealthy residents has made it difficult for the vineyard labor force to live in wine country and the lack of skilled vineyard workers has lead to hiring less skilled seasonal workers. Brown features wineries like Frog’s Leap who are doing things a bit differently by hiring full-time, year-round agriculture staff.
Publication: Wine and Vines
Title: Evaluating Cabernet Wines at Different Price Points
At the recent Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in California, industry experts said Cabernet Sauvignon is expected to surpass Chardonnay as California’s most planted and harvested varietal. This article discusses the popularity of Cabernet and how it crosses price points from every-day drinking to super premium. The author speaks with different wineries about their strategies on making wines from various price points to get a peek into the California Cabernet Sauvignon market.
Publication: Food & Wine
Title: Forget Everything You Know About California Pinot Noir
Link: http://www.foodandwine.com/best-pinot-noir-bottles
Food & Wine tries to change the consumer perception that California Pinot Noir is simply luscious and fruit forward. Brian Freedman talks about the movement of more balanced wines coming out of California. With a passion for the various microclimates and terrain, Freedman says it is the most exciting time for Pinot Noir in California. His list of twelve balanced California Pinots might just have the potential to convert California Pinot skeptics into believers.
Publication: Travel Weekly
Title: Napa & Sonoma: Uncork the wine regions
Link: http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/296827/napa-sonoma-uncork-the-wine-regions
The UK based publication, Travel Weekly, breaks down traveling to the wineries of Napa and Sonoma counties. This mini travel guide explains that both wine regions offer different option and styles of traveling. Napa being the smaller of the two can feel busier and tends to cater towards more flashy, high profile consumers. Sonoma, however, is double in size and more secluded being better suited to travelers who want a more laid-back vacation. Ella Buchan gives suggestions for where to stay and what to do in both Napa and Sonoma.
Publication: Decanter
Title: US wineries to sell $3 billion of wine direct in 2018 – study
Link: http://www.decanter.com/wine-news/direct-consumer-wine-sales-growth-2018-383436/
Decanter reports on the latest annual study into direct-to-consumer (DTC) wine sales and what it means for the US wine market. With a number of states recently changing their laws to allow DTC wine sales and shipping across states, DTC sales have risen significantly in both volume and value. Texas was the most important market for DTC wine sales in 2017 followed by New York. Pennsylvania opened to DTC sales last year and immediately jumped into the top 10 DTC markets. The study shows that DTC sales have been especially important for Sonoma wineries, the sales of rosé wine, and small-scale wineries.
Publication: The Verge
Title: Grapevines can survive with little water, but wine glasses could still go dry during droughts
In the wake of climate change, lack of water, and droughts, The Verge discusses a new study that assessed the grapevine’s level of drought resistance. The goal of the study was to find out how little water the grapevine can withstand if winemakers in California have to cut back on water usage during a drought. The study has begun to answer the question just exactly is the threshold where a lack of water can kill the plant. The article talks about how the study was carried and the importance of the results of the study.
Publication: D Magazine
Title: What to Drink Now: Historic Napa
Link: https://www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2018/01/what-to-drink-now-historic-napa/
D Magazine reminisces about Napa Valley fifty years ago when the region was new and just beginning with few wineries and an importance on agriculture in Napa in the past. The historic Napa Valley is highlight by discussing a handful of the wineries that pioneered the area. Legendary wineries like Heitz, Montelena Estate, and Duckhorn are featured.
