AUGUST 4, 2020 – WINE NEWS FETCH

TOP NEWS

• Milla Handley, the “Pioneer Queen” of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir and Handley Cellars Founder, Dies of COVID-19 at 68
• “Generic.com” Brands get US Supreme Court Trademark Registration Protection
• Wine, Coronavirus, & the Falling Dollar
• As Wine Country harvest approaches, farmworkers continue to pay high pandemic price
• Growth of Cab Franc, Syrah/Shiraz outshine rose’, lead traditional varietals in DTC channels
• What Does the U.S. Wine Business Need to Combat Racism? It Needs You.
• As France’s wine industry contracts, an incalculable cultural loss
• Streamlining a Large Custom Crush Operation for Clients and Cellar Staff (Sponsored)

ICYMI (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

• Wine.com Seeks Funding at Valuation of More Than $1 Billion
• Gallo PR tries to distance winery and Gallo Cattle Co., but no proof available.
• At least 244 California wineries and vineyards received between $145 & $328 million from Paycheck Protection Program

WINE SUPPLY & CONSUMPTION

• Calif wine sales hurting even before pandemic, more vineyard removals needed: Allied Grape Growers Report (pdf)
• Champagne In Crisis Talks—Grapes Might Be Destroyed Due To Poor Sales
• Australian wine exports holding up well
• Taylor’s declares three consecutive port vintages
• Verasion spreads across North Coast, changing colors in vineyards signals grape harvest is approaching
• How To Really Send Your Samples To Prospective Distributors and Importers (Sponsored)

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Brughelli to replace Osborne as winemaker at Folded Hills Winery
• California cideries hope for retail lift as restaurants, tasting rooms close during pandemic
• Results Are Out For The First Edition Of Paris Wine Cup (Sponsored)

DIVERSITY

• Black Wine Executive Discusses Joys and Sorrows of Working in the Wine Industry — and Some Solutions to Make a Difference

COVID REDUX: RE-OPENING

• Second guestworker dies at Washington farm
• If you’re hanging on until there’s a full reopening, you’re falling behind
• No pandemic relief for Sonoma County as state watchlist rules to remain in effect

COVID & HOSPITALITY

• Suggested Changes for Covid-Era Competitions
• Distilleries Raced to Make Hand Sanitizer for the Pandemic. No Longer. (possible paywall)

HEALTH

• The Benefits and Detriments of a Wine Consumption Lifestyle

WILDFIRES & WEATHER

• Wildfires can poison drinking water – here’s how communities can be better prepared
• Funds available for Sonoma Valley fire risk mitigation

TAKING THE HIGH ROADS

• How To Build Your Online Presence To Drive Your Delivery & Curbside Sales? (Sponsored)

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

• Portugal’s Vintners on the Forefront of Climate Change

RECYCLED WASTEWATER

• Calif: New Winery Wastewater Regulations Could Cost Small and Midsize Wineries Thousands Every Year

CONSUMER SALES: DTC, ON- & OFF-PREMISE

• Imagine if Selling Shoes Was as Absurd as Selling Wine
• Gov. Kemp signs bill allowing stores to deliver beer, wine, liquor to Georgians’ homes
• Grow Your Delivery and Curbside Pick Up Business*(Sponsored)

PUBLIC COMPANIES

• Diageo operating profit drops 47% in “year of two halves”
• Diageo: most ‘challenging times ever’ for drinks industry
• Why Treasury Wine Estates is launching its 1st UK DTC website
• Coca-Cola launching Topo Chico Hard Seltzer as brands from Sam Adams parent and Molson Coors soar

FINANCE, INVESTMENT, M&A

• MikMak Raises $10 Million To Accelerate E-Commerce Platform And Global Expansion

DISTRIBUTORS

• Brad Vassar Appointed Strategic Advisor to the CEO and Member of the Board of Managers of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits

WEBINARS/ONLINE MEETINGS

• TBA Servings +1.8% L12M through June & Industry Webinar August 6th

DATA & TRENDS

• Coronavirus will have ‘far-reaching’ impact on alcohol: 5 emerging consumer trends

WINE SELECTION AND RECOMMENDATION

• Airlines can’t stop you bringing your own booze aboard — but they can forbid you from drinking it

PACKAGING, LABELS & CORKS

• Canned Wine Sales Are Bursting at the Seams

MANAGEMENT & EMPLOYMENT

• Washington Farmworkers Ask State Supreme Court For Overtime Pay

MEDIA MATTERS

• Liv-ex introduces Premium Content

MATTERS OF TASTE

• Good Clean Wine just doesn’t seem to get it.
• What is Natural Wine?
• Rediscovering Tuscany’s Forgotten Classic
• Oregon’s Willamette Valley Is Offering a Delicious Alternative to California’s Buttery Chardonnays

COMPETITIONS/AWARDS

• Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance Honors Alma Rosa’s Richard Sanford as 2020 Vintner of the Year

WINE PEOPLE

• To save the wine industry, this Vermont vintner is embracing outside influences and ingredients
• Meet The Face Behind South African’s First Black Woman Owned Winery
• Q&A with Milan Wine Week founder Federico Gordini
• Raising a Glass to Nik Darlington for all his Covid-19 fundraising efforts
• SA Wine Trailblazers: Berene Sauls of Tesselaarsdal Wines

WINE PLACES

• Urban wineries: the London scene

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• Farming winegrapes for sugar
• Grapevine research solves Chardonnay clonal mystery

DOWN UNDER

• OZ: No final determination of Wilyabrup as a Geographical Indication for wine
• NZ: Overseas worker scheme in ‘limbo’ as border restrictions bite

SOUTH AFRICA

• Wine glut causes shipping headache for South African wineries
• Vinpro Welcomes New Stellenbosch Director
• Treasury grants 90-days deferral of excise tax due on alcoholic beverages

BEER, CIDER, WINE & SPIRITS

• IWSR predicts positive outlook for premium spirits