MARCH 4, 2021 – WINE NEWS FETCH

TOP NEWS

• The Pros and Cons of Self-Distribution for Independent Winemakers
• Why we all need to take action on diversity & inclusion
• U.S. and UK agree to suspend tariffs on Scotch whisky
• E&J Gallo makes nearly three-quarters of premium wine sold in UK
• Tired of it all: How the pandemic has changed social media
• Does wine compliance make you cry? We’re here to help with that but need your input!(Sponsored link)

OBITUARIES

• Bob Stein, Founder of Notre Vue Estate Winery and Vineyard, Passes Away in Pacific Palisades CA

ICYMI (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

• Can wine ride the moderation wave?
• A close look at the Vintage Wine Estate acquisition path that’s led to its upcoming public offering
• The Duckhorn Portfolio files for an estimated $300 million IPO
• How genes wreck wine recommendations
• Sommeliers Choice Awards launches Shelf talkers and Tasting notes for entrants – (Sponsored link)

DIVERSITY

• Being Black in the Wine Industry: A Conversation with Somm & Author Jaton Gunter (video)
• How I’m Making the Wine World More Inclusive of Black Women Like Me
• ‘Be the Change’ Partners with Thurgood Marshall College Fund for Second Virtual Job Fair
• Trailblazers event to raise funds for women in hospitality

CONSUMER SALES: DTC, ON- & OFF-PREMISE

• Becoming a Master Sommelier in the midst of a global pandemic (Sponsored link)

WINE SUPPLY & CONSUMPTION

• Bordeaux 2020 vintage report
• S. Korea’s wine imports hit record high in 2020 amid pandemic
• Grow Your Wine Brand In USA with 2021 Sommeliers Choice Awards (Sponsored link)

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Sonoma winery Don Sebastiani & Sons names Omar Percich CEO
• TOR Napa Valley winery names Richard Hall chief operating officer
• Application Period Opens for Ag Health Benefits Alliance Scholarship Program (PDF)
• Ninety Years Later, Pasadena Is Making Wine Again, and Yes, It’s Funky
• See how Phase 2 Cellars streamline systems and provide exceptional customer service.

COVID-19

• Let’s be honest: Texas restaurants haven’t really been enforcing the mask mandate. Abbott’s decision to lift the requirement, while reckless, won’t make a difference.
• A New Winery In Sonoma With A Stunning Hospitality Space Grapples With Covid (possible paywall)

DIVERSITY

• ‘Be the Change’ Partners with Thurgood Marshall College Fund for Second Virtual Job Fair

WILDFIRES & WEATHER

• Napa County wineries dive into wildfire prevention after big Glass Fire losses

DROUGHT/WATER

• This year will likely be critically dry for California (possible paywall)

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

• Top Bordeaux châteaux are going organic

REGULATION & LEGAL MATTERS

• Maryland Considering Bill To Allow Beer, Wine In Grocery Stores
• Oregon Wine Tax Proposal Pt 3 (podcast)

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

• Taiwanese politician proposes a pineapples for Penfolds exchange

DISTRIBUTORS

• Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Promotes Steve Lee to Senior Vice President, General Manager – Northern California

INVESTING IN WINE, COLLECTING & AUCTIONS

• Liv-ex 1000 rises as February sets trading milestone

PACKAGING, LABELS & CORKS

• Ardagh reports 2% increase in glass shipments
• TricorBraun Acquired by Ares Management and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board

MANAGEMENT & EMPLOYMENT

• When the robots arrive, what happens to farmworkers?

MATTERS OF TASTE

• The secret to preserving a partially drunk bottle of wine is simpler than you think (possible paywall)
• One Cru Classé reinvents Sauternes, with a sparkling wine and a rosé
• Wine is Iconic Because it is a Symbol System
• Wine Hands

WINE PEOPLE

• Luigi Moio brings perfectionist rigor to Campania
• Claudia Masueger on managing CHEERS from afar, China wine trends, more
• LM Archer’s Interview with Oregon Wine History Archive

WINE EDUCATION

• New Somm Group’s Language Challenge

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• What is sap flow pruning and how can I apply it in my vineyard?
• Weedmat a suitable undervine management option in stony soils
• The Spotted Lanternfly is moving West, South, and sometimes North and East

EUROPE & THE UK

• UK: New on-trade revenue streams likely to remain post-pandemic
• Tax on wine: How much do you pay in the UK?

DOWN UNDER

• Grape hopes for King Valley vignerons