AUGUST 30, 2021 – WINE NEWS FETCH

• Sangiovese Struggles to Gain a Foothold
• For France, American Vines Still Mean Sour Grapes [paywall?]
• City of South Lake Tahoe now under Caldor fire evacuation warning
• Trends in US wine consumption over the past decade
• Supreme Court Seeks Response from Missouri in Alcohol Retailer’s Appeal of 8th Circuit Decision
• How This Master Sommelier Became a Game-Changing Napa Valley CEO
• Bye, Bye Wine Direct: The Quick Books of wine DTC has launched! – (Sponsored link)

ICYMI (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

• Winery Focuses on Forestry Fire Risks
• Simultaneously evicted and not. Is Rabbit Ridge the Schrödinger’s Cat of Wineries?
• Rabbit Ridge Winery Bankruptcy Trustee Hires Farm Operator for 2021 Harvest; Most Grapes Still Unsold
• Right-wine extremist from L.A. who turned a Lodi vineyard into a shooting range cops a plea with Feds
• 2021 USA Wine Ratings Winners Announced – (Sponsored link)

WILDFIRES & WEATHER

• Caldor Fire throws harvest into chaos in up-and-coming El Dorado wine country [paywall?]
• Many in Sonoma County watching Caldor fire with concern [paywall?]
• Wildfire smoke threatens B.C. wine crops
• California wildfires are climbing higher up mountains, putting more forest at risk of flames [paywall?]
• Breathing wildfire smoke can affect the brain and sperm, as well as the lungs

DROUGHT/WATER

• Two Americas: One Parched, One Soaked.
• Many California farmers have water cut off, but a lucky few are immune to drought rules [paywall?]
• Oregon seems to be in ‘perpetual drought’
• Another dry winter may be ahead in Sonoma and Mendocino counties

CONSUMER SALES: DTC, ON- & OFF-PREMISE

• For some Napa Valley wineries, virtual tastings will persist beyond the pandemic [paywall?]
• Be part of the biggest gathering of Bulk Wine, Bulk Spirits, and Private Label professionals in the US. –  (Sponsored link)

WINE SUPPLY & CONSUMPTION

• 2021 Challenging for Vineyards in the Rhone Valley
• South Korea: Wine Imports Hit New High in 2020 amid Pandemic

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Why Cabernet Sauvignon Deserves One More Spotlight in California
• How Quintessa Winery Honors The Passing Of Grapes Through The Supply Chain [paywall?]
• Healdsburg’s Rodney Strong Wine Estates sets promotions [paywall?]
• Get smart on Wine Chemistry with Clark Smith’s new online course – (Sponsored link)

COVID-19

• U.S. Port Problems Reach Worst of Pandemic Amid Crush of Imports [paywall?]
• EU moves to reintroduce COVID travel curbs on U.S.
• NZ: How many ‘essential’ wine workers vaccinated anyone’s guess

HEALTH

• Swiss Canton Gives 100 Bottles of Wine to 100-Year-Olds [paywall?]

TAKING THE HIGH ROADS

• Small North Coast cannabis farms face daunting future

AMAZON

• Developer’s Amazon pitch fails to sway Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

• The Winemakers Who Believe Vineyard Sheep Provide ‘True Terroir’
• Jackson Family Wines to Transform Wine Industry Into One That’s ‘Rooted for Good’

REGULATION & LEGAL MATTERS

• Retail Shipping Case in Illinois Dismissed Before Trial

FINANCE, INVESTMENT, M&A

• Fully-Restored Swiss Château, Vineyard, & Winery to Auction No Reserve via Concierge Auctions
• MO: Winery owner Hoffmann Family of Companies to acquire Ferguson Valley Nurseries

AGRIFOODTECH

• In South Australia, demonstration sites aim to demystify AgTech

DATA & TRENDS

• The typical Chipotle customer is a white Millennial who spends their money on skincare and wine, according to the data

WINE SELECTION AND RECOMMENDATION

• Is the second-cheapest wine a rip-off?
• The Michelin Guide Has Teamed Up With Wine Access To Send You Wines From The World’s Best Restaurants [paywall?]

PACKAGING, LABELS & CORKS

• Why This Prosecco Producer Has Removed The Wine’s Name From Its Labels

MATTERS OF TASTE

• The rise of Nebbiolo
• Getting to grips with Hárslevelű, Hungary’s ‘other grape’
• Wine’s Allure

WINE PEOPLE

• Randall Grahm Explores His New Collaboration With Gallo (podcast)
• Patricio Celedón from Viu Manent
• Chad Marsh went from studying soybeans to producing award-winning wine in Loudonville
• The Wine Makers – Tony Biagi (podcast)

WINE PLACES

• Taking Flight With Anatum Winery

EUROPE & THE UK

• Premier Capital Finance Ltd – Irish company cloned by fraudsters?

ASIA & PACIFIC RIM

• Natural wine is winning over China’s young drinkers, here’s why

NOT JUST FOR THE TRADE

• How to (Actually) Get Rid of Fruit Flies