JANUARY 24, 2022 – WINE NEWS FETCH

• How the movie “Sideways” may have made pinot noir worse
• Lisa Perrotti-Brown makes some interesting accusations, and maybe solves the Wine Advocate sake mystery
• California insurance commissioner OK’s increased wildfire insurance limits for wineries, vineyards, ranches
• Wine’s Potential Covid Protection
• UK raises the red flag on claims of red wine providing protection from coronavirus
• $9-$12.99 Wines Rule In Market Share Growth
• Webinar: Alcohol marketplaces and delivery apps: Current regulatory issues – (Sponsored link)

OBITUARIES

• Nicholas Molnar, an undersung hero of modern Napa wine, dies at 94 [paywall?]
• Bordeaux Mourns One of its Own

ICYMI (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

• McMillan leads WineRAMP – “Got Wine” marketing effort.
• Rabbit Ridge Future Depends On Tangled Bankruptcy Assets
• Bye, Bye Wine Direct: The Quick Books of wine DTC has launched! – (Sponsored link)

CONSUMER SALES: DTC, ON- & OFF-PREMISE

• Calif: Bill Text – SB-620 Distilled spirits and beer: direct shipper permits.
• Add to cart: e-commerce activations to grow your wine and spirits’ online sales – (Sponsored link)

WINE SUPPLY & CONSUMPTION

• 2022 State of the Wine Industry Report: Despite challenges, 2021 was good year for most U.S. wineries [paywall?]
• 2021 was record year for Argentine wine exports
• South Africa anticipates reduced grape harvest in 2022
• The New Emergence: Upcoming Wine Regions in the USA – (Sponsored link)

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Tentative Napa court decision would require Mountain Peak winery EIR [paywall?]
• Far Niente winery expansion approved by Napa County [paywall?]
• Napa County settles Venge Vineyards issues [paywall?]
• Get smart on Wine Chemistry with Clark Smith’s new online course – (Sponsored link)

COVID-19

• H-2A workers must be vaccinated before they arrive

HEALTH

• Alcohol ‘directly causes several types of cancer,’ doctors warn
• Is moderate drinking good for you? Despite what you’ve read, probably not.
• If you think that glass of wine is good for you, it’s time to reconsider

TAKING THE HIGH ROADS

• Cannabis industry lies to paint wine biz as racist [paywall]
• Cannabis industry provides possible lift for Lake County economy [paywall?]
• Lake County carves out a niche as Northern California cannabis mecca despite challenges [paywall?]
• Oregon moves to regulate hemp production

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

• Mendocino’s Bonterra Organic Vineyards goes carbon-neutral [paywall?]

REAL ESTATE

• What Does $500,000 Buy in Wine Country?

PUBLIC COMPANIES

• Pernod Ricard NZ boosts profit

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

• Liv-Ex: Australian trade shrinks after Chinese tariffs
• Concha y Toro slams proposed UK alcohol duty changes as ‘regressive step’

DISTRIBUTORS

• How Wineries Can Boost Their Restaurant Distribution – (Sponsored link)

DATA & TRENDS

• Where are Italy’s vineyard areas going?

WINE SELECTION AND RECOMMENDATION

• Finding wines from bota box to Petrus: A new search engine for consumers [paywall?]
• The Ethics of Wine Criticism, Again
• A Sommelier Shares Her Most Harrowing Wine Stories
• Seasoned Sommelier and Wine Buyer Thomas Brenner talks us through his focus while evaluating the effectiveness of a wine program – (Sponsored link)

MARKETING & SALES

• Remember ‘Got Milk?’ As demand shrinks, fine wine needs a USDA Marketing Order, McMillan says [paywall?]
• How Aussie’s trailblazers are shaping future drinking trends

PACKAGING, LABELS & CORKS

• New Standardized Sweetness Levels on Labels Simplify Selection of Alsace Wines

MEDIA MATTERS

• Wine Soaked Power Struggles Permeate Latino Family Drama Series ‘Promised Land’ [paywall?]

MATTERS OF TASTE

• Is Wine Knowledge Necessary for Wine Appreciation?
• To Blend or Not To Blend?
• Is there a Rolex of the wine world?
• A Pinot Noir switcheroo
• People are drinking wine in bed and with ice, and that’s okay [paywall?]

WINE PEOPLE

• The Wine Nut Behind Vinoce Vineyards
• Marco Nicolosi of Barone di Villagrande: An Etna Bianco Pioneer
• Jean Hoefliger Consulting Winemaker, JH Wine Consulting, Napa Valley (podcast)
• Lessons in leadership from a champagne cellarmaster

WINE PLACES

• Edinburgh Has More To Offer Than Tap Water (Sometimes)

EUROPE & THE UK

• Dutch Stores Pull Ports over Age Claims
• UK wine buyers debate potential for Ribera del Duero wines in the UK
• Urgent action required by UK wine businesses

ASIA & PACIFIC RIM

• Soaring spirits sales for Chinese New Year will impact quarterly figures

AROUND THE GLOBE

• Buy Lebanese!