MARCH 27, 2023 – WINE NEWS FETCH

• SVB Assets Acquired by NC Bank. Wine Division Likely In The Deal.
• Wine’s Great Replacement Theory(s)? or “Don’t look up”
• RNDC Countersues Sazerac, Alleging It’s Undermining Three-Tier System [paywall?]
• Third Party, Fourth Tier? How Delivery Services Are Changing Alcohol Sales
• Calif Governor Newsom Eases Drought Restrictions
• Off-Premise eCom AlcBevs Still Recovering After Covid Crash
• For Sale: Exclusive “off-market” Central Coast high capacity production facility – Sponsored Link

OBITUARIES

• David Cameron “Cam” Baker Of Larkmead Vineyards Has Died
• Josh Raynolds In Memoriam (1962-2023)

ICYMI (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

• California farmers flood their fields in order to save them
• What you need to know about beverage alcohol licenses
• The 3000 Word Silicon Valley Bank Explainer That No One Asked For Is Here

WINE SUPPLY & CONSUMPTION

• German wine exports rise in value; but fall in volume [freewall?]
• Rioja sales fall 12% in the UK

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Sonoma County custom sparkling winery inks deal to expand into charmat production
• Southside cafes is closing its original location, but will operate a remaining Napa restaurant

WILDFIRES/SMOKE TAINT

• California wildfire victims remain in limbo on federal tax relief [paywall?]

DROUGHT/WATER

• Harnessing Series of Winter Storms, California Increases State Water Project Allocation to 75%
• What new state water allocations mean for valley farmers
• This Drought is Dead – Long Live the Drought

CONSUMER SALES: DTC, ON- & OFF-PREMISE

• Steven Harrison to Chair Craft Wine Association Advocacy Group

HEALTH

• How can microbiota be used to make wine more health beneficial?
• No, Drinking Is Not the New Smoking

NFTs, BLOCKCHAIN, & THE METAVERSE

• David Harmon, founder of Wine.com Comes Out of Retirement for the Blockchain NFT Wine Club
• Is ChatGPT a sommelier in the making? [paywall?]

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

• The Anti-Greenwashing Guide to Nonprofit Drinks Partnerships
• The UK organic wine market is rapidly growing – and here’s what lies ahead [freewall?]

PUBLIC COMPANIES

• Treasury Wine share price lifts even as new UK tax ‘makes a mockery’ of free trade deal

FINANCE, INVESTMENT, M&A

• Wine growers fear funding will wither after fall of Silicon Valley Bank
• French Champagne coop is to TEVC acquire Champagne Henriot

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

• Public objections process on Aussie-EU Wine Agreement

DISTRIBUTORS

• The Wine Group Announces National Alignment with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Strengthening its Position for Strategic Portfolio Growth

INVESTING IN WINE, COLLECTING & AUCTIONS

• Iconic Bordeaux vintages smash estimates at first live Christie’s Hong Kong auction of 2023
• Three vintages of Opus One trade at all-time highs   – Liv-ex

DATA & TRENDS

• How To Tell If A Survey Is Credible: Minimum Standards

WINE SELECTION AND RECOMMENDATION

• Dispatches from Behind the Counter: Dear Wine Shop Owner

TRADE SHOWS & CONFERENCES

• Does ProWein still have its star pulling power?
• Vinexpo Asia Singapore chooses USA as Country of Honour

WINE CRIME

• Napa County deputies arrest former winery employee in $10,000 wine theft
• Beaujolais Winegrower Convicted of Sexual Assault
• Kingfisher tycoon Mallya to face extra charges over unpaid loans

MEDIA MATTERS

• A Modest Proposal: Term Limits For Wine Columnists
• Chuckles Candy, SVB and Harlan: Tips From the Wine Writers Forum
• Free Is A Very Good Price…but at what cost?
• Meet the author: Neal Martin

WINE PEOPLE

• Karen Cakebread, Founder, Ziata Wines, Napa Valley (podcast)
• The Wine Connections Of Lisa Tupetz
• Chiara Condello: classicism, daring and reviving Predappio

WINE HISTORY

• Improving wine with cochineal or mustard?

NORTH AMERICAN REGIONAL WINE NEWS

• KY: Small farm winery law to impact local businesses

ACADEMIA

• Regenerative Ag & Soil Conservation Research Project with Cal Poly SLO

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• The Torres Family’s Quest to Resurrect Lost Grapes
• Intracellular invertase hyperproducing strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from Abagboro palm wine
• How the Tides Are Changing Within the Wine Grape Industry
• Can I walk away from my vineyard for a year if I don’t intend to harvest?

EUROPE & THE UK

• UK’s Roebuck Estates Launches Its ‘Viticulture Academy’
• Bordeaux diners drink wine as protest fire rages in background

DOWN UNDER

• NZ: Alcohol consumption in decline
• Wine industry pivots to new markets amidst continuing challenges
• Australia’s wine industry fizzing over prosecco

LATIN AMERICA

• Argentina’s Attack of the Killer Ants

BEER, CIDER, WINE & SPIRITS

• Cider Needs Its Own Identity. Single-Varietal Bottles Can Help.