NEWSFETCH – February 16, 2011

TOP NEWS

• Treasury Ponders Road Ahead
• Diageo Sells Echelon to Winery Exchange
• US: Wine trends lean toward bargains, natural growers
• Precept Now Washington’s No. 2 Wine Producer
• Crop Surge Lifts Farmland Prices
• Millennials changing wine’s alcohol levels
• Paid sick leave challenges Calif. restaurants
• Same-store sales negative at family restaurant chains
• Overall US Retail sales increase for 7thstraight month
• Calif family sees growing US market for olive oil
• Wine and Spirits- Kosher for the connoisseur
• The wine blogger as $hake$peare
• Cafe sells samples, then bottles to take home

PUBLIC COMPANIES & INVESTING

• Board reshuffled as Treasury splits
• Distell plays a blinder
• Distel’s earnings rise
• Foster’s to proceed with wine demerger in May
• Video: How to spot counterfeit wine
• Ingenious launches wine EIS fund

WINE & HEALTH

• Drinking causes more sleep problems for women than men

AROUND THE STATES

• More signs the Washington wine industry is healthy
• NY: Big Red boast for Long Island winery
• MD: Raising tax rate on alcohol draws mixed reviews
• MD: The case for alcohol, tobacco tax hikes
• Twelve States Stuck at Bottom of Beer Tax Barrel
• NY: State IPM Program to Close in March
• PA: Wegmans Introduces Amazing Soda Fountain For Wine
• AZ: Wine leaders look to grow industry
• Let small New Jersey wineries sell and ship directly to consumers
• NY: Fastest growing white wines showcased at the Alsace Varietals Fest
• NC: Regional workshops focus on viticulture, sensory training and business

EUROPE

• A Closer Look at the New Wine Trade Agreement Between Australia and the ECs
• Montalcino producers postpone vote on proposed appellation change

THE UK

• UK Champagne consumption back to pre-recession levels

ASIA & PACIFIC RIM

• Wine Comes and Goes (to China, e.g.)
• Indians high on hard liquor, yet to develop a taste for wine

MARKETING & PROMOTION

• Influencing Consumer Perception of Value and Quality
• Sonoma Valley makes a move for its share of attention

ONLINE, TECH & SOCIAL MEDIA

• Mobile Web More Popular Than Apps Among Mobile Users

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• The amazing shrinking California farm
• Summit explores the new realities facing agriculture
• Satellite images provide ‘eagle-eye’ view of grapevine canopies

WATER

• Council releases first draft of Delta plan
• California Seeks Balance in Fixing its Water System
• Rainwater Capture Act of 2011 could help quench California’s thirst
• The House Budget Chooses the Path to Water Policy Gridlock

NOT JUST FOR THE TRADE

• The state of American zinfandel today
• Wine and Spirits / Kosher for the connoisseur
• The 100-Point Scale is Dead, of Pity for Wine Hath it Died

CHARITABLE & GREEN AND SOCIAL CAUSES

• Paso Robles Wine Alliance Selects Alzheimer’s Association …
• SolarCraft Expands Solar for Hafner Vineyard
• LEED Gold A Desire Of Dream Lodi Winery