NEWSFETCH – March 17, 2011

TOP NEWS

• Wine consumption shows signs of increasing around the world
• Favorable (and Undisclosed) Online Product Review Brings $250K FTC Fine
• Gallo, Harris Teeter delay wine following wholesaler objections
• Liquor wholesalers’ appalling misuse of the Constitution
• Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck sold to EPI
• New Zealand Wineries Set Up Their Own Business In The USA
• Table Grape Commission Receives Grant to Fight Off Pests
• Winegrape growers want Congress to OK U.S.-Korea free trade agreement
• Passage of Korean trade agreement vital to California economy
• Catch my drift? Experts request vineyard neighbors be considerate, cautious
• Mondavi research center opens
• Time to sub-appellate the Russian River Valley?
• Value Wines Give California a Big Headache
• Should wine labels tell the whole truth?

FOSTER’S: IT’S AUSTRALIAN FOR DEMERGER, MATE

• Court orders Foster’s to put demerger plan to shareholders
• Foster’s wine spin-off vote set for April 29
  
• Foster’s demerger lifts takeover chance
• Foster’s split pays off for chiefs

PUBLIC COMPANIES & INVESTING

• Tweezer Bottom in Constellation Brands
• Spectrum Realizes Over $5.5 Million, Largest Sale to Date
• Liv-ex: James Suckling on Bordeaux 2010

WINE & HEALTH

• Alcohol hits harder after weight loss surgery
• Can chemicals on the posts in the vineyards get into my wine?

WATER

• State Water Project increases allocation to 70 percent
• Report: Nitrate-polluted ground water widespread in San Joaquin Valley
• California’s farming future focused on water

AROUND THE STATES

• GA: One step closer to Sunday alcohol sales
• OR: Wineries Romance New York
• NJ: Let wineries ship to their customers
• NY: 2 Finger Lakes wineries aim to attract women
• PA: Liquor privatization can be done right
• VA: Kluge Estate and Winery to Sell at Absolute Real Estate Auction

EUROPE

• An Italian trend towards higher priced wines is underway
• Pinault buys Rhone property
• Chapoutier to release first Alsace wines
• Damian Martin devastated by Ara departure

THE UK

• Oddbins latest: HMRC is owed £8.6 million in taxes
• Counterfeit wine seized in Havering

DOWN UNDER

• OZ: Artisans leave fingerprint on Barossa
• OZ: Unprofitable winegrowers urged to rip out vines
• Wine of New Zealand: Following the market

ASIA & PACIFIC RIM

• All supplier countries have increased their exports to Hong Kong, but France leads
• Lianghui deputies: wine industry development starts with fundamentals

ONLINE, TECH & SOCIAL MEDIA

• Facebook “Likes” More Profitable Than Tweets
  
• Scan a QR Code & Save Your Place on the Restaurant Wait List
• Groupon’s new deal, a $25 billion IPO

APPOINTMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Christopher Lynch to Join Terlato Wines International
  

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• House agriculture committee sends strong budget message

NOT JUST FOR THE TRADE

• Wine journalist James Suckling swirls over to his own website