NEWSFETCH – March 25, 2011

TOP NEWS

• The REAL Reason Beer Always Wins
• Will the weakened Euro affect wine prices?
• Groupon and Alcohol Discounts: Do They Mix in California?
• Nation’s first organic farming apprenticeship program launches
• Calif urges stricter rules for Russian River frost protection diversions
• All-Natural, Affordable Indulgences Among Top Trends Driving Retail Sales
• Discounts endanger promise of Champagne’s emerging markets
• UPDATE: Corked Classic Wine Throwdown in Miami
• Survey finds most wine not drunk with meals
• It’s a vine time to be in the wine business in Lodi
• Pay-For-Play Government: Lobby Bucks Needed For The Wine Consumer
• Drink Like Your Political Party
• Wine Competitions, Are They Still Important?
• Napa County’s ag cop and ag teacher work aide growers, fight pests
• It’s Called Taste Washington, Not Guzzle Til You Puke

PUBLIC COMPANIES & INVESTING

• Diageo brands continue to lead Impact Databank’s Top 100 list
• Brown-Forman To Buy Back Up To $250M Of Stock Through Nov
• Skinny Girl Sale Leaves Bad Taste

WINE & HEALTH

• Wine could make allergies worse

WATER

• Major Victory for California Water Districts as Federal Circuit Denies …
• Water Crisis: The Delta, the Smelt and Us – City Watch

AROUND THE STATES

• OH: Wineries Earn Quality Designation
• MD: Senate Passes New 3% Sales Tax On Alcohol
• MD: Wineries move a step closer to direct shipping
• MD: Direct Wine Shipment Bill Hits Snag
• NY: Cornell Warns Vineyards about threat of stink bugs
• NY: Majority favors allowing wine sales at grocery stores
• PA: Liquor Board to Showcase French Wine During the Philly Arts Festival
• PA: 24 Walmarts Getting Wine Kiosks
• PA: Modernizing a monopoly – When less is more
• TX: Trouble Ahead for Wine?

EUROPE

• Jancis Robinson uncorks en primeur debate
• Moet to drop dosage in Brut Imperial

THE UK

• Oddbins applies for administration
• Tesco takes on first English wine for Finest range
• Landing on his feet: Bob Lindo’s Camel Valley wine

DOWN UNDER

• OZ: Business as Usual with Foster’s: Coles
• NZ: Now: Zero Carbon Kiwi Wine
• OZ: The Gunfight at VB Corral
• OZ: New regime for labeling olive oil

ASIA & PACIFIC RIM

• Changyu Wine Teams Up With Donelli

SOUTH AMERICA

• Wine Spectator blesses Argentina’s variety

ONLINE, TECH & SOCIAL MEDIA

• Vente Privee Launches Digital Commerce Factory
• Groupon Decline Real, LivingSocial Catches Up
• Price Comparison Is Top Mobile Shopping Activity
• Does Latino Marketing Deserve a Bigger Pie?
• 4 Things Newbie Mobile Marketers Should Do Now
• Using search to drive customer acquisitions

APPOINTMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Reduce Wine Losses in Unfavorable Weather with Automated Tracking

NOT JUST FOR THE TRADE

• How to Rate Your Wine – It’s All About Drinkability
• The Key to Aging Gracefully
• The Mad Scientist of Central Coast Wine Country