NEWSFETCH – May 31, 2011

TOP NEWS

• Aware of Its Dependence, Napa Takes Care of Migrant Workers
• Social Media Distractions Are Costing Businesses Major Money
• California wine grape growers concerned about erratic spring weather
• Latinos today find wine to their taste
• In Calif & Texas, Latino Moves to Wine Mean Exciting New Pairings
• Trade anger rises over high-alcohol wines
• Napa to host major wine tourism conference
• Labeling for consumer not producer
• Too Much Alcohol in Wine or Too Many Wines with Imperfect Balance ?
• Georgia delegation to visit U.S.
• Distillers cut carbon bill by turning whisky by-products into energy

INVESTING: HONG KONG AUCTIONS

• Hong Kong sale sets rare wines records
• Chateau Latour rivals Chateau Lafite in massive Hong Kong auctio
• Chateau Latour, Chinese Art Snapped Up in $106 Million Auction
• Christie’s Dolman Says China Demand Growth Exponential: Video

HEALTH

• Obesity, not alcohol, greater risk for fatty liver
• Alcohol advertising – Reducing alcohol abuse

DIRECT SHIPPING & THE THREE-TIERED SYSTEM

• Points of focus for winery direct to consumer marketers
• Online alcohol ads get boost from offline bans

AROUND THE STATES

• NY: Add wine to local offerings in groceries
• TX: February Freeze Will Impact Future Wine Fest

ACADEMIA

• NZ: Wine industry could trim up to $5 million a year by not removing tendrils during pruning.

THE UK

• Turning Leaf in food-matching campaign

DOWN UNDER

• NZ: A Marlborough vineyard has sparked a sheep-breed shortage in Australia
• OZ: Farmers drowning under water price hikes

ASIA & PACIFIC RIM

• China launch for Zulu King’s exclusive wine
• World Top Class Wine Families Tour Exhibits held in Hangzhou

MARKETING & PROMOTION

• Chardonnay Day: A marketing case study
• Customer Wine Research, Insights into Premium Wine Consumers

ONLINE, TECH & SOCIAL MEDIA

• Users More Likely To Buy If A Business Answers Their Question On Twitter
• Social media watch: things are speeding up
• Amex Talks Facebook, Foursquare, and SMBs

NOT JUST FOR THE TRADE

• On Natural Wine, Bulldogs, and Terroirism
• Wine never ships; refund never shows
• Bubbly over ice? Not at that price