NEWS FETCH – MARCH 12, 2012

TOP NEWS

• Gas prices hurt restaurant sales, traffic in February
• California Final Grape Crush Report – Down 3%
• Billionaire’s playground: Foley serious about Kiwi investments
• Wine sales ended 2011 on a positive note
• WineAmerica Opposes New NY “At-Rest” Provision
• Joe Pollack, 1931-2012
• Winemakers enthusiastic for Millennials
• Which Comes First – the Winery or the Farm?
• Can the Golden State shine again?
• More on Rudy K’s arrest on counterfeiting charges
• At rest In New York: A David & Goliath Thuggery Story
• Staying relevant: for wineries, it can be tricky
• Interview with world’s best winemaker – Peter Gago

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Sonoma State economist forecasts modest improvement for North Bay in 2012
• Napa County planners OK Amorim’s 48000sf cork facility
• Napa bottle-washing company sues supplier
• California winery a labor of love for Duluth native

MARKETING, SALES & PROMOTION

• Diageo targets female shoppers with launch of sparkling liqueur
• Where there’s a wine, there’s a way
• Chocolate wine takes US and UK by storm
• Embellishing high-end wine with pewter labels
• New Napa firm 4parts Design offers four-faceted winery help

ONLINE, TECH & SOCIAL MEDIA

• 3 ways to increase in-store social awareness
• French vintners slowly make friends with Facebook

MATTERS OF TASTE

• Why are some red wines so soft and soupy?
• Critics of wine critics aren’t living La Vina Vida
• The Rise and Fall of Wines from Oz
• Montepulciano: Italy vs. California
• Wine tasting at its lowest

WATER, ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

• Northern California water leaders say habitat, water storage linked
• Refighting California’s water war
• House, Senate search out agreement on California water bill

U.S. REGIONAL WINE NEWS

• MO: Winery Founder Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award
• NY: State bill paves way for wineries, breweries to form partnership
• TX: Hill Country discovers its viticulture roots
• VA: First urban winery to open in Norfolk
• WI: Winery bill falters

EUROPE

• Could 2011 en primeur prices be more muted?
• NZ reveals European market strategy
• Brunello subzones desirable but unlikely, say experts
• Chinese wine breaks through into Europe
• Wine Australia to increase ProWein presence in 2013

THE UK

• TFC Wines chief urges retailers and media to back quality lighter style wines
• Berry Bros acquires wine importer Richards Walford
• Laithwaites buys third Bordeaux estate

PACIFIC RIM

• China’s faux Bordeaux stirs wine market
• Indian wine with a French twist from Karnataka
• NZ: Residents oppose winery expansion

LATIN AMERICA

• Argentina needs to ‘focus on whites”
• Toasting the success of Argentine wine

NOT JUST FOR THE TRADE

• Why You Shouldn’t Keep A Wine Cellar
• A Guide to Wine Faults – Tartrate Crystals
• The emotional roller-coaster life of a wine

APPOINTMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• WSWA Announces Lifetime Leadership And Sidney Frank Award Recipients