NEWS FETCH – JULY 19, 2012

TOP NEWS

• Constellation Brands Doubles Down on Corona in Move Beyond Wine
• Audit reveals lean Napa winery production last year
• Former American Wine Distributors President Responds to Tudor Wines Lawsuit
• Vinexpo cancels NY consumer wine show
• USDA to make loans and grants to improve farmworker housing
• Crop Insurers Reassure Farmers As Drought Worsens
• The 2008 Farm Bill: The Lobbying Frenzy
• Shomron Breaks Boycott, Forms Wine Alliance with Italy
• Thirst quenchers and imported beer top Hispanic beverages
• A picture (with LBS) is worth a thousand words: Instagram & VinTank
• Global Wine Industry
• That’s your Lot (18)

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Calistoga planners reject hillside resort proposal
• Foie gras lawsuit: Ban upheld, but lawsuit can proceed
• Bluxome Taps Marquez as Winemaker
• Failed winery’s assets to be auctioned online

PUBLIC COMPANIES, INVESTING & AUCTIONS

• Westamerica earnings level in second quarter
• Sotheby’s expert defends provenance policy
• Liv-Ex: U.S. tops Hong Kong at auction in Q2

HEALTH & ALCOHOL REGULATION

• Melatonin in Wine: Potential Positive Health Benefits Found
• Responsible Drinkers Are Happier People, Study Claims
• Bring in French NeoPro Law to curb UK drinking, govt says
• UK Alcohol industry doesn’t deserve ‘brownie points’ for Responsibility
• What if restaurants listed the alcohol percentage of the wine on their wine lists?
• The Phenomenon of Low-Alcohol Wines

MARKETING, SALES & MANAGEMENT

• Finding social media influencers
• How does the wine world operate in Web 2.0?
• Claret or Bordeaux? Branding for the British and How To Mess It Up
• 8 Excellent and Free Online Tools for Businesses and Individuals
• Symphony Convenience Service Reaching 19,000 Store Milestone

MEDIA MATTERS

• Asking questions about social media is not “bashing”
• 5 Rules For Successful Wine Blogging
• 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference As Promotion
• 25 Most Overused Words and Phrases in Press Releases
• Strategies for Effective Facebook Wall Posts (.pdf)
• When Wine Tasting Becomes Hard Work

U.S. REGIONAL WINE NEWS

• MN: Expectations high for state’s wineries
• NY: Reed In News Distro Deal for Upstate
• OK: Let’s modernize state wine sales laws
• WA: Ste. Michelle, Railex In Wine Distro Deal

THE UK

• £52k of stolen wine seized in Edinburgh
• Trade reaction to Health Committee Report
• Connoisseurs say ‘non’ to Champagne as English wines sparkle

OH CANADA!

• B.C. Grapegrowers Urged to Embrace Data

AROUND THE GLOBE

• The French-style Israeli winery which is hitting the (Golan) Heights
• Despite odds, Uruguayan vineyard produces nice wine
• NZ: Elephant Hill Invests Further In The New Zealand Wine Industry
• Argentina researches into the behavior of 12 new grape varieties
• How can India’s Liquor Baron keep his Kingdom?

NOT JUST FOR THE TRADE

• Giant bottle of Chinese wine is 30ft long and weighs three tons
• Musical wine glass launched