NEWS FETCH – December 10, 2014

TOP NEWS

• Alcohol industry’s influence on policy must be curtailed
• US: Economic Confidence Index Remains Solid
• OZ: Hail storm wreaks havoc on Hunter vineyards
• 2/3 of younger US wine drinkers mix wine with fruit juice
• Starting The World’s Largest Wine Brand
• Starbucks Details Alcohol Sales Expansion
• Save time and money – order ProWein 2015 tickets online at reduced rates! *Sponsored Link*

HARVEST 2014/GLOBAL WINE SUPPLY

• Syrah Growing In Global Importance
• Aussie winemakers battle storms
• Global Vineyard Shrinks and Diversity Lessens
• Take control of your wine costing and set your prices with confidence *Sponsored Link*

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Auction Napa Valley Funding Assists More Than 90,000 Napa County Residents
• Lodi wine production plant, new storage space to be discussed
• A world-class wine collection at the UC Davis Library
• New environmentalism needed for California water

DROUGHT/WATER

• Farmers must engage in new groundwater plans
• Winter Season Preview: Is the Delta ready?
• Some Communities Trucking In Water

DROUGHT LEGISLATION

• Brown administration opposes GOP water bill
• House bill brings new attention to drought issues
• NorCal Congress members vote against drought act
• House-passed drought bill likely to sink in the Senate
• Debate over drought relief bill rekindles old disputes

DIRECT SHIPPING

• Rerouting or Rescheduling Wine Shipments Just Got Easier
• Grow Direct To Consumer Sales *Sponsored Link*

PUBLIC COMPANIES

• Codorniu continues search for UK chief
• Tesco credit rating in further jeopardy following profit warning

FINANCE, M&A

• Philglas & Swiggot wine merchant bought by industry consortium
• Owner of Château Haut-Bailly has taken over Pessac-Léognan’s Château Le Pape
• Two Vineyards For Sale In Paso Robles *Sponsored Link*
• NZ: Villa Maria winery on the edge of Hastings For Sale *Sponsored Link*

INVESTING IN WINE, COLLECTING & AUCTIONS

• Cult Californian wines selling at auction as art rather than wine
• Petrus 1961 Magnums Lead Sotheby’s NY Auction
• Liv-ex: Value of trades drops 19% in November 2014

HEALTH

• Low alcohol wines could pave way for healthier future
• Wine is good for the gut

REGULATION & LEGAL MATTERS

• Maker’s Mark sued over ‘handmade’ claim
• Update on 2015 BC Wholesale Wine Pricing
• More on Jamieson Ranch and Pernod Ricard Trademark Lawsuit
• Comcast sued for turning home Wi-Fi routers into public hotspots

MARKETING & SALES

• Media/Advertiser Collaboration Improves Ad Performance

WINE CHOICE & RECOMMENDATION

• Can Delectable Revolutionize Wine Drinking?

SOCIAL MEDIA & TECH

• Use Social Media To Attract Millennial Buyers
• What Facebook’s search feature means for brands, publishers
• Restaurant Caught Trying To Barter Clam Chowder For Perfect Yelp Reviews

MEDIA MATTERS

• Sneak preview of Documentary Film: Vintage 2014
• Top 10 wine books for Christmas

MESSING WITH YOUR SENSE OF TASTE

• A change in colour and sound can immediately affect the taste of wine
• The color of your coffee mug can change the way your coffee tastes
• Can sound waves actually make wine taste better?

MATTERS OF TASTE

• The Wall Street Journal Disses Zinfandel
• Gwinllan makes a statement in the Sierra foothills
• Italian Wine Equals Great Romance
• 5 Things You’ll Learn About Wine Tasting from Anthony Giglio
• The other side of Sicily produces lighter, more fragrant wines

FOR REDS THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE FLAVOR CUT

• 3 Mulled Wine Recipes

REGIONAL WINE NEWS

• Fracking Concerns Heat Up in NY
• Beer, Wine Distributors Major Contributors to Montana Economy

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• The Use of Gases to Protect Wines

EUROPE & THE UK

• Russia bans 3,000 litres of imported wine
• UK: Alcohol wholesaler registration scheme to come into force
• UK: Small business issues (inc. wine) are high on the political agenda
• Vodka Politics: Alcohol, Autocracy, and the Secret History of the Russian State*Sponsored Link*

DOWN UNDER

• OZ: Winemaking degree at Margaret River campus scrapped by Curtin University

OLIVE OIL

• European Parliamentary Research Service in Olive oil sector
• New EU Labeling Laws Just in Time for Olive Oil’s ‘Black Year’
• Olive Farmers in Tunisia Lament Price Drop Despite Climb in Oil Prices