NEWS FETCH – June 2, 2015

TOP NEWS

• 60 Minutes Cal Water Report is Only Half Full
• Drought Is Bearing Fruit for Washington Wineries
• Wine writer for 50 years, George Starke dies
• California agriculture: It’s worth the water
• U.S. Consumer Spending Unchanged in May
• TTB Compliance can be simpler. Here’s how. *Sponsored Link*

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

• New Latin American shipping lanes to arrive at Philadelphia port

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Chatom Vineyards and Winery To Be Sold At Auction June 26
• Public-Pension Potholes in Wine Country Paradise
• Cooling temperatures slow crop development and lengthen bloom for Napa Valley grower
• Proposed Winery Ordinance in Santa Barbara County Released
• SSU Launches Wine Business Case Research Journal
• ‘Flash Rounds’ coming to Auction Napa Valley
• How to still get a taste of Auction Napa Valley
• Renovated Valley of the Moon Winery Opens
• Nicole Carter Appointed CMO For The Hess Collection Winery
• Connect with new wine distributors at USA Trade Tasting. Exhibit now and Save $200. Offer ends 30 June. *Sponsored Link*

DROUGHT/WATER

• North Coast vines need long-term water planning
• Santa Barbara County grower uses combination of techniques to cut water use in half
• How water technology can help farmers survive California’s drought
• CA Senate OKs package of water bills
• Ample supply at Lake Sonoma draws visitors from dwindling reservoirs
• Got a good grip on your bung? Click now to check out our “super grip” bung flash sale *Sponsored Link*

DIRECT SHIPPING & PRIVATIZATION

• What Size Wineries Live & Die By Direct To Consumer Sales?
• How User Choices Can Boost Your Wine Club Membership & Loyalty. Click For A Free Best Practices Webinar *Sponsored Link*

PUBLIC COMPANIES

• Diageo To Shutter Maryland Bottling Site
• Crimson: A Small-Cap Wine Producer Without Any Upside Potential?
• Willamette Valley Vineyards invests in Walla Walla Valley’s SeVein
• Pernod Ricard will focus on consumers to become world’s leading supplier
• Morrisons sales grow for first time since 2013

FINANCE, M&A

• Growing grapes in Burgundy in eastern France keeps getting pricier
• Tools of the Trade: 10 Must Have Documents to Have Ready For Your Distributor *Sponsored Link*

INVESTING IN WINE, COLLECTING & AUCTIONS

• Liv-ex Fine Wine 100 runs flat in May
• Liv-ex: Montrose closes En Primeur 2014 on a high
• Bordeaux 2014: Montrose too far?
• Sotheby’s kick-starts big week for Hong Kong wine auctions

REGULATION & LEGAL MATTERS

• Updated FTC questions about bloggers & endorsements

MARKETING & SALES

• There is a big opportunity for smaller and quirkier brands in the US
• Expand your email reach and drive wine sales
• Ten Top Tasting Room Tips From California Wine Country Veterans
• How Large Distributors Launch A New Brand *Sponsored Link*

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• Balancing a Healthy, Functional Root System During Drought
• Tips for dealing with Black Foot Disease in California’s coastal areas
• Lynch Bages trials tool to monitor wine inside barrels

TRADE SHOWS & CONFERENCES

• The News For Wine Bloggers Is Even Gooder Than Great (WBC15)

SOCIAL MEDIA & TECH

• Brand Reputation v. Customer Service on Social Media
• Popular wine apps may be changing how UK consumers purchase and enjoy wine
• Who is On Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat and Other Networks?

MEDIA MATTERS

• International Wine Tourism Magazine Launches Today
• Wine Economist World Tour Update
• Casting Call to find the next rock-star winemaker is underway

MATTERS OF TASTE

• Winemaker’s choice: When marketing and the perception of exclusivity collide
• The world hates expensive wine
• Interesting wines from the Sierra foothills
• The science and magic of mulled wine
• Filtering wine one way doesn’t mean it’s the only way. Click now to see the alternatives *Sponsored Link*

WINE PEOPLE

• Embracing people into wine: Neil McGuigan
• Q+A with the Winemaker of Killbuck, Ohio
• Lynn Chamberlain Interviews Richard Leahy on “Wine & Dine Radio”

WINE PLACES

• Lodi garners awards for Vineyard, Grower & Winery of the Year
• 8000 vintages of Georgian experience to learn from
• The story behind Presqu’ile Winery
• Theopolis Vineyards to The Rescue
• Hardys: Making wines people want
• Tips for Napa and Sonoma visitors from South Jersey wine snob

NORTH AMERICAN REGIONAL WINE NEWS

• Commercial winery coming to Portales, NM

ACADEMIA

• Industry celebrates Washington State University’s wine science center
• Research at Conrad N. Hilton College in Texas Aims to Reduce Tainted Wine

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

• Adapting to climate change: companies have a role to play

EUROPE & THE UK

• Portugal’s eclectic grape varieties represent a fascinating branding challenge
• Spanish wine tourism trail to open on ancient trading route
• Champagne House Bullies Sentenced
• English Abbey’s Caffeinated Wine Gains Popularity and Scrutiny

DOWN UNDER

• McLaren Vale winemakers unite to create a wine to rival Penfolds Grange
• Polishing Australia’s Wine Reputation
• OZ: Wine row leaves sour taste
• Marlborough hosts first organic and biodynamic wine event

NOT JUST FOR THE TRADE

• Try This Food and Wine Pairing at Home

OLIVE OIL

• UC Davis Olive Center Offers Two Courses for Olive Oil Sensory Evaluation

CRAFT BEVERAGES: BEER, CIDER WINE & SPIRITS

• Scotch Innovator Compass Box Eyes Expansion With New U.S. Sales Unit
• Tanquery Master Distiller Tom Nichol reflects on 42-years in the industry