NEWS FETCH — January 11, 2016

TOP NEWS

• How Wine Discounts Are Like Shooting Yourself In The Foot
• Napa and Sonoma Vintners See a Surge in Vine-Killing Pierce’s Disease
• Increasing tax on alcohol key to reducing consumption, says study
• USDA Says China Slowing U.S. Agriculture Growth
• Customers Left High and Dry as Premier Cru Folds
• Be prepared for the ‘reset of the ag economy’
• Aussie Vintner, Wild Oats XI owner Bob Oatley dead at 87
• How IBM is Bringing Watson to Wine
• Suspect in Expensive Wine Thefts Nabbed in Rhode Island
• The Business of Wine. Accessing key information. *Sponsored Link*

KEEPING AN EYE ON CHINA

• China Rout Threatens to Spawn India Crisis, Top Banker Says
• Shares, oil steady in Europe after China sends Asia sprawling
• China’s yuan spikes higher, but stocks tumble
• Five things the U.S. stock market is worried about after last week’s rout
• Oil Seen Heading to $20 by Morgan Stanley on Dollar Strength

GLOBAL WINE SUPPLY

• Is UK bottling the way forward for bulk wine?
• ProWein 2016 easier to navigate for US buyers – check out “Route USA”! *Sponsored Link*

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Napa Vineyard/Activists: No More Mr Nice Guy
• When did Cabernet Sauvignon arrive in Napa Valley?
• The Surprising Face Of Immigrants In Napa
• Practical Information for wine reps on how to successfully grow sales network in US Market *Sponsored Link*

DROUGHT/WATER

• How will we know when the drought is over?
• Washington fines farm for irrigating too many acres
• Faux Latino grassroots groups; paying subsidence damages
• Water science takes flight: aerial imagery provides new opportunities and insights
• State Water Board to consider adoption of measurement & reporting reg; West Side Irrigation District and Byron-Bethany Irrigation District proceedings consolidated;
• Ducks Unlimited, Restore the Delta react to Governor’s budget proposal

DIRECT SHIPPING & PRIVATIZATION

• FedEx to Begin Shipping in South Dakota
• How to Hire Top-Selling Sommeliers and Drive Your Sales *Sponsored Link*

PUBLIC COMPANIES

• Constellation Ventures Invests in Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
• Premium focus for Diageo in 2016
• Japan’s Ashai ‘in Peroni bid’

INVESTING IN WINE, COLLECTING & AUCTIONS

• Ackerman buys Drouet Frères

HEALTH

• Mexico’s Soda Tax Success
• Last-drink’ laws, not lockouts, reduce alcohol-fuelled violence
• The new drinking guidelines are hyperbolic and puritan
• Don’t let the public health zealots demonise us innocent drinkers
• The new UK alcohol limits are a smokescreen for governmental inaction

REGULATION & LEGAL MATTERS

• Big grocers push to sell wine in Mississippi
• Smashing solution to China’s imitation game
• Food standards body close to finalising labelling review work

WINE SELECTION AND RECOMMENDATION

• How To Discover Hidden Wine Gems At The Corner Liquor Store
• Straight out of France, the D-Vine connected sommelier is like a Keurig for wine

MARKETING & SALES

• Maintain your winery sales momentum in January
• Ad Blocking Will Push Native Advertising Ahead in 2016
• Wine Importers and Distributors, meet the world in NYC and source your next brand at USATT. Get your trade Pass Now and Avoid Gate Fee. *Sponsored Link*

TRADE SHOWS & CONFERENCES

• International Cool Climate Wine Symposium heads to Brighton

MEDIA MATTERS

• Jamie Goode: On writing
• Measure for measure: how much alcohol do Guardian writers drink?
• Books | Karen MacNeil’s new ‘Wine Bible’ includes China section
• New Robinson book a brief guide to wine
• Expand your wine lexicon: ‘Jammy’ and ‘fruit forward’

MATTERS OF TASTE

• What’s The Difference Between A Vertical And A Horizontal Wine Tasting?
• How To Become A Super Wine Smeller [Video]
• Stellar vintage may decouple Bordeaux from China
• Interest in Viognier growing across Pacific Northwest
• Why is Petite Sirah still so obscure, you might wonder?
• A More Suitable Marriage than Cab and Merlot: Nero d’Avola and Frappato
• The Bodeguero’s Table: The Wines of De Lucca, Uruguay
• Jefford on Monday: The organic audit

WINE PEOPLE

• Charles Woodson – a passion for football and wine
• SpeakEasy: Alyssa Vitrano, Grapefriend
• Bulgarian wines have a friend in Robert Hayk

WINE PLACES

• In Israel, Even the Wine Is Political
• Oregon Pinot Noir Delivers an Element of Surprise
• Wine Spotlight: Red Hills AVA Star Hawk and Horse Vineyards
• A Manifesto in favour of Spain’s unique vineyards

WINE TOURISM

• Best wine travel destinations? U.S. earns 3 spots in top 10

NORTH AMERICAN REGIONAL WINE NEWS

• WA growers continue extreme heat and wind trial

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• Grapegrowers could save thousands using mechanical harvesters to prevent disease

EUROPE & THE UK

• The downfall of EU agriculture?
• David Cameron reveals he ‘often’ drinks alcohol after work
• Landlords appeal to regulars: carry on drinking
• Britain’s biggest supermarkets to reveal falling Christmas sales
• What would Britain be without drink?
• Sainsbury’s steps up battle with Aldi and Lidl by doubling Netto trial
• Thousands of Argos jobs at risk if Sainsbury’s deal is struck
• Cité du Vin museum build makes progress
• Trade rallies together in defence of Spanish terroir

ASIA & PACIFIC RIM

• Grape Wall projects | The China Wine Directory

LATIN AMERICA

• Silva challenges Chilean wineries to focus on premiumisation

CRAFT BEVERAGES: BEER, CIDER, WINE & SPIRITS – Today’s Top Headlines

• Interview with RateBeer Executive Director
• Africa maintains pace as fastest growing beer market
• Black Hops turn to crowd funding
• What’s The Deal With Pappy Van Winkle?
• Artisanal Forest Gin wins Virgin Trains first class account
• Archie Rose wins distillery award
• Norwegian spirits firm Arcus develops ‘perfect aquavit’

Get the rest of today’s news at Craft Beverage Insights