NEWS FETCH — February 29, 2016

TOP NEWS

• Ridge Vineyards & its labor contractor fined for “deplorable” worker living conditions
• Top U.S. Senator slams EPA in statement about Duarte “plant wheat, go to jail” lawsuit
• French winemakers threaten to block Tour de France after Chilean wine chosen as sponsor
• Owner of top food-and-wine destination in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains dies
• World’s first robot-run farm to open in Japan
• This former winery GM shows you how you can easily get meaningful reporting and compliance information from your business data *Sponsored Link*

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

• Farm Bureau releases economic analysis of TPP
• How did the Big Mac Index become the best measure foreign exchange rates?
• Your ticket to the world of wine! Experience creations from 6,000 exhibitors at ProWein 2016 *Sponsored Link*

WINE SUPPLY

• 2016 Bud Break – Napa Valley growing season begins
• Tassie vineyards to reap reward of dry season
• OZ: Wine grape harvest contractors say harvest is sporadic this year

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Women for WineSense Names New Board of Napa Sonoma Chapter
• Fagiani building sold to Napa winery owner

DROUGHT/WATER

• County board of supervisors to stay neutral on Paso water district vote
• A weak El Niño fails to end water crisis
• Drought leaves Napa’s Lake Berryessa hoping for more ‘glory’ days
• Reservoir and water conditions for February 29, 2016

TRADE SHOWS & CONFERENCES

• Wine Australia prepares for record ProWein attendance
• 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*

DIRECT SHIPPING & PRIVATIZATION

• How to manage cashflow to expand your winery operations, sales and distribution. *Sponsored Link*

PUBLIC COMPANIES

• Amazon enters Britain’s fresh food market with Morrisons deal​
• Vijay Mallya: an unsubtle farewell
• Last week to get your USA Trade Tasting Conference Tickets at Early Bird Price *Sponsored Link*

FINANCE, M&A

• OZ: Southern Highlands’ oldest winery sells for $2m

INVESTING IN WINE, COLLECTING & AUCTIONS

• Assessing futures of European and US wines for customers and buyers
• Liv-ex, Talking Trade: 19th – 25th February

HEALTH

• Drinking culture in Australia is the problem

REGULATION & LEGAL MATTERS

• English wine set to win protected status from the EU just like Champagne and Burgundy
• New effort to speed up wine sales in Tennessee

DATA & TRENDS

• German Pinots thriving ahead of 2016 promotional drive
• Argentina wine trends: what will we be drinking in 2016?

MARKETING & SALES

• Berry Bros & Rudd in promotional drive for Virginia Wines

PACKAGING, LABELS & CORKS

• Why wine bottles are sealed with cork — and why that may not be the best material

MEDIA MATTERS

• Gary Vaynerchuk’s new book taught this reviewer 369 lessons about business

MATTERS OF TASTE

• Does organic wine REALLY taste better?
• Kicking the hell out of Bordeaux 2011
• A ‘rebel winemaker’ says this is the biggest mistake you’re making with your wine
• Global warming more positive than negative for Champagne
• California wines: In pursuit of balance
• Expressing a love of lava

TASTELESS (RETCHING EXCESS)

• Rare Sherry Versos 1891 released at £8,000 per bottle

WINE PEOPLE

• Peter Mondavi Sr. (2013 video interview)
• Jacques Lardière of Resonance
• Q&A: Simon Doyle of Concha y Toro UK
• Coppola Turns his Focus to Wine

WINE PLACES

• Why South African reds deserve a place in the sun
• Domaine Drouhin thrives in Burgundy, Oregon
• Washington’s diverse, delicious Yakima Valley
• Napa Moves North? Climate and Willamette Wine Country
• Yunnan Wine ‘Has A Real Sense Of Place’

WINE TOURISM

• TX: Henderson County businesses seeking to create a destination city for wine lovers

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• Birds of prey slash pest damage at Caliterra by 30%
• Big Vines and Cold Injury Shape Vineyard Management in Virginia

DOWN UNDER

• Paul Evans resigns from Winemakers’ Federation
• Victorian council hopes to lure foreign investment

ASIA & PACIFIC RIM

• 24 tons of ‘substandard’ Chilean wine destroyed in Haicang
• China wine imports data in January 2016
• Xiamen wine imports in January reach record high

OLIVE OIL

• Evoo producers in Italy is troubled by a draft legislative decree in Parliament
• European Union olive oil regulation at the heart of the case for a British EU exit
• Europe Affirms Market Won’t Be Affected by Duty-Free Olive Oil from Tunisia

MARIJUANA

• Merced plans study session on medical cannabis

CRAFT BEVERAGES: BEER, CIDER, WINE & SPIRITS

Get all of today’s craft news at Craft Beverage Insights