NEWS FETCH — March 1, 2018

TOP NEWS

• African Americans are Private-Label Alcohol Growth Drivers (Other Multicultural Consumers Not So Much): Nielsen
• California Cities Sue State, Allege Secret Discussions of Water Project
• These wine label regulation & trademark updates are a must-read (pptx)
• A Calif county legalized marijuana farms. It took their tax money – then voted to ban them
• California Specialty Crop Leaders Condemn Pesticide Ruling
• California has the worst ‘quality of life’ in the US
• Here’s how to avoid costly mistakes by managing your barrel inventory with bar codes – Click now to learn how. *Sponsored Link*

ICYMI (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

• Burgundy caught in Google crackdown on gun searches
• Looking for wines to import into the U.S.? Find international producers on “Route USA” at the ProWein 2018 trade fair. Click to lean more. *Sponsored link*

WINE SUPPLY & CONSUMPTION

• A Look at the Scientific Program at the Upcoming Sonoma Vintage Report
• Save now! — Vinexpo New York: March 5 & 6 – Register to Attend with Wine Industry Insight Discount Code: WII100 & Save $50 *Sponsored Link*

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Wine Business Institute Announces New Members of Board of Directors
• Jed Steele Appoints Kathryn Finn Asst. Winemaker
• Kin of Nagasawa return, bear gifts to charred Fountaingrove
• Napa city planners to take up Foxbow hotel plan in Oxbow District
• ICE detains 6 more people in Napa County, sweep continues in Bay area
• Fundamentals of Modern Wine Chemistry: March 8-9, 2018, Santa Rosa
• Avoiding a June election, Napa supervisors will approve Blakeley Construction near Calistoga
• CA almonds Reach 1 Million Bearing Acres
• Grow Your Distribution with USATT This May. Only Few Spots Left. Become an Exhibitor By Feb 28 and Save $200 + Get 2 Day ABID Conference Ticket Included *Sponsored Link*

CA WILDFIRES

• Safeway Open golf tournament will donate ticket sales to Napa fire relief
• We should all be worried about the 1.5% who leave North Bay after fires
• SoCal Edison Loses Opening Round in Thomas Fire Litigation

TRADE SHOWS & CONFERENCES

• Top-Notch Ancillary Program at ProWein 2018
• ProWein offers matchmaking app for exhibitors and visitors
• ProWine Asia set to raise the bar in its second run this year
• Buyers hunt for mainstream alternatives at SITT
• Underdog Varieties – Wines that deserve a second chance *Sponsored link*

TAKING THE HIGH ROADS

• Big Moon Sky — Going Green: A Journey from Wine to Weed
• Santa Barbara Cannabis Growers Hold the Most Temporary Licenses in the State
• Spreading Legalization And Investor Appetite Could Ignite Cannabis M&A
• Nasdaq gets first cannabis listing as Cronos joins exchange
• Cannabis Drinks Expo Launched By Beverage Trade Network will bring the global Cannabis drinks industry into one roof. Get more information here. *Sponsored Link*

DROUGHT/WATER

• UC Davis study warns salmon headed for extinction

CONSUMER SALES: DTC, ON- & OFF-PREMISE

• Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping: 5 Key Monthly and Seasonal Trends
• The Challenges–and Thrills–of Selling Spätburgunder
• Online marketing training for wineries launches with social media strategy course *Sponsored link*

REAL ESTATE – What’s this new section about?

PUBLIC COMPANIES

• AB InBev sees strong 2018 growth after Brazil rebound, loses market share in US

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

• Farm leaders say NAFTA succeeds for state, Canada

DISTRIBUTORS

• Acumen Announces Partnership with Authentic Wine Selections
• Looking to grow your distribution in the US? Here is how USATT can help!*Sponsored Link*

INVESTING IN WINE, COLLECTING & AUCTIONS

• Sotheby’s opener brings in US$2M

DATA & TRENDS

• Wine Intelligence Global Wine launches Brand Power Index

HEALTH

• Research Looks at Wine’s Benefits for the Heart and Mind

REGULATION & LEGAL MATTERS

• My customer accepts (under protest) or rejects my shipment, but won’t secure an inspection. What next?

WINE SELECTION AND RECOMMENDATION

• Do Wine Competition Medals Impact The Price Of Your Wine?
• Mood Swings For Wine Lovers
• A Different Look At Wine Pairings With Master Of Wine Tim Hanni (part 1)
• Why Genetics May Be The Reason You Hate Cilantro (Hanni interview, Part 2)

MARKETING & SALES

• ‘I have to sell beer, not sell a meme’: Miller Lite eviscerates Bud Light’s viral ‘Dilly Dilly’ campaign
• A guide to making your winery’s social media easier and more professional *Sponsored link*

PACKAGING, LABELS & CORKS

• The Bodyguard of Wine: Cork Is More Than a Closure
• Wine in a bag: Everything you need to know about London’s new drinking trend

SOCIAL MEDIA & TECH

• Instagram tips for wine producers
• How to Encourage Customer Advocacy on Social Media
• Facebook Is Testing a Feature That Automatically Creates Events for Page Admins
• Mass Messages From Small Businesses on Messenger Are One Step Closer to Reality

MANAGEMENT & EMPLOYMENT

• A Revised H-2C Is Now Part of House Immigration Bill

MATTERS OF TASTE

• The Rise Of Yeast: How Civilization Was Shaped By Sugar Fungi
• Have We Taken the “Less Is More” Wine Aesthetic Too Far?
• Why You Should (Mostly) Ignore Vintage Charts
• For many winemakers, concrete is the best of both worlds
• Aveine is a Smart Aerator that Fits on a Wine Bottle

WINE PEOPLE

• Archie McLaren, 1943-2018, leaves a legacy of love for the Central Coast’s wine country
• Top female entrepreneur winning over the wine industry
• Amy Bess Cook: Champion Of Sonoma’s Women-Led Wineries
• Women Who Crush & Progressive Pinot
• Interview with Almaviva’s Francisco Zilleruelo

WINE TOURISM

• Don’t Waste Your Valuable Time Shopping For Wine On Vacation

NORTH AMERICAN REGIONAL WINE NEWS

• Yeast research aims to reduce stress for New York wineries
• TX: Elaine Turner Celebrates Women and Wine with a New Partnership

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• Electromagnetic Soil Scanner

DOWN UNDER

• OZ: Minimum price on alcohol in the NT will likely reduce harm

SOUTH AFRICA

• Turning hops into South Africa’s ‘next wine’

NOT JUST FOR THE TRADE

• John Cleese puts wine snobs in their place

CRAFT BEVERAGES: BEER, CIDER, WINE & SPIRITS

• Speaking at Spirited conference, North Coast vintner says $150 for a bottle of vodka is worth it
• The biggest challenge facing craft breweries is increasingly other craft breweries
• NY: Governor Cuomo Encourages Craft Beverage Manufacturers to Take Advantage of the Combined Craft Manufacturing License
• Hard Cider Sales Slip Then Rebound
• Heineken opens $500m Mexico brewery
• New England IPA’s Secret Ingredient Is Instagram
• First Pennsylvania Beer Marketing Board grants approved