NEWS FETCH — July 12, 2018

TOP NEWS

• Calif bulk wine sales slow, wineries scrambling to clear space for 2018 crush
• Convenience stores are selling more wine than ever
• More reviews = More business: 34% of consumers read 4-6 reviews before trusting you
• Nunes gets more ethics complaints about wine business, financial disclosures
• Low alcohol wine still losing out to mocktails and beer
• Practice safe wine! Use a condom!
• 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)

• Chile sales to China have soared after free trade deal. Will benefit even more from U.S. tariff war
• US Wine industry gets $8.5 Million from USDA, Wine Institute Ranks #1 with $5.6 million
• Winc (Formerly Club W) comes in at #7 In WII’s Winetech funding survey
• 10 Things to Remember When Creating Your own Private Label Brand *Sponsored Link*

WINE SUPPLY & CONSUMPTION

• After Back-to-Back Difficult Vintages, Chile’s 2018 Harvest Brings Relief
• Georgia wine exports in H1 driven by Russian demand
• Inventories tided Rhone Valley over after small 2017 crop

WILDFIRES

• County Fire now at 86 percent containment
• County fire caused by improperly installed electric fencing
• PG&E Customers to Foot the Bill for Wine Country Fire Costs, Under Revised Bill
• Wildfire survivors, local officials decry Sacramento’s moves on wildfire liability

CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

• Cal Poly to Name Center for Wine and Viticulture in Recognition of Two Key Donors
• Duckhorn Vineyards And The Surprising Triumph Of Merlot In Napa Valley
• In wake of Measure C’s defeat, Napa County leaders look for a healing path forward
• Why Restaurants and Retailers Need a Bulk and Private Label Strategy *Sponsored Link*

TAKING THE HIGH ROADS

• Canadian provinces prepare to push pot
• Cannabis Drinks Expo Launched By Beverage Trade Network will bring the global Cannabis drinks industry into one roof. Get more information here. *Sponsored Link*

AMAZON

• Pointy raises $12 million to help brick-and-mortar retailers battle Amazon

DROUGHT/WATER

• Metropolitan Water District again approves delta tunnel funding
• CA: Plans would reduce water diversions in north more than south
• More water for fish: Valley farmers not happy with State Board
• Successful Groundwater Sustainability Planning
• California regulators ignore scientific arguments against water plan

REAL ESTATE – What’s this new section about?

PUBLIC COMPANIES

• Constellation Brands Creates Chief Diversity Officer Position, Appoints Kris Carey to the Role
• Walmart plans further push into grocery delivery in new Jet move

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

• Wine, almonds, milk: How new China tariffs could hurt California farmers
• Fruit and Nut Growers Brace for Tariff Impact
• U.S. May Not Want Free Trade With China, But Uruguay Sure Does

DISTRIBUTORS

• Discover new and exciting products at the 2018 USA Trade Tasting. Get your visitor pass today and avoid $40 gate fee. *Sponsored Link*

INVESTING IN WINE, COLLECTING & AUCTIONS

• Second Wines closing the gap on the Firsts
• Fine wine investment: Tale as old as time
• DRC ‘treasures’ from Drouhin’s cellar to be auctioned
• Dominus 2014 leads US fine wine trade

WINE SELECTION AND RECOMMENDATION

• Neville Blech hopes new app can identify value for money wines

MARKETING & SALES

• Handmaid’s Tale wine launched, then immediately pulled after social media backlash
• Free Training – Connect and Convert Your Winery Website Visitors *Sponsored Link*

PACKAGING, LABELS & CORKS

• The Effects of Wine Bottle Closure Type on Perceived Wine Quality: An Expected Result Plus a Somewhat Surprising One

SOCIAL MEDIA & TECH

• A Guide to Improving Your Winery Website to Sell More Wine *Sponsored Link*

PAYMENTS

• Japanese startup Paidy raises $55M Series C to let people shop online without a credit card

IT: INFORMATION [AND] TECHNOLOGY

• A guide to speaking fluent GDPR

MANAGEMENT & EMPLOYMENT

• Housing now available for H-2A visa holders

MEDIA MATTERS

• Wine Spectator Announces Changes in California Wine Reviewers
• Houston Wine Almanac: a new blog devoted to our city’s vibrant wine scene

MATTERS OF TASTE

• Seeking Truth About the Many Longstanding Wine Myths
• Wanderlust and Natural Wines
• Bubbly Crémant D’Alsace Has More Variety Than You Think

WINE PEOPLE

• Virginia Wine Industry Celebrates Dennis Horton’s Legacy
• Laura Catena’s Malbec Mission
• Dave Phinney of Orin Swift and Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon (podcast)

WINE PLACES

• Guide to Argentina’s Under-the-Radar Wine Country

WINE TOURISM

• WineDirect and Tock Announce Strategic Partnership

FOOD & RESTAURANTS

• Personalized, smart packaging will dominate online grocery shopping by 2025

NORTH AMERICAN REGIONAL WINE NEWS

• Quebec liquor store workers turn wine labels around as pressure tactic

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• SAD story: Sugar disorder causes mid-season grape shrivel
• Stability of SO2: recent observations and practical implications (videos)
• Want to plant a vineyard? Here’s what to know

EUROPE & THE UK

• UK: Nyetimber aims to double exports
• Contamination by infected mice caused Tularemia outbreak at German winery

DOWN UNDER

• Appointments announced to develop Wine Australia’s $2m capability development program

NOT JUST FOR THE TRADE

• Revelations From a Wine Barrel Filled With Renaissance Poo
• Canada: Lake Minnewanka trails, camps closed after bear stomps tent for wine

OLIVE OIL

• Amid trade turmoil, olive industry eyes U.S. market

CRAFT BEVERAGES: BEER, CIDER, WINE & SPIRITS

• The Brewers Association hates big beer but loves big business
• A Former Chef Brings Culinary Innovations to Beer
• Does a Whiskey Brand Need to Do Its Own Distilling?