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France
- Quality of sauvignon
must be protected, says French professor
While most of us might
find passionfruit, citrus or minerally aromas in wine, Denis Dubourdieu finds 3MH,
4MMPOH or maybe IBMT. The University of Bordeaux professor exposed the scientific
skeleton behind the full body of sauvignon blanc at a workshop in Blenheim yesterday,
as he discussed the specific aromas of Marlborough's flagship variety.
French
winemakers plan day of action
The protesters will assemble in the major winegrowing regions of the country to voice
their discontent over the lack of financial help from the government and 'difficulties'
faced by the industry over the past few years.
Rhône Generic Looks To Segment Wines into
Styles
Inter Rhône, the generic body representing wine producers in the Rhône
valley, is looking to segment its members’ wines for export into one or more of five
marketing categories based on quality and price, to help trade buyers identify the
right wines for their particular needs.
Beaujolais
Nouveau bucks French export fall in US
Sales of Beaujolais Nouveau have bucked the general downward trend of French exports
in the United States and the Far East while in the UK they continue to fall.
Italy
- British
sculptor's commission unveiled in Chianti
Chianti Classico estate Castello di Ama has just opened its latest commissioned artwork,
by acclaimed British sculptor Anish Kapoor.
Heel of the boot stepping up as Italian
wine region
Without realizing it, the average wine drinker probably knows more about Apulia than
any of Italy's 19 other regions.
United States
- Rare, fine European wines freed from bureaucratic
limbo
As of Monday, the Food and Drug Administration no longer requires that all food
and wine imports be accompanied by the producer's registration number. If
importers don't have the number -- as is frequently the case with old and rare
wines -- they may substitute the foreign winery's name and address.
US: OSU network
to aid wine industry
Oregon State University
is creating a Vine and Wine Intelligence Network to offer the state's wineries a
central resource for the latest research on everything from growing grapes to marketing
and consumer research.
Wine Institute
joins Governor Schwarzenegger's trade mission to Japan
Wine Institute President
& CEO Robert P. (Bobby) Koch will join Governor Schwarzenegger on his Trade and
Tourism Mission to Tokyo, November 10-13, to help the governor promote California.
Japan is the third largest market for California wine exports and the largest market
for the state's wine exports in Asia. Revenues to the state's wineries reached
$76 million for Japan in 2003 and are expected to increase.
FedEx ships 630 tons of Beaujolais Nouveau
On Wednesday, FedEx Express began shipping 504,000 bottles of 2004 Beaujolais Nouveau
to Japan for its annual uncorking on Nov. 18.
Mergers reshaping
wine trade
With the Robert Mondavi
Corp. coming under control of the world's largest wine conglomerate, industry experts
predict more California wineries will be swallowed by international giants.
US: Prohibition redux?
The U.S. Supreme Court
will hear arguments next month in a lawsuit that will, if successful, permit American
adults to freely buy beer and wine over the Internet.
US: Special Occupational
Tax on vintners suspended
Vintners received some
good news recently when the federal government announced it was suspending the Special
Occupational Tax, which is levied on all businesses that produce, distribute or sell
alcoholic beverages.
US: Oregon wine grape harvest falls off
SALEM, Ore. - With volumes
half of normal and with isolated incidents of yield loss to disease and birds, this
year's Willamette Valley wine grape harvest is ranking as one of the lowest in recent
history. Oregon's total wine grape tonnage is expected to be far less than the 26,000
tons projected by Oregon Agricultural Statistic's Service in an August survey and
well below 2003's record harvest of 24,000 tons.
US: Michael Mondavi
shares his thoughts on buyout plan
R. Michael Mondavi, one-time
chairman of the Robert Mondavi Corporation and the first member of the Mondavi family
to speak publicly on Constellation Brands' $1.36 billion buyout of the winery, said
the deal will be "good for the employees and the community."
US: Wineries chase
riches in business blends
PHILADELPHIA - Much like
the blended grapes of a sweet zinfandel, winemakers are finding a perfect mix through
mergers. Pressed for wider distribution and a broader variety of labels, wineries
have seen increasing mergers since the 1990s.
US: New law lets wineries hold charity
wine-tastings
ALBANY, N.Y. New York
wineries will be able to conduct as many as five wine-tasting events a year to benefit
charities, under a new law signed by Governor Pataki.
Rain, birds diminish
grape harvest in Willamette Valley
With volumes half of normal
and with isolated incidents of yield loss to disease and birds, this year's Willamette
Valley winegrape harvest is ranking as one of the lowest in recent history.
Canandaigua Wine Leads Wine Industry Innovation
with Vendange Wines in Tetra Prisma Packaging
Canandaigua Wine Company
is continuing to lead the way in innovative wine packaging with the introduction
of Vendange in 500 ml Tetra Prisma(R) containers. Having introduced the first sangria
in Tetra Prisma containers earlier this year, Canandaigua Wine is now the first to
offer varietal wines in the groundbreaking new package.
Clos LaChance Winery Promotes Winemaker
Stephen Tebb
Clos LaChance Winery announced the promotion of winemaker Stephen Tebb to Director
of
Winemaking effective immediately.
Robert Mondavi Reschedules Annual Shareholder
Meeting
The Robert Mondavi Corporation (NASDAQ:MOND) said today that, in light of the definitive
merger agreement it signed last week with Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ),
it has postponed the annual shareholder meeting scheduled for November 30, 2004 and
will amend its proxy statement related to the annual shareholder meeting to include
the addition of a proposal to approve the Constellation merger agreement.
Entrepreneurs
reinvent the family farm
Bill Wilson was 35 when it hit him: He wasn't happy working as a financial planner,
and never would be. So he bought the farm. It was a vineyard, actually. Eighty-six
acres in Temecula, Calif.
Australia
- Winemakers fear water capping impact
Wine companies Southcorp and Hardy's have written to South Australian Liberal leader
Rob Kerin telling him their industry will suffer if legislation to cap water use
in the state's south-east is blocked.
Frost takes toll on wine grape vine damage in Australia's
Clare Valley
The frost hit the region last Wednesday morning and Clare Winegrape Growers Association
chairman Tren Vine says Polish Hill and Hill River Valley vineyards were hardest
hit.
New Zealand
- Five busy days ahead for wine industry
The seal is about to be
broken on five solid days of wine gatherings in Marlborough, with the Screwcap Symposium,
Sauvignon Blanc Workshop and Air New Zealand Wine Awards dinner.
Giesens bring in outsider to help in winery
The Giesen brothers have
brought in an outsider for the first time to help them manage the family wine business.
Jim Veitch is the first outsider to break into the inner sanctum of the South Island
wine business run by Theo, Alex and Marcel Giesen.
Vineyards may blend to save costs
Seddon this week joined
the Unlisted trading platform ? an alternative to the New Zealand Exchange (NZX)
? but secretary Alan O'Sullivan said that could a temporary measure if the merger
went ahead. Shareholders of both companies were aware that a merger was on the table.
NZ winemaker targets Sydney gays
A New Zealand wine company
is targeting the Sydney gay community with a brand labelled Pansy. Sydney gays polish
off an estimated $4.5 million of wine per month ? a fact recognised by Kim Crawford
Wines.
Canada
- Canadian Museum of Civilization explores
history of wine
A new exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Civilization explores the multifaceted
history of wine, including its social customs and mythology stretching back thousands
of years.
Newest Britsh Columbia winery book charts
growth of the grape
No one knows B.C.'s wine country like John Schreiner, whose latest book, The Wineries
of British Columbia (Whitecap, $22.95), is a completely revised version of his 1994
guide.
South Africa
- Buying With a Conscience Helps Reform South
African Vineyards
Survey shows British wine-drinkers
are concerned with social and environmental ethics in producer countries
John Platter South African Wines 2005 launched
The first Platter Guide
was published in 1980. 1981 was skipped for some reason, but after that it was full
steam ahead. In fact there was also an Afrikaans edition published in 1982 - which
I am sure are collectors' items.
Scandanavia
- Fins buy Norwegian wine giant
The Finnish alcohol producer
and importer Altia Corporation is buying the Scandinavian Beverage Group (SBG), the
group that dominates the wine market in Norway.
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