In this interview, George Christie speaks with Adolfo Rebughini, General Manager of Veronafiere S.p.A., about the upcoming Vinitaly.USA event on October 5-6, 2025, at Chicago's Navy Pier. This third edition will showcase Italian wine excellence to the American market, featuring top-tier producers like Antinori, Frescobaldi, and Ferrari, plus the prestigious announcement of OperaWine 2026 participants selected by Wine Spectator. The event expects 3,000-3,500 B2B professionals and includes educational components like business forums and masterclasses. Adolfo discusses broader industry challenges, particularly engaging younger consumers, but remains optimistic about innovation opportunities including low- and no-alcohol wines. He emphasizes Italy's unique grape variety diversity and the importance of combining tradition with modernization through education and storytelling. The conversation positions Vinitaly.USA as both a showcase for Italian wine excellence and a forward-think

More Than 220,000 Acres in California are Enrolled in FFF Program  NAPA, Calif. (November 25, 2024) – Thirty-two winegrape growers and wineries from Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties have been recognized with the Founders’ Award from the Fish Friendly Farming Certification program for achieving and maintaining certification for more than 20 years. In 1999, the Fish Friendly Farming Certification program was created to protect and enhance the Russian River watershed in Sonoma County. Soon, it was expanded with a specific program tailored for Napa County and other regions. Today, more than 220,000 acres located in thirteen counties in California are enrolled in the innovative program that improves water quality and wildlife habitat. “The Fish Friendly Farming certification has become very popular among winegrowers as a sustainable certification program because it is highly effective in improving water quality and restoring fish and wildlife habitat,&rd

Afternoon Brief, July 25th

Alexandre de Lur Saluces, Longtime Proprietor at Bordeaux’s Château d’Yquem, Dies at 89: The aristocrat was a global ambassador for the Sauternes icon, then waged a bitter battle to prevent LVMH’s takeover...

Afternoon Brief, June 19th

Politicians Are Quietly Creating a New Route for Restaurants to Sell Wine: Working Lunch: It's an often-overlooked channel with plenty of room for growth, according to a lobbyist in the trenches...

Afternoon Brief, February 21st

Alpha Omega Collective Wineries Merge, Unveil New Napa and Paso Robles Tasting Rooms: Alpha Omega winery in Napa Valley, Tolosa winery in the San Luis Obispo Coast and Perinet winery in Spain’s Priorat announced their official merger today, strengthening the three brands to formally create the Alpha Omega Collective...

Afternoon Brief, November 30th

California Wines Pour Jobs and Dollars into Economy: The California wine and winegrape sector and allied businesses deliver a total economic contribution of $73 billion annually to the state’s economy and $170.5 billion annually to the U.S. economy, according to a new report commissioned by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG)...