In this episode, George sits down with Damien Wilson, Hamel Family Faculty Chair of Wine Business at Sonoma State University. They discuss Damien’s blue-collar roots growing up in Darwin, Australia and how he started drinking “Chateau Cardboard” before being introduced to his first bottle of wine. His hospitality career journey, spanning barista to wine steward, inspired him to pursue four degrees, including a PhD, in wine business. From Adelaide to Burgundy and Sonoma County, Damien’s story is one of resilience and adaptation, including learning French when he moved to France in 2006, humorously admitting he “spoke French like a Spanish cow.” Now a respected expert in the wine industry, he brings humor and authenticity to discussions about wine, culture, and industry trends. Tune in to hear his fascinating insights and experiences!

The MCC team was proud to be recognized at the 44th FINAT label competition, celebrating excellence in label printing worldwide. We celebrate our submission in the Wine category that earned a big win with the following judge’s comments: "This apparently simple label depicts the early days of a bird taking to flight. It also shows a baby bird falling from the nest in an attempt to fly. The single blue background serves to highlight the name of the wine which is outlined in a delightful silver embossed script. The silver/black highlighted images of the birds contrasts nicely with the subdued image of the branch and nest. The whole label has added depth created by the embossing of all the images. Printed digitally in four colours in two passes with the addition of silver hot foiling."                                                       &n

OAK FARM VINEYARDS AND STEELBOUND DISTILLERY TAKE TOP HONORS IN 2024 LOS ANGELES INVITATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS CHALLENGE  MARCH 6, 2024 – Winners have been announced in the third annual Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge. A Barbera from Oak Farm Vineyards in Lodi, Calif., and a Bourbon from Steelbound Brewery & Distillery in Ellicotville, N.Y., topped their fields to be named Best of the Best.  The competition was established in 2022, in conjunction with Los Angeles-based beverage professionals (representing both the on- and off-premise channels), to highlight the best of the best wine and spirits producers in the world, and to introduce those producers to the largest market of consumers in the United States.  Judging took place February 26-28, 2024. Says event producer Debra Del Fiorentino of Wine & Spirits Competitions Management & Production, “The competition grew again this year to attract close to 1,100 entries, and our

Reali Family Vineyard Names Serge Laville Winemaker

Estate vineyard and winery focused on Italian and French varietals to launch first wines in 2025 WALLA WALLA, Wash., March 4, 2024 – Reali Family Vineyard, a Walla Walla Valley […]

Afternoon Brief, February 2nd

Clay Gregory, Former CEO of Visit Napa Valley, President of Jackson Family Wines, and General Manager of Robert Mondavi Winery, Passes at 65: Clay Gregory, an active, influential and well-respected member of the Napa Valley community, passed away peacefully on Feb. 1, 2023...

   WBM’s “Savvy Packaging” Article Describes Exactly  What Global Packaging Is All About  By Erica Harrop             I read with interest the Wine Business Monthly piece in the April issue, “Savvy Packaging Makes Budget-Price Wines Appear a Great Value,” because the points raised precisely describe in important aspect of Global Package’s mission …packaging that’s both exceptional and economical. A prime example is our Elegant Light™ line of bottles: they are lighter weight, thus reducing shipping costs, and come in classic shapes and colors, thus reinforcing a high-quality perception for brands.             Another example is our wide selection of pewter and gold-foil labels, which were mentioned by Affinity Creatives’ Ed Rice in the article: “The value consumer actually appreciates some of these extra design cues …such as gold

Original Post Wine bottles come in a variety of colors; glass is generally available in shades of green, brown, or clear. One may think that as a winemaker you base your color choice on preference, but this is not always the case. Winemakers will consider several factors when choosing between the colors of wine bottles. One balances his or her decision between the best practices in aesthetics (packaging), whether or not you want to showcase the wine color, the desired level of UV protection, and any consumer expectations such as traditional European bottling concepts. The considerations can be summed up as follows: Marketing (design/aesthetics/showcasing wine color) Tradition (European traditional references) Wine Integrity (UV protection of the wine) And/or some balance between marketing, tradition, and wine integrity Traditional European Uses Traditional European bottle shapes and colors play significant roles in the wine industry; in effect, many winemakers base their glass color se