Groundwater management fees are no longer just a future issue for California winegrowers. Basins in Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, and the Santa Ynez/CMA area already have fee structures tied to groundwater management. In the Napa Valley Subbasin, Recovered Water Solutions, a Winesecrets company, can help wineries and growers identify opportunities to annually save over $60 per acre on local groundwater sustainability fees.  Planted acreage Potential annual savings 250 acres $15,040 500 acres $30,080 1,000 acres $60,160 On this and related water-cost issues, Recovered Water Solutions works with wineries and processors to better understand water use, identify loss points, and develop practical recovery and reuse strategies that improve cost control, efficiency, and long-term resilience. Call or email Eric@winesecrets.com for more information about our water recovery and resuse services. Or visit recwatersolutions.com. Toll Free: (888)

Keynote by Felicity Carter, Founder of Drinks Insider A global tasting and marketing forum where winemakers, sommeliers, and buyers share their insights and hone their tasting skills. Get ready for an unforgettable experience at our most popular wine conversations event! We've just completed the 2026 wine selection process with MS Evan Goldstein, and the 2026 blind wine tasting panel promises to offer a delightful mix of wine discovery and enjoyment. Last year, our event was overbooked, so secure your spot now for the Thirteenth Anniversary of the Annual Wine Conversations: A Global Tasting and Marketing Forum, hosted by DIAM Bouchage and G3 Enterprises. Buellton, CA Santa Ynez Valley Marriott 555 McMurray Road|Buellton, CA 93427 March 3, 2026 • 9:30 am - 12:00 pm Optional Lunch 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Reserve Your Spot Alternate event on March 5, 2026 in Helena, CA.

Domaine Della 2023 Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir Takes Top Prize  November 18, 2025 — Winners have been announced in the 2025 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging, Domaine Della 2023 Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir took the top prize. It was also awarded Best of Show Red Wine and Best of Monterey County AVA. Coming in at 98 points, judges praised the wine as “warm and spicy” with “fig and nutmeg.” Other descriptors included “meaty,” “prosciutto,” and “dried rose petal.”  With entries from across the globe, the Harvest Challenge bases judging on a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions and grapes that combine to give personality to the wine.  In other competitions, this terroir is ignored. At the Harvest Challen

Folded Hills Winery Welcomes Back Renowned Winemaker Angela Osborne to Continue Legacy of Terroir-Driven, Organic Rhône-Style Wines

The pioneering estate winery sets the standard for winemaking excellence in Santa Ynez Valley under new female leadership. Santa Ynez Valley, CA, August

Afternoon Brief, April 9th

Santa Rosa Electric Tractor Maker Solectrac Evicted from 1 Location, Owing $65,000 in Rent: The Sonoma County-based electric tractor company undergoing a major reorganization was evicted from its Santa Rosa location and owes $65,223 in back rent, the property owners say...

Afternoon Brief, April 4th

NBA and Kendall-Jackson Winery Announce Multiyear Partnership: The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Kendall-Jackson Winery today announced a multiyear partnership, making Kendall-Jackson the Official Wine of the NBA and USA Basketball and La Crema the Official Wine of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA)...

Afternoon Brief, February 29th

TTB Listens to Wine Industry: The TTB wants to hear what the industry thinks about label regulations, so Wine-Searcher's US editor had his say...

February 9, 2024 – Novato, CA – The California Department of Food and Agriculture Preliminary Grape Crush Report, containing tons crushed and prices of wine grapes sold during the 2023 harvest, has been released. The Crush Report provides growers and wineries insight into the inventory position of the California wine business as a whole and influences market dynamics for the current bulk wine market and grape market.  The 2023 Crush Report, coming in at a total of 3.6 million tons, fails to capture the full story of the 2023 harvest. The crop would have been considerably larger if not for soft demand and disease pressure that caused some acres to go unharvested. Despite the size of the overall crop, most wineries found themselves with an excess supply amid challenging conditions in consumer sales.  For specific details on 2023 harvest, see below: Key Insights by Region   Tons Crushed 2023 Tons Crushed 2022 Net Gain/Loss Equivalent Gallons

Afternoon Brief, January 4th

Spraying Goodbye to Vineyard Chemicals: Spraying vineyards used to mean heavy doses of toxic chemicals - not any more...

Afternoon Brief, November 21st

Angry French Winemakers Plan Mass Protest in Narbonne: Tension has been running high in southern France and winemakers are planning a major protest in Narbonne later this month over a crisis facing the industry...