The Duckhorn Portfolio, North America’s premier luxury wine company, has selected InnoVint as its winery operating system following a comprehensive evaluation and RFP process. The decision reflects Duckhorn’s focus on modernizing its winemaking operations with a platform and a partner capable of supporting both current complexity and long-term growth. Why The Duckhorn Portfolio Chose InnoVint The Duckhorn Portfolio sought a modern, scalable solution to unify winemaking operations across multiple facilities while maintaining accuracy, compliance, and operational visibility. InnoVint was selected not only for its integrated, production-first platform, but for its deep industry expertise and proven ability to guide complex wineries through system transitions with confidence. “InnoVint stood out as more than a technology provider,” said PJ Alviso, Vice President of Winegrowing at The Duckhorn Portfolio. “During our evaluation of the winemaking software options

Afternoon Brief: Class Action Says Alberstons, Safeway Wine 'Member Price' Sales Are False

A proposed class action lawsuit accuses Albertsons Companies of deceptively employing fake strikethrough reference prices for wine, misleading consumers into thinking they are getting a bargain...

Lula Cellars 2020 Rescue Block Pinot Noir Takes Top Honors November 17, 2023 — Winners have been announced in the 2023 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging, Lula Cellars 2020 Rescue Block Pinot Noir took the top prize. It was also awarded Best Red Wine and Best of Anderson Valley AVA (Mendocino County, Calif.). Coming in at 98 points, judges praised the wine as “rich, ripe” and for its “Bing cherry,” and “hint of orange peel.”  Lula Cellars is a boutique winery located in California’s Anderson Valley. Its focus is on world-class Pinot Noirs both from its estate and across Anderson Valley, as well as other single-vineyard offerings from the greater Mendocino County. When preparing to plant their own vines, Lula owners discovered some-1,000 old vines “literally lying down, as if waiting to be rescued.” Lots of TLC later, these mystery Pinot Noir grapes have thrived. There’s no in

Afternoon Brief, November 16th

The Duckhorn Portfolio Announces an Agreement to Acquire Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards: The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (NYSE: NAPA) (the “Company”) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards (“Sonoma-Cutrer”), one of the largest luxury Chardonnay wineries in the U.S., from Brown-Forman Corporation (“Brown-Forman”), for approximately $400 million to be paid in a combination of Company stock and cash...

Wine on tap programs nationwide are recognized for collectively saving more than 35 million bottles from the landfill with the use of reusable steel kegs to support their wine on tap programs.  Sonoma, CA, July 24, 2023 – Free Flow Wines has announced 20 new winners at the 10th annual KEGGY Awards, recognizing the exceptional impacts these partners have made in reducing waste from the landfill and CO2 emissions. The KEGGY Awards were created in 2014 to recognize winery partners for their commitment to sustainability by choosing reusable stainless-steel kegs - a truly zero-waste package. Each Free Flow keg holds the equivalent of 26 bottles of wine and will eliminate approximately 1,560 bottles from the landfill over its lifetime.  As of today, Free Flow Wines and their partners have saved more than 35 million bottles, or 53 million pounds of waste, from the landfills and the equivalent of over 63 million pounds of CO2 from the atmosphere. Each reusable steel keg will sa

JULY 10, 2023 – Experience Rosé, a wine competition that focuses exclusively on expressions of pink wine — sweet, dry and sparkling — has announced results of the 2023 contest. Taking top prize this year is Sonoma-Cutrer’s 2019 Grand Brut Rosé sparkling wine (99 points). Judges’ praise included: “bursts of flavor”; “crisp pomegranate and strawberry”; and “lingering finish.” In addition to Best of Show, the wine also took honors as Best Domestic Sparkling.  Mercer Estates Small Lot Rosé (99 pts.) was awarded Best Domestic Dry Rosé; judges described the entry’s “lively mouth”; “floral, rose petals”; and “seamless transition from nose to tongue.” Best International Dry Rosé honors went to Taylors Wines Taylor Made Rosé of Pinot Noir (97 pts.). Judges’ notes included: “really balanced”; “nice mid-palate&rdquo

Sonoma-Cutrer Announces Recipients of SommFoundation Scholarships for Aspiring Sommeliers 

WINDSOR, Calif., July 14, 2022 – Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards is proud to announce the seven new recipients of this year’s SommFoundation Scholarship. Sonoma-Cutrer has once again collaborated with SommFoundation to sponsor […]

Las Positas Vineyards’ 2020 Albariño Takes Top Honors February 14, 2022 — The 2022 International Eastern Wine Competition and West Coast Wine Competition match-up has announced Las Positas Vineyards (Livermore Valley, Calif.) 2020 Albariño as the Best of the Best…of the Best. This is the first Albariño to ever win this competition. This two-pronged contest first chooses winners in the separate International Eastern Wine Competition and West Coast Wine Competition (see parameters below), before the top wines from each are pitted against each other in an East Meets West Taste Off. Traditionally grown on the Iberian Peninsula, Albariño is a white grape loved for its rich stone fruit flavors, hint of salinity and zippy acidity. Described by judges as “fruit cocktail, “nicely spiced” and “very balanced with a long pleasing finish,” the Las Positas Albariño met the challenge and bested all-comers. Other Best

Sonoma-Cutrer Announces Recipients of SommFoundation Scholarships for Aspiring Sommeliers 

WINDSOR, Calif., August 24, 2020 – Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards is proud to announce the seven recipients of this year’s SommFoundation Scholarship. Sonoma-Cutrer has partnered with SommFoundation to sponsor scholarships targeted to passionate beverage industry professionals who are seeking to expand their wine knowledge and earn industry certifications.  This year, the recipients of the scholarships include: Derek Baker (Snackbar […]