Wine Duty Drawback: Boosting Exports or Hurting Domestic Growers?

This government trade policy is a double-edged sword By Jeff Siegel Stuart Spencer, a winemaker and the executive director of the Lodi Winegrape

Afternoon Brief, December 13th

Study Reveals More Than Half of Wines Sold on the British High Street Contain Toxic Chemicals: Unsuspecting members of the public could be sipping down toxic chemicals as they enjoy their favorite tipple this Christmas. That's because wines sold on the British high street by the likes of Sainsbury's, Marks and Spencer and Asda contain cancer-causing pesticides, a study shows...

American wineries are looking for ways to capture the attention and hearts of younger consumers. One key to success is to speak to these generations’ core values. For many wineries, that means making wines that are vegan, non-allergenic, organic, or sustainably made and packaged — or all of those things. Whichever combination they choose means changing how they grow grapes, make wines, and prepare and market them. Vineyards spend years revising their farming practices to gain certified organic designations. Winemakers switching to vegan wine must evaluate additives to ensure none were sourced from animals, birds, or fish. Seeking certification for organic, vegan, or sustainable wines demands viticulturists, winemakers, and bottlers to examine and often measure progress in every step of their process. They must consider water and energy usage, carbon footprint, and packaging alternatives like lighter bottles or flat, stackable cartons. They have to ensure workers are treated

Afternoon Brief, August 31st

Sonoma County Supervisors Approve Evacuation Zone Measure for Farmers: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a measure that would establish a new program for farmers to access their property during a wildfire evacuation under limited circumstances, but notably would not allow them to harvest wine grapes...

Join Amorim Cork for their upcoming webinar series, “Winemaking with Intention: Cork’s Role in Creating Sustainable Solutions in Winemaking.” Register: https://bit.ly/amorim-cork-webinar-registration    This three-part journey, starting on Wednesday, June 15, will discuss the nuances of closure sustainability, innovation in the wine industry, and the myriad of choices a winemaker faces during bottling. Host Bruno Almeida will guide the series through the expert lens of an on-premise wine director—because, ultimately, what consumers think matters. He will be accompanied by mavericks and mindful leaders from all walks of wine life: vineyard, cellar, on the floor, and in the classroom.   Sustainability from Vineyard to Bottle Wednesday, June 15th @ 9am PT  What does closing the loop mean for the wine industry? What does it take to truly be a sustainable leader in the wine industry? In this inaugural se

Afternoon Brief, December 10th

Cooper Mountain Vineyards Announces a Major Expansion in the Willamette Valley: Cooper Mountain Vineyards, the first certified biodynamic winery in the Pacific Northwest, is growing where it’s planted with two significant acquisitions in the Willamette Valley...