Laura Ness, Author at Wine Industry Advisor

Author Archive:

Laura Ness

Laura Ness is a longtime wine journalist and wine judge who enjoys telling tales of winemakers, winegrowers and wines. Each bottle of wine has a story to tell, and becomes part of the story of those who consume it. For over 20 years, she has written regularly for a variety of industry and consumer publications. Every purse she owns contains a corkscrew.

Featured Viticulture Wine Industry Articles

Growing Pains: Winemakers Reflect on a Changing Climate

March 31, 2023

As temperatures creep up (or down), winemakers make plans and prepare for what’s to come. By Laura Ness How is climate change impacting grape growing in the United States? It’s complicated. Some areas...

Warren Winiarski Head Shot--credit Bob McClenahan (1)

Wine Industry Articles Winemaking

Wine’s Most Inspiring People 2023: Warren Winiarski — Viticulturist, Preservationist, Philanthropist

January 20, 2023

By Laura Ness It’s hard to imagine what the wine world would be like if not for Warren Winiarski, the visionary who saw something special in an old prune orchard in Napa, which he converted to a vineyard...

Cannabis Sales & Marketing Wine Business Wine Industry Articles

Wine’s Most Inspiring People 2023: Terry Wheatley — Cowgirl Grit & Wine Sisterhood

January 18, 2023

By Laura Ness Terry Wheatley, Vintage Wine Estates You have to admire the gumption of a newly married, fresh out of college woman, who tells her rodeo cowboy husband as he’s leaving on yet another...

Elk Prairie Vineyard (Photo Credit: Adam Decker)

Featured Viticulture Wine Industry Articles Winemaking

Heritage Clones & Selections of Pinot Noir: Oddballs in the Modern World

September 12, 2022

It’s those heritage clones: 2A/ Wädenswil, Calera, Pommard, Martini, Mount Eden, and Swan that fascinate true Pinot lovers, as they have rich stories to tell. By Laura Ness Pinot Noir in the mainstream...

Featured Wine Industry Articles Winemaking

Michel Rolland: Lessons from a Master

August 1, 2022

One of the original “flying winemakers,” Michel Rolland shares his thoughts on topics as wide-ranging as hot wines from France, the worldwide impact of climate change on grape growing, and what Americans...

Featured Hospitality Wine Industry Articles

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines: 50 Years as Champions of the Imposter Grape, Valdiguié

May 26, 2022

Back in 1972, Jerry Lohr and his young family planted vines in the Arroyo Seco region of Monterey County, Calif. Among them were Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and (something he thought was) Gamay Noir. ...

Featured Sales & Marketing Wine Industry Articles Winemaking

Wines You Should Not Pass Over This Year

April 14, 2022

Kosher wines have come a long way in the U.S.. By Laura Ness Passover begins at sundown on April 15 and lasts 8 days. The highlight is the Seder, two nights of tradition and storytelling, accompanied...

Sales & Marketing Wine Industry Articles Winemaking

Kosher Wines to Try

April 14, 2022

Tempt your Passover palate with these delicious offerings By Laura Ness 2020 Rimapere Baron Edmond de Rothschild Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, 13% This beauty screams Kiwi! It’s classic...

Industry News Releases

Something Old, Something New: 42nd Annual Mendocino Wine Competition Awards

August 12, 2021

Mendocino County is a big place. And yet, it’s a very small community. Despite the tremendous increase in vines planted throughout the AVA in the last 20 years (now almost 17,500 acres, with 2500 of those...

Featured Wine Industry Articles

Going Lo and No: Is This a Sustainable Trend?

May 26, 2021

Much has been written about the burgeoning trend towards “better for you” beverages in the wine space. It’s definitely a thing. But, is it a sustainable thing?...