Afternoon Brief

Sizzling Generosity Results in $14.3 Million Raised During Auction Napa Valley Weekend: The Napa Valley Vintners trade association announced that this year's Auction Napa Valley has raised $14.3 million for children's education and community health nonprofits during a weekend of feverish bidding and Latin-infused fun at the annual celebration of the best of America's leading wine region ...

Treasury Wine Estates Moves to Consolidate Its US Businesses: Following the acquisition of the bulk of Diageo's US and UK wine business for £390 million in October, Treasury Wine Estates announced today it would be restructuring the US business...

North Coast Grape Crop Appears ‘Normal’ in Size at Critical Growth Stage: Winemakers across the North Coast are reporting a relatively normal grape-growing season so far as the crop moves into the crucial stage from flowering to fruit set...

Millennials Lap up 'Brangelina' Effect on Rose: According to Sainsbury's new Rosé Uncorked Report, younger consumers were increasingly opting for lighter-coloured rosé wines which it said had been boosted by the wines styles of celebrity choice ...

Wineries Sold! The Trickle Down Effect: There have been some dramatic acquisitions in the wine business the past several months. Most recently, Jackson Family Wines purchased Copain winery, a highly regarded boutique Sonoma County producer of syrah, pinot noir and chardonnay...

North Coast Marijuana Growers Fear a Takeover by 'Big Alcohol': For the Humboldt farmers, Sonoma County's subterranean tasting rooms and Tuscan affectations offered a glimpse into a rarefied realm of legal intoxicants...

Experts: Smaller 2016 Crop May Increase ‘Buyer Fatigue’ from High Grape, Wine Prices: The consumers' thirst for better-quality wine continues to deepen, but the diminishing North Coast supply of grapes and wine may mean less of the growth in higher-end brands will be coming from the region, market experts told a gathering of industry professionals in Napa on May 25 ...

Liquor Wholesaler and Three Employees Indicted for $9 Million Scheme to Smuggle Liquor from Maryland to New York: Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury indicted Republic National Distribution Company, LLC, and its employees ...

Sea Change Coming to California Winegrape Landscape: If you asked typical American wine consumers where most winegrapes in the U.S. are grown, they would almost certainly say California, as the state produces about 90% of the nation's total...

Baghera Wine Auction Hit by Counterfeit Fears: An auction of nearly 1,500 wines from Burgundy's exclusive Domaine de la Romanée-Conti estate has been overshadowed by concerns raised over the authenticity of a small number of wines sourced for the sale...

Napa Targeting Virtual Wineries?: Some people who own virtual wineries report that the District Attorneys Office has recently been aggressively pursuing them for offering tastings in their homes or businesses without permits ...

Native Plants Reduce Need for Vineyard Water, Pesticide Usage: Scientists in eastern Washington are finding drought-tolerant alternatives to roses at the end of vineyard rows that not only save on water, but increase predators of pests that are harmful to crops ...

Wine Institute Series Offers Tips on How to Sip, Stay and Play in Wine Country SAN FRANCISCO—California’s dozens of scenic wine regions offer an exceptional...

Boxed Wine Aims for the Next Level: Higher-end boxed wines continue to thrive, led by Black Box and Bota Box, which dominate the premium side of the business ...

Border Protection Intercepts New Leafhopper in Wine Shipment: U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialist working at the Houston Seaport intercepted a "First in the Nation" pest, preventing its introduction into the U.S...