Afternoon Brief

North Coast winegrape harvest early, lighter, dodges problems: Thanks to an early start to the 2014 North Coast winegrape season and moderate temperatures with serious weather issues in between, harvest started and wrapped early throughout the region...

California aquifers contaminated with billions of gallons of fracking wastewater: Industry illegally injected about 3 billion gallons of fracking wastewater into central California drinking-water and farm-irrigation aquifers, the state found after the US Environmental Protection Agency ordered a review of possible contamination...

Napa Valley Grapegrowers expect to wrap up another successful harvest next week: Though this harvest is expected to be a little smaller than 2013, it will have a similar quality profile. The warm season translated into early bud break and harvest, could in turn translate into great quality wines, because it allows the winemakers flexibility in choosing when to harvest to get the flavor profile and acidity theyre looking for without fear of rain...

TTB Establishes 11 New Viticultural Areas Within the Paso Robles Viticultural Area: On Thursday, October 9, 2014, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau will publish a final rule in Federal Register establishing 11 new American viticultural areas within the existing Paso Robles viticultural area in San Luis Obispo County, California...

Robert L. Hall, owner of Robert Hall Winery, dies at 85: The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance reported today that Robert L. Hall, owner of Robert Hall Winery, passed away peacefully at his home Saturday at the age of 85 from complications related to an extended illness...

Ancient Grape ‘Solution’ to Climate Change: Wine cooperative Plaimont may have found a solution to a demand for less alcoholic reds from hot wine regions - an ancient grape currently known as Pedebernade 5...

Harvey Posert Jr., the Man Behind Robert Mondavi’s Message, Dies at 84: Harvey Posert Jr., a career professional in public relations who was one of the leading figures behind the scenes in California wine's success over the past 40 years, died early on Oct. 3 at St. Helena Hospital...

Winery Worker Killed in Vineyard Accident: A French winery worker has died after being run over by a harvesting machine. The 54 year-old male died instantly yesterday morning at Le Flaudrie in the municipality of Réparsac in Frances south-west...

America's Thirst for Wine Insatiable, Despite Rise of Cocktails, Craft Beer: Wine industry executives are worried about the growing interest in craft beer and spirits from America's 20- and 30-somethings...

Woman dies falling into vat of wine after being overcome by fumes: Wine specialist Nerea Pérez is believed to have lost her balance while watching the fermenting process...

Wineries See Challenges and Opportunities in Expanding Market for Beer, Cider, and Distilled Spirits: A recent article in the business section of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat has depicted the California wine industry wringing its hands over the defection of millennial drinkers into the alluring fields of craft beer, hard cider and fancy cocktails...

Treasury Wine fields two takeover offers: According to the Australian Financial Review KKR and TPG have each submitted an offer for the owner of Penfolds and other brands, after completing due diligence this week, according to the paper...

Oregon winery uses legal loophole to be listed as a Washington Wine: Not all in the Walla Walla Valley is as peaceful as it appears. It turns out there's a giant loophole in the law that Oregon wineries are able to exploit to market themselves as Washington wines...

When Cigarettes Cost More, People Drink Less. Except for Wine: For those who count Don Draper among their TV loves (or love-to-hates), it comes as no surprise that drinking and smoking go hand in hand...

Harvest Fair winning wines revealed - mostly: The winners of the Sonoma County Harvest Fair Wine Competition were revealed Sunday, but the top three wines the sweepstakes winners have yet to be unveiled...