Afternoon Brief, January 12th
Labeling Laws Another Challenge for Wine: Wine labeling laws are already in use in the EU. Should US producers be freaking out?...
Afternoon Brief, January 11th
Southern Wine and Spirits Late Fees $5.5 Million Class Action Settlement: Southern Wine and Spirits agreed to pay $5.5 million to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming that it charged higher late fees than allowed by California law...
Afternoon Brief, January 10th
Association Touts Wine’s Many Assets as It Counters Anti-Consumption Push: It is a little more than a year since the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report that sent shivers through the tasting rooms of alcoholic beverage producers internationally...
Afternoon Brief, January 9th
US Alcohol Industry's Worst Year Since 1991: The vast American liquor industry hasn't been in such poor shape for three decades...
Afternoon Brief, January 8th
Napa Valley Robot ‘Sommelier’ Spurs Debate on AI in the Wine Business: “He doesn’t break glasses,” Maria Reznikova said, citing a bonus with hiring her new staffer — a robot “sommelier” that has become quite an attraction for gawkers shopping on Calistoga’s Lincoln Avenue...
Afternoon Brief, January 5th
Trump Return Could See Wine Panic Buying: Trump's re-election could see a return of wine tariffs, leading to more pain for wine lovers and collectors...
Afternoon Brief, January 4th
Spraying Goodbye to Vineyard Chemicals: Spraying vineyards used to mean heavy doses of toxic chemicals - not any more...
Afternoon Brief, January 3rd
U.S. Wine Market Dips 2% By Volume, but Sees First Value Increase Since 2020: With the U.S. wine market facing uncertain economic conditions and increased competitive pressure from other drinks categories, total volume decreased an estimated 2% to 322 million 9-liter cases in 2023, according to Impact Databank...
Afternoon Brief, January 2nd
France Buys Back Bordeaux: China's love affair with Bordeaux properties is ending as more investors bring châteaux back into French hands...
Afternoon Brief, December 29th
What Were Wine's Biggest Deals of 2023?: In uncertain times for wine, stronger players are scooping up small but promising vintners...
Afternoon Brief, December 28th
California Wine Consolidation Ramps Up to Close Out 2023: Consolidation is nothing new for the wine industry, but the pace of change has accelerated in recent years as interest rates have risen, costs of labor and supplies have jumped, and demand for wine has softened...
Afternoon Brief, December 27th
PacifiCorp’s Wildfire Settlements Highlight Winery Lawsuits for 2020 Smoke Losses: Three Willamette Valley courts have just ruled that several Valley wineries may move forward with their suits against PacifiCorp for igniting wildfires that they claim ruined their 2020 harvests and vintages with smoke taint...
Afternoon Brief, December 26th
How AI Has Revolutionized the Wine Industry: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the wine industry marks a significant shift from traditional viticulture and enology practices to a more technologically advanced approach...
Afternoon Brief, December 22nd
California State Controller Weighs in on Napa Winery Dispute: In a letter shared with the drinks business, Malia Cohen, California State Controller, has demanded an explanation from Napa County as to why it is attempting to withdraw the right to hold tastings from three local wineries...
Afternoon Brief, December 21st
Not Much Cheer for Wine Sales This Holiday Season: The post-pandemic slump in wine sales continued into the third quarter of 2023, as consumers remain skittish because of inflation and economic uncertainty. There have not been any clear signs of improvement as we enter the crucial holiday season, as the pace of the decline has been reasonably steady over the past 12 months...
