Wines & Vines back issues from February 2005:
"What year did the laws change?".(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Editor: Great article. (The End Of Cabernet by Dan Berger, Nov. 2004.) What year did the laws change allowing the addition of large (unlimited?) amounts of [H.sub.2]O to the grapes and/or wine? I suspect that helped push this overripe trend. If you know, please tell me. ...
"Embracing balance over sheer power....".(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
Feb 01, 2005; ... Editor: I happily read (Catherine Fallis') recent article (Opinion/Analysis, High Rollers Not Fit For The Table, December 2004). Being a small, regional winegrower making regionally true wines, I appreciate your sentiments regarding what I see as ...
"Too bad more Americans don't want subtlety and nuance.".(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
Feb 01, 2005; ... Editor: I found it so refreshing to read the opinion piece in the December 2004 issue (High Rollers Not Fit For The Table by Catherine Fallis). At last, someone who is willing to stand up in print for the balanced wines that serve as an enhancement to a relaxing meal. At Seven ...
"You all are doing an outstanding job....".(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
Feb 01, 2005; ... Editor: I've been a subscriber for many years, and have often meant to get a note of thanks and congratulations off to you and your team at Wines & Vines. You all are doing an outstanding job of keeping all of us up to speed on the most interesting, important and timely topics ...
Book releases: Champagne in volume.
Feb 01, 2005 ... Princeton University Press released UNCORKED: the Science of Champagne, by physicist and Moet & Chandon consultant Gerard Liger-Belair. Lively prose explaining the ...
Vintage thoughts.
Feb 01, 2005; ... A plan that would allow a great deal of California wine to carry a vintage date with only 85% of the wine in the bottle from a specific vintage has now received the backing of Wine Institute. The existing 95% requirement would apply only if a wine were from a specific American Viticultural ...
Diageo wins Chalone.(news this month: february 2005)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Just as it appeared that the Chalone Wine Group would be sold to Domaines Barons de Rothschild (DBR), the Napa-based producer announced that it had accepted an offer from Diageo, the world's largest spirits company. Diageo, based in England, offered $14.25 per share for a total of $260 ...
Adler Fels winery sold.(news this month: february 2005)(Adams Wine Group )(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... The Adams Wine Group has bought the Sonoma County winery, 60 acres of vineyards and the winery's private label business for an undisclosed sum, believed to be well in excess of $10 million. John Ott was named president and general manager of the winery. Adams Wine Group includes ...
Shareholders OK Mondavi deal.(news this month: february 2005)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Mondavi shareholders, meeting in San Francisco in mid-December, overwhelmingly approved the $1.36 billion buyout of Robert Mondavi Corp. by Constellation Brands. No members of the Mondavi family were present. Following the vote, Constellation Brands chairman and CEO Richard ...
Ken Volk gets a piece of Mondavi.(news this month: february 2005)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Ken Volk, the founder of Wild Horse Winery on the Central Coast, has bought the original Byron Winery from the Robert Mondavi Corp. for $2.3 million, according to a report in the Napa News. The deal does not include the newer Byron facility, also ...
VinQuest 2005 needs your input on direct sales.(news this month: february 2005)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Vinquest 2005, the California wine consulting firm, is conducting a survey regarding direct wine sales to consumers. When complete, it will reveal the size and growth of the U.S. consumer direct wine sales channel, best practices of leading consumer direct wineries nationwide ...
Buono is Old Bridge president.(People)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Old Bridge Cellars (OBC) appointed Rob Buono as president. OBC is an importer focused on ...
Mendocino Wine Co. has a new VP.(People)(Vice President)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... David Simpson was appointed vice president of national sales at the ...
Morris honored for vineyard mechanization.(People)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Dr. Justin Morris of the University of Arkansas received a Distinguished Alumni Award for his research on vineyard ...
Terrien is Hanzell winemaker.(People)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Hanzell Vineyards, Sonoma, named Michael Terrien winemaker. Previously, ...
Dutzi joined Gallo Sonoma.(People)(Gallo of Sonoma Winery )(Appointments)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Alexandra Dutzi was named Chardonnay winemaker at Gallo ...
Gill returns to Premium Port Wines.(People)(Premium Port Wines inc.)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Dixie Gill was named director of marketing and communications at Premium Port Wines (PPW), the U.S. importer ...
Giguiere retired from R.H. Phillips.(People)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Lane Giguiere, Vincor USA public relations director and R.H. Phillips Winery co-founder and hospitality director, retired in November. The company she founded with ...
Two appointments at Ladera.(People)(Ladera Vineyards)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Ladera Vineyards, Angwin, Napa Valley, named Brenda Bullington director of sales and marketing ....
Personnel changes at Sokol Blosser.(People)(Appointments and Promotions)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Alison Sokol Blosser Spoljaric joined Sokol Blosser Winery as director of marketing. She joins her mother and brother at the winery. Scott ...
NVG hires event coordinator.(People)(Appointments)( Napa Valley Grapegrowers )(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) appointed Jill Durfee as ...
Devin Derby killed in car accident.(People)(Obituary)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Devin Derby, manager and co-winemaker at Spring Valley Vineyard in Walla Walla, Wash., died at a Seattle hospital Dec. 13, the result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident Nov. 28. He was 47. He is survived by his wife and co-winemaker Mary ...
William Dickerson died in tsunami.(People)(Obituary)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Dr. William Dickerson, 76, a Marin County psychiatrist and Napa Valley grapegrower, among the victims of the South Asian tsunami, and his wife, Jane, was listed among the missing. The Dickersons were on vacation at a beach resort in Phuket, Thailand, and were swept away when the 30-foot ...
Gamajet and Western Square team for barrel washing.(Suppliers)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Gamajet Cleaning Systems, Inc., Devault, Pa., and Western Square Industries, Stockton, Calif., joined forces to introduce a new barrel washing system. It utilizes the Gamajet HD ...
Addition to Cork Supply sales team.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Cork Supply USA/Newpak USA, Benicia, Calif., hired Craig Hawkyard, who handles sales to North Coast wineries. Cork Supply/Newpak provides ...
Nomacorc introduces bartop closure.(Suppliers)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Nomacorc, LLC, Zebulon N.C., has added a polymer-based bartop bottle closure fabricated with a proprietary co-extrusion process, ...
Sunridge buys Caldwell.(Suppliers)(Caldwell Nurseries Inc.)(Sunridge Nurseries Inc.)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Sunridge Nurseries, Inc., Bakersfield, Calif., purchased Caldwell Nurseries, Inc., Napa. The acquisition includes all inventory, existing contracts, vineyard leases ...
Vintage spec crop sets record.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Vintage Nurseries, Wasco, Calif., has produced a record-setting 2005 speculation crop. North America's largest grower of dormant field-grown benchgrafts, Vintage has made speculation growing available for clients ...
Ben Franklin hires production manager.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Ben Franklin Press & Label Co. appointed Matt Schwanebeck as production manager at its new facility, 480 ...
Global Wine Partners creates wine investment house.(Suppliers)(International Wine Investment Fund)(Berren Asset Management)(International Wine Investments Limited )(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Global Wine Partners LLC, Napa Valley, is merging with International Wine Investment Fund, and Berren Asset Management, both of Sydney, Australia, to create the first ...
Radoux has new VP.(Suppliers)(Vice President)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Tonnellerie Radoux USA, Santa Rosa, Calif., named Norm Leighty vice president of sales and marketing, with additional responsibility for ...
Krones names regional sales manager.(Suppliers)(West Coast wineries)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Ingo Kirsten was named regional sales manager for West Coast wineries by ...
Signature to handle Sunset wine club.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Signature Wines, Hayward, Calif., will partner with Sunset Magazine in creating and managing the Sunset Wine Club. Signature will handle Web site management, member acquisition, customer ...
Proptec launches Web site.(Suppliers)(Ledebuhr Industries)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Proptec Sprayers, manufactured by Ledebuhr Industries, has an improved Web site, proptec.com. Ledebuhr ...
Herb Barber & Sons has organic flavorings.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Herb Barber & Sons, Westfield, N.Y., is exclusive sales agent for Leap of Faith Farms of Panama, offering 100% pure aged organic Noni juice and Borojo juice as well as ...
Penn-Wheeling has new screwcap.(Suppliers)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Penn-Wheeling Closure, Glen Dale W.Va., introduced its VIN-GUARD screwcap for wine bottles. The ...
Arrive Alive offers disposable breathalyzers.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... The individually packaged, ISO certified breath testers are used by more than 75 police departments, the makers claim. They are ...
Alfa Laval published brochure for wine industry.(Suppliers)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Alfa Laval, Inc., Richmond, Va., released a new brochure featuring its Foodec decanter centrifuges for ...
Ziemer joins Barrel Associates.(Suppliers)(Barrel Associates International)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Barrel Associates International, exclusive agents for Tonnellerie Dargaud & Jaegle French oak ...
Spectrum Technologies has affordable frost protection.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Spectrum Technologies, Inc., Plainfield, Ill., has priced its WatchDog Frost Alert at $149. Powered by a 6v battery, ...
Another new pump from Moyno.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Moyno, Inc., Springfield, Ohio, introduced its Moyno 2000 CC close-coupled pump, ideal for ...
Chr. Hansen developed blended yeast products.(Suppliers)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Chr. Hansen, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., has a new concept of blended yeast products for winemaking, offering controlled fermentation with the ...
CAWG seeks participants for industry events.(Events)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) would like industry members to attend two important advocacy events. Winegrape Day in the Capital has expanded ...
Fresno State released Nouveau.(Events)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... The viticulture and enology department at California State University, Fresno, released Le Vin Nouveau Nov. 18 at a tasting and food pairing demonstration led by chef Frederick Clabaugh and university ...
Taittinger and Domaine Carneros fund scholarship.(Events)(Champagne Taittinger and Domaine Carneros)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Champagne Taittinger and Domaine Carneros have funded two scholarships for women who wish to study winemaking, wine studies or related culinary arts at UC Davis or the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) ...
Manfreda will head TTB.(government)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... John Manfreda was named administrator of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and ...
Bush signs reciprocity law.(government)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... President Bush signed into law a bill obliging TTB to require certification of imported wines from ...
CSWA receives environmental award.(government)(California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) received one of the 2004 Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards (GEELA) presented in December by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the category ...
Mooove over, wine.(Wise & Otherwise)
Feb 01, 2005; ... I stumbled on a fantastic wine the other night while having dinner with friends at Chez Panisse, in Berkeley--the 2002 Le Haut Lieu Vouvray (Sec). It was absolutely delicious--aromatic and crisp with lemon and green apple flavors. (If you can find it in your area, grab a few bottles as ...
Sideways selections.(Wise & Otherwise)
Feb 01, 2005; ... You're probably already sick of hearing about the movie "Sideways"--I know I am--but I thought this was worth a mention. As a tribute to the wine-laden film, a Chicago restaurant (Boka, in case you're ...
Too much value?(Wise & Otherwise)
Feb 01, 2005; ... In the Jan. 6 wine section of the San Francisco Chronicle, writer Carol Emert reported that premium bag-in-box wine sales are kicking butt--no thanks to certain local retailers. According to ACNeilsen, sales jumped 33% in the last year, yet many Chronicle readers have written in to ...
Highway to eternity.(Wise & Otherwise)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005; ... If a group of Napa residents has its way, the California legislature will soon change the name of Napa Valley's famous Highway 29 to the "Robert Mondavi Memorial Highway." The Napa County Board of Supervisors supports the idea, and it looks like it's well on its way to becoming a reality ....
The making of a barrel maker.(Interview)
Feb 01, 2005; ... Keith Roberts is one-of-a-kind. As in any creative field, the wine industry is populated by a colorful cast of characters. In our vocabulary, "passion" has become almost a cliche. Our folklore is filled with fierce individualists and daring iconoclasts who apply their own brilliant ...
Rob Davis experiments with oak.
Feb 01, 2005; ... In 1994, Rob Davis, the winemaker at Jordan Winery in Sonoma County, ran an experiment involving the 1994 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon. The focus of the experiment was on topping frequency. There were four lots of Cabernet made, all from the same tank, all using barrels from the same cooper, ...
Time & temperature barrel profiling: create consistency & individuality in wine barrels.(World Cooperage)
Feb 01, 2005; ... Most wines benefit from aging in oak barrels. Aroma and flavor are enhanced, while color is stabilized. Plus, there is a greater overall impression of complexity. Historically, barrels were re-used extensively, so there was often no obvious presence of oak. However, today's consumer is ...
Stem research: is whole cluster fermentation the recipe for Pinot Noir?
Feb 01, 2005; ... To rile up a Pinot Noir producer, you need only mention two simple words: "whole cluster." With Pavlovian reliability, the phrase will send them into one of two states: orgasmic bliss or black rage. To destem the grapes or ferment whole cluster on the stems is the first ...
A closer look at PRWS: 75 Central Coast brands under one roof.
Feb 01, 2005; ... The first year Paso Robles Wine Services (PRWS) opened, there were four or five wineries; when I came on it jumped to 23," says lead winemaker Dan Kleck, who joined PRWS just before harvest 2003. By harvest 2004, that number tripled: "This year, we have 75 wineries." In Santa ...
Brander, central coast Sauvignon specialist.
Feb 01, 2005; ... Although the comparison is inevitable, Fred Brander, owner of The Brander Vineyard in Santa Ynez, doesn't want to call his Early Release 2004 Sauvignon Blanc a "nouveau" wine. Brander, who is something of a Sauvignon Blanc specialist, got the idea for an early release Sauvignon Blanc when ...
Converting head-pruned vines to VSP.(DePonte Cellars)(vertical-shoot-positioned)
Feb 01, 2005; ... DePonte Cellars is ensconced on a hillside near the town of Dundee, Ore., in the heady neighborhood of Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Archery Summit, Domaine Serene and Sokol Blosser. The window of the winery lab frames a breathtaking view of the Dundee Hills tumbling onto the floor of the ...
Allen Shoup's Long Shadows winery.
Feb 01, 2005; ... When Allen Shoup retired after building Stimson Lane into Washington's largest wine company, no one who knew him expected he'd stay retired. "Anyone who's been in the wine business as long as I have knows that the trick to living a long life is not to retire," he says, noting the many ...
Across the continent: 2004 state laws liberalize wine sales.(REGIONAL NEWS CLIPS)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Wine Institute reports that several laws expanding consumer access to wine were adopted by states in 2004. * New York increased days of sales from six to seven per week. New York retailers may be open all seven days if they choose. The state also adopted a "brown bag law" ...
British Columbia: wineries plan villages.(The New West)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... Two British Columbia wineries are planning major real estate developments. Kelowna's Fitzpatrick family, operators of CedarCreek Estate Winery, is planning a 400-unit development at Greata Ranch near Peachland in the southern Okanagan Valley. The village-style development will include a ...
British Columbia: quality program.(The New West)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... The British Columbia government has created the British Columbia Wine Authority to oversee the Vintners' Quality Alliance, which was previously controlled by private interests. The VQA sets quality standards for B.C. wines, and parallels a similar program in ...
Oregon: OLCC says winery can use "claret".(The New West)(The Oregon Liquor Control Commission)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has granted a request by RoxyAnn Winery at Hillcrest Orchard to allow use of the term "claret" to describe blended red wines on product ...
Oregon: fruit wines find fans.(The New West)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2005 ... A number of wineries, including Tina and Russ Barnett's Old Coyote label, are experimenting with wines made from cranberries, huckleberries, blackberries and other fruits. The Barnetts plan to transform their hobby into a business that, while rare in the winemaking industry, is ...