Wines & Vines back issues from January 2009:
The outlook for wine sales: a bump in the road, or a whole new direction?(EDITOR'S LETTER)
Jan 01, 2009; ... How morbidly appropriate that the wine business was rocked by a sales slump of historic proportions just as our staff prepared this 90th anniversary edition of Wines & Vines. No one in the business that I've spoken to can remember a more depressing period for sales than what happened in ...
Grand theft solar: Honig winery alerts neighbors after solar panels taken.(Head lines)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Rutherford, Calif. -- Honig Vineyard & Winery alerted fellow members of the Rutherford Dust Society following the Thanksgiving-eve theft of 39 photovoltaic panels from its 819-panel array. Winery president Michael Honig noticed that the panels were missing the next morning, and alerted the ...
Lost Canyon Winery is sold.(NEWS BYTES)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Lost Canyon Winery, which has been producing vineyard-designated Pi not Noir and Syrah wines from Sonoma sources since 2001, announced that its brand has been acquired by Fritz Winery, Cloverdale, Calif. According to Lost Canyon, Fritz "will continue producing Lost Canyon Pinot Noir and ...
Copia probably defunct.(NEWS BYTES)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Copia: the American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts in Napa cleared out all visitors and locked its doors Nov. 21 at 4:30 p.m. Those who arrived for scheduled activities found a sign stating: "Copia is temporarily closed." Copia CEO Garry McGuire later issued a ...
Montelena sale breaks down.(NEWS BYTES)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The widely publicized sale of Napa Valley icon Chateau Montelena to Bordeaux winery owner Michel Reybier has fallen through. Though it was announced in July as a "firm deal," a subsequent news release from Chateau ...
Russian River Valley controversy: Gallo petition to expand vineyard district opposed by some growers.(JANUARY NEWS)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Sonoma County, Calif. -- A request by Gallo Family Vineyards to expand the Russian River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) by 14,044 acres drew opposition from growers, wineries and consumers. The Russian River Valley (RRV) appellation is currently 169,028 acres; the ...
Napa approves Measure P: move extends lands preservation initiative until 2058.(JANUARY NEWS)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Napa, Calif. -- Residents of Napa County overwhelmingly voted to extend Measure J, the agricultural lands preservation initiative passed in 1990, for another 50 years. Like its predecessor, Measure P requires a popular vote in order to redesignate agricultural, watershed or open ...
Skipstone goes organic and solar.(CALIFORNIA)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Skipstone Ranch winegrowing and olive orchard estate in Geyserville received certification from the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and is now powered by a ...
Marquez promoted at Donatiello.(CALIFORNIA)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Webster Marquez, former co-winemaker, was promoted to winemaker at C. Donatiello Winery, Russian River Valley. He replaces ...
Solar afloat at GunBun.(CALIFORNIA)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Sonoma, is now 150 years old, and sourcing all of the power for its water reclamation system from a 30kW Floatovoltaic system installed by SPG Solar, Novato. The solar array's 162 Sharp panels are mounted on pontoons in one of the ponds ...
Keller Estate has new winemaker.(CALIFORNIA)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Ross Cobb joined Keller Estate in Petaluma in December. Previously with Flowers Winery, ...
Appellation America dials out.(CALIFORNIA)(wine culture)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Roger and Adam Dial, brothers who co-founded Appellation America in 2003 to promote regional consciousness of North American wine culture, have resigned from the board and all managerial positions at the online ...
Who's in the hall?(CALIFORNIA)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), St. Helena, will induct new honorees into its Vintners Hall of Fame on March 14. Those elected by a panel of experts this year include journalist Gerald Asher, Gourmet magazine; Jack and Jamie Davies, founders of Schramsberg Vineyards; Jess Jackson, ...
Look into PD/GWSS.(CALIFORNIA)(Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The California Department of Food and Agriculture Pierce's Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board, in partnership with the University of California Pierce's Disease Grant Program, is seeking proposals for research projects on the ...
Topolos sold in December.(CALIFORNIA)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Topolos Russian River Vineyards, Sonoma County, was sold in what was termed a "complicated deal" to Baltimore real estate investor Chris O'Neill and local grapegrower Art Ibleto for a reported $3 million. The transaction ...
Sterling's tram goes green.(CALIFORNIA)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The iconic aerial tram that transports visitors 300 feet uphill to Sterling Vineyards' lofty winery and tasting room above Calistoga in Napa Valley is now being powered by the sun. Mounted atop the valley-level Reserve Winery, 336 solar panels are expected to generate 93,727kWh per year, ...
Kautz Family appoints COO.(CALIFORNIA)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Kautz Family Vineyards, which farms more than 5,000 acres of vineyards in Lodi and the Sierra Foothills AVAs, named Richard Conley chief operating officer. Previously, he was executive vice president and COO for ...
New MacPhail winery opens.(CALIFORNIA)
Jan 01, 2009 ... James MacPhail opened his new 5,000-case winery in Healdsburg in time for the 2008 crush. He's been producing small lots of Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley Pinot Noir wines for six ...
Bonny Doon opens urban tasting room.(CALIFORNIA)(Bonny Doon Winery Inc.)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Bonny Doon has moved its tasting room from the Santa Cruz Mountains to the emerging wine district of west Santa Cruz, following the winery's move last year ....
Tsillan celebrates 100% estate crush.(NORTHWEST)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Tsillan Cellars, Chelan, Wash., sourced all of its 2008 vintage from estate-grown grapes. The 6,000-case winery owned by Dr. Robert Jankelson ...
Domaine Drouhin goes solar.(NORTHWEST)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Domaine Drouhin, Dundee Hills, went online with completion of Oregon's largest wine industry solar energy system, a 94.5kW installation from ...
Ponzi completes new facility.(NORTHWEST)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Ponzi Vineyards, Beaverton, Ore., completed a 30,000-square-foot sustainable, gravity-flow winemaking facility dubbed Collina del Sogno (Dream ...
Chateau Ste. Michelle expands vineyards.(NORTHWEST)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Washington's largest winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville, is expanding and replanting its Cold Creek and Canoe Ridge estate vineyards. Cold Creek's original 691-acre vineyard grew with more than 38 acres of new vines this year, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon. Another 30 acres ...
Join the Texas Advisory Committee.(CENTRAL)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The Texas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Texas Wine Industry Advisory Committee for 2009. The committee helps administer the Texas Wine Industry Development Fund, assessing the state's wine and grapegrowing industry and ...
Hissam joins Terlato.(CENTRAL)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Steve Hissam was appointed senior director of marketing at Terlato Wines ...
Michigan conference will advise start-ups.(CENTRAL)(Conference news)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The 2009 Winery Establishment Conference is scheduled for Feb. 17-19 at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor. Coordinated by Tom Zabadal, grape specialist at Michigan State University, it ...
Oklahoma schedules first Wine Forum.(CENTRAL)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The inaugural Oklahoma Wine Forum is set for April 3 and 4 on the Stillwater campus of Oklahoma State University. OSU's School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration is organizing the event with volunteer chairs Steven and Sue Girkin. Seed money was donated by OSU alumni Marilynn and Carl ...
Texas issues Winery Passport.(CENTRAL)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The Texas Department of Agriculture created a Texas Winery Passport, entitling passport holders to a free gift after visiting four participating Texas wineries. The passports are ...
Winery employee is Pageant winner.(CENTRAL)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Stacey Smith, director of events at 6,000-case Chaumette Vineyards & Winery, Genevieve County, Mo., was crowned Miss Missouri USA ...
Mountain winegrowing center gets a grant.(EAST)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The Appalachian Center for Mountain Winegrowing at Appalachian State University received a $9,500 grant from the North Carolina Wine and Grape Council (NCWGC) to study soil erosion control ...
Southbrook is Demeter certified.(EAST)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, is the first Canadian winery to receive Biodynamic certification from ...
Tennessee's first wine trail is open.(EAST)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The Natchez Trace Wine Trail, in the heart of Tennesee, includes Amber Falls Winery and ...
New York retailer focuses on California.(EAST)
Jan 01, 2009 ... California Wine Merchants launched a retail store and e-commerce website in lower Manhattan. It's the first in New York City to focus exclusively on California wines ....
Vintage New York closes.(EAST)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The New York, N.Y., retailer founded by Robert Ransom and Susan Wine closed its Upper West Side location in December; a ...
Manhattan winery offers barrel shares.(EAST)
Jan 01, 2009 ... City Winery, a private label winery that planned to open late this year, is introducing a Barrel Share Ownership program, in which as many as six ...
Consultants target Mid-Atlantic industry.(EAST)
Jan 01, 2009 ... EIPCI, Haymarket, Va., is a consulting practice designed to support the Mid-Atlantic vineyard, winery and agritourism ...
Dave Bagley dies in November.(EAST)(Poplar Ridge Vineyards and Winery)(Obituary)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Dave Bagley, owner and winemaker at Poplar Ridge Vineyards and Winery on Seneca Lake in New York's Finger Lakes district, died Nov. 6 at age ...
Neocork hires barrier specialist.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Neocork Technologies Inc., Napa, Calif., supplier of synthetic wine stoppers, added Rajesh Varma, a specialist in barrier technologies for liquid ...
Compliance specialist joins law firm.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Stoel Rives LLP, Portland, Ore., hired Bernard J. Kipp as an alcohol compliance advisor in its Winery and Vineyard Management group. Kipp spent more than 35 years as a field ...
Harrop represents Bin to Bottle.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Bin to Bottle custom crush winery, Napa, Calif., has engaged Erica Harrop as strategic sales representative ....
Key introduces Grape Receiving Platform.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Key Technology, Walla Walla, Wash., introduced its new Grape Receiving and Inspection Platform (GRIP). It receives the contents of a fruit bin then ...
Cooperage buys stake in oak chip company.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Seguin Moreau, Napa, Calif., supplier of French and American oak barrels, purchased 49% equity interest in Boise France, a ...
GEA Westfalia to open new facility.(SUPPLIERS)(GEA Westfalia Separator Inc.)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2009 ... GEA Westfalia Separator Inc., Northvale, N.J., will hold a grand opening of a new $5.5 million Western Region Customer Support Center in Patterson, Calif., on Jan. 15. The 24,000-square-foot center at 555 ...
Encore! Glass takes on Mexican partner.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Encore! Glass, Benicia, Calif., joined with Fevisa Industrial of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, to create a new North American source for glass wine bottles ....
Saury adds an account manager.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Premium French cooperage Saury USA, Rutherford, Calif., appointed Christy Thomas its account manager for Sonoma and ...
Elypsis/ShipCompliant integrate services.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... ShipCompliant, compliance software specialist, and Elypsis Inc., provider of software for wine industry retail and business operations, announced Elypsis ...
Primera adds label applicators.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Primera Technology Inc., Plymouth, Minn., announced its AP360 and AP 362 label applicators, compact and semiautomatic devices for ...
Visit TricorBraun's new website.(SUPPLIERS)(Website overview)
Jan 01, 2009 ... TricorBraun, supplier of rigid packaging, revamped its website to include educational insight: Learn Packaging, Case Studies, White Papers, Awards, RapidFind and History are among the new sections. Visit tricorbraun.com ...
Cork Supply conserves forests.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Cork Supply, Portugal, has joined 19 Portuguese and Spanish companies to form the WWF Global Forest & Trade Network-Iberia. The group aims to halt illegal logging ...
Consumers like ZORK closure.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Independent focus groups have confirmed that consumers approve of the ZORK alternative wine closure. Studies conducted by strategic research consultant Rich Boone revealed that ZORK's ability to reseal wine, ...
New bottling system for smaller wineries.(SUPPLIERS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Criveller Company, Niagara Falls, Ontario, introduced the 6-1 Microbloc, allowing small to medium-sized wineries to automate the bottling process with gravity filler, ...
Correction.(SUPPLIERS)(Correction notice)
Jan 01, 2009 ... A supplier news brief in our December 2008 issue incorrectly stated the speed of the ...
Expo promotes green growth: making conservation work for your bottom line.(Faces & Forums)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Monterey, Calif. -- About 350 viticulturists and other specialty farmers soaked up information on eco-friendly business practices during the Sustainable Ag Expo held at the Monterey Fairgrounds. The Central Coast Vineyard Team organized the Nov. 13-14 event. "Not only did we ...
Wines that changed the industry: technical breakthroughs and stylistic leaps in North American wines over nine decades.(COVER STORY)
Jan 01, 2009; ... As Wines & Vines marks its 90th anniversary, it seems appropriate to publish a historically oriented piece on the many achievements of our audience during those nine decades. Rather than retelling the history of winemaking, as many authors have already done so well in book form, we ...
Wines & Vines marks 90 years: magazine the longest-running publication covering the wine industry.(90 YEARS)
Jan 01, 2009; ... First printed in 1919 under the name California Grape Grower (shown at right), Wines & Vines celebrates its 90th birthday in 2009. Its longevity makes Wines & Vines the longest running success story in North American wine publishing. According to William F. Heintz' written ...
Life under screwcap: winemakers learn vigilance to avoid sulfide odors.(PACKAGING)
Jan 01, 2009; ... When bottling under screwcap started to make a splash a decade ago, the promise was that the wine in your glass would be exactly the wine that left the cellar in a bottle--no chance of cork taint (since there was no cork), no wine leaking out, no oxygen leaking in, just the finest product ...
The hunt for TCA: how natural cork producers are detecting and eliminating taint from their lots.(PACKAGING)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Cork manufacturers' struggles with taint are well documented. The major compound responsible for musty taints associated with cork--2,4,6-Trichloroanisole--is formed in cork bark by the chemical combination of phenolic compounds and chlorine. The phenolic compounds are present as a result ...
A perfect storm: how winemakers controlled wildfire smoke taint in 2008 juice, must and wine.(WINEMAKING)
Jan 01, 2009; ... When a thunderstorm rolls in, Marie Greenhall, a U.S. Forest Service lookout, can't keep track of all the lightning. Because cloud-to-ground lightning bursts ignite 70% of all western wildfires, she plots the direction and distance of strikes that singe the woodlands within a 60-mile ...
Blown away: wineries turn to air-blasting automatic sorters to save labor, improve quality.(WINEMAKING)
Jan 01, 2009; ... It's not news that winemakers are adopting sorting tables to remove raisins, shot berries, jacks and other unwanted matter before fermentation. There's little need to explain to winemakers the value of fermenting clean fruit, and Tim Patterson covered the subject of sorting with manual ...
Karl Wente: thinking big with the Small Lot Winery.(Winemaker Interview)(Interview)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Karl Wente, 31, is the fifth-generation winegrower to work at his family's Livermore Valley winery, which celebrated its 125th anniversary earlier this year. Wente Vineyards produces about half a million cases per year, but Wente is particularly enthusiastic about the ...
Advantages of plastic: evolution of the plastic tank in the winery.(WINEMAKING)
Jan 01, 2009; ... For decades the wine industry has used concrete tanks, stainless steel tanks of all sizes, large and small wood tanks made of trees ranging from redwood to oak to chestnut, and a few glass-lined tanks. Fiberglass tanks have not been widely used in the United States because of concerns ...
Tasting room rewards: how staff compensation can raise the bar on direct sales.(MANAGEMENT)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Tasting room and wine club sales remain the most reliable and profitable marketing channels for boutique wineries throughout North America. Yet the most productive face-to-face salespeople--the people who sell wine by the bottle, case or wine club membership in winery tasting rooms--are ...
Architecture and the bottom line: how much--and in what ways--do the aesthetics of a winery design pay off?(MANAGEMENT)
Jan 01, 2009; ... In November 1995, after the wines of Christian Wolffer's Sagpond Vineyards began popping up in five-star restaurants throughout the New York metropolitan area, he decided that the old metal barn that housed his winery adjacent to his horse farm in Sagaponack, Long Island, was due for an ...
Grower interview Jeff Newton: fulfilling clients' visions in Santa Barbara.(GRAPEGROWING)
Jan 01, 2009; ... With his partners in Coastal Vineyard Care Associates, Jeff Newton is responsible for farming 35 properties encompassing about 2,000 acres in Santa Barbara County, mostly in the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Rita Hills. His clients include such well-known properties as Jonata, Stolpman, ...
Checklist for conservation: 22 ways growers can conserve resources and save money.(GRAPEGROWING)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Early this year fuel prices reached new highs, a dry spring heightened concerns about water supplies, and materials costs for vineyards had nearly doubled for some inputs. These trends make resource conservation even more important for grapegrowers. Fortunately, growers have a number of ...