Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine
News Flash
February 10, 2012
INDUSTRY NEWS
New Study Charts Virginia Wine Growth
A recently released study from the Virginia Wine Board shows the state’s wine industry contributes $747 million annually to Virginia's economy, up 106% from $362 million in 2005. The “2010 Economic Impact Study of Wine and Wine Grapes on the Commonwealth of Virginia” also found that the number of wineries increased from 129 in 2005 to 193 in 2010, while the number of wine-related tourists increased 62% over the same period.
Colorado to Host DrinkLocal Wine Conference in April
Colorado’s fourth annual DrinkLocal Wine Conference is slated for April 28 at the Metropolitan State College of Denver. Some 100 Colorado wineries are expected to participate in the conference, which is open to the public. Sponsored by the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board, the conference will also feature educational sessions, tastings and competitions. See www.DrinkLocalWine.com for details.
Center for Wine Origins Accredits Specialists
The Center for Wine Origins in Washington, D.C., has announced its fourth class of Wine Location Specialist. Graduates, who included 31 wine professionals from across the U.S. Belgium and Australia, were accredited by the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) and the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto (IVDP). To date, the program has certified 92 experts in the Champagne and Oporto regions.
New App for Natural Cork-Seekers
Developed by the Cork Quality Council and ReCork, the new CorkWatch App allows users to search a database of more than 1,700 wines to learn which ones are sealed with natural cork. Users can also enter wine names into a database and indicate the type of closure by brand and varietal. Get the app at http://recork.org/corkwatch.
Santa Barbara to Host Vintners’ Festival in April
The Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association will celebrate its 30th annual Vintners’ Festival on April 21 at The Carranza, a meadow northwest of Los Olivos, Calif. Winery members will pour samples complemented by cuisine prepared by area chefs, specialty food purveyors and caterers. Live music and a silent auction to benefit local charities will round out the day. For details, see www.SBCountyWines.com.
MGGA Establishes Scholarship Fund
The Minnesota Grape Growers Association (MGGA) has established an Elmer Swenson scholarship fund to honor his legacy as a citizen scientist and a father of cold climate viticulture. Scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded to select students in recognition of demonstrated interest, aptitude, and creativity in advancing cold climate viticulture. Scholarships will be awarded at the MGGA Cold Climate Conference later this month.
SSU Launches Brings Executive MBA Program to Napa Valley
Sonoma State University (SSU) and the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) have partnered to introduce an Executive Masters of Business Administration program (EMBA) in Napa Valley. SSU is now accepting applications for the program to be held at NVV’s St. Helena, Calif., headquarters. The program provides students with an accredited MBA degree in 17 months. Applications and information can be found at www.sonoma.edu/emba.
May 2012 Designated Oregon Wine Month
In recognition of the Oregon wine industry’s contribution to the state’s economy, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has designated May 2012 as Oregon Wine Month. The wine-grape crop contributes $2.7 billion annually to the state’s economy. The month will include retail, restaurant and consumer events and promotions highlighting Oregon Wine, beginning with a grand tasting on April 29.
Researchers to Sequence Chardonnay Genome
The University of British Columbia’s Wine Research Centre has launched an international collaboration with the Australian Wine Research Institute to sequence the chardonnay grape genome. In the first initiative of its kind, a team of scientists will explore the genomics of 15 different chardonnay varieties, with the goal of helping wineries identify the most appropriate type based on climate.
New Jersey to Allow Winery-Direct Shipping
This May, New Jersey will become the 39th state to allow winery-direct shipping. While FreetheGrapes! is celebrating the news, the Napa-based organization says the law includes an unconstitutional capacity cap, allowing small wineries to ship directly to consumers, but banning shipments from companies producing more than 250,000 gallons per year. The bill also prohibits out-of-state retailers from direct shipping. Learn more at www.freethegrapes.org.
Scientists Prove Regional Yeast Variations
For the first time, scientists in New Zealand have proven that wine yeasts vary from region to region. The research, published in the Journal of the International Society for Microbial Ecology and conducted by Velimir Gayevskiy and Dr. Matthew Goddard from the University of Auckland, detected distinct differences between indigenous yeast strains in different regions. It is believed similar results would be seen across other winemaking nations.
Ag Leadership Program Seeks Applicants
Applications are now being accepted for Class 43 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP). Growers, farmers, ranchers and individuals working in allied businesses and organizations are encouraged to apply. CALP is an intensive 16-month program comprised of monthly seminars delivered by Cal Poly, California State University, University of California and other academic institutions. For details, visit www.agleaders.org.
Unified Symposium Draws Record Crowd
This year’s Unified Wine & Grape Symposium set a new record for attendance, drawing a crowd of 12,400 guests to the Sacramento Convention Center last month. Visitors from every corner of the globe, including Afghanistan, Australia, South Africa, China and Europe, attended the three-day industry event organized jointly by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and the California Association of Winegrape Growers.
Double-Digit Growth for Maryland Wine Industry
According to the Office of the Comptroller’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Annual Report, the wineries of Maryland sold 181,000 more bottles of wine in
2011 than in 2010, representing an 11.6% increase. The report further notes that Maryland wineries increased their share of the state wine market to 2.38%, with total sales at over $19 million dollars for the year.
PEOPLE
NGWI Elects Board Members
The National Grape and Wine Initiative (NGWI) based in Sacramento, Calif., has named its 2012 Board. Vicky Scharlau of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers was elected chair of the initiative, a nationwide coalition representing all segments of the grape industry. Other newly elected officers include: Vice Chair Rick Stark of the California Raisin Marketing Board, Secretary-Treasurer Richard Smith of California’s Paraiso Vineyards, and Past Chair John Martini of New York’s Anthony Road Winery.
New CEO for Evening Land Vineyards
Napa, Calif.-based Evening Land Vineyards has appointed Greg Ralston as CEO, effective Jan. 23, 2012. In his new role, Ralston will manage and develop vineyard and winemaking operations in Oregon, Sonoma County, Santa Barbara County and Burgundy, France. Prior to joining Evening Land, Ralston was senior vice president at Wilson Daniels. He is also the former managing director of Chateau Montelena.
RRVW Announces New Board
The Russian River Valley Winegrowers (RRVW) has announced its board election results for 2012. Elected officers are: President John Holdredge, Holdredge Wines; 1st Vice President Randy Luginbill, Sonoma Silverado Vineyards, LLC; 2nd Vice President Armon Azevedo, Wilbur-Ellis Co.; Appointed Secretary Carol Kozlowski-Every, Kozlowski Farms; and Appointed Treasurer Saralee McClelland Kunde, Saralee’s Vineyard. New board members for the 2012-2014-term include John Balletto, Balletto Vineyards and Shannon Donnell, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards.
Clean Plant Center Appoints Director
Washington State University (WSU)Professor Ken Eastwell, an expert on graft and vector-transmitted viruses at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser, Wash., has been appointed director of the Clean Plant Center of the Northwest. As director, Eastwell will provide leadership for the development and distribution of virus-free deciduous fruit trees, grapevines and hops.
WINERY NEWS
Dr. Frank’s Gewürz Wins Top Honor
At the recent San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition held in Cloverdale, Calif., Dr. Frank’s 2010 Gewürztraminer Reserve was awarded “Best White Wine.” Some 60 judges tasted 5,500 wines before naming this year’s best of class awards.
Stonegate Brand Gets Revamped
The Stonegate brand based in Healdsburg, Calif., is getting a makeover by the Robin Hood LLC, a joint venture of wine industry experts. The updated brand is debuting with two smartly priced Napa Valley Series wines at $25 per bottle and a value priced Collection Series that retails around $16. Virginia Marie Lambrix is head winemaker for Stonegate.
JANUARY 16, 2012
INDUSTRY NEWS
CSWA Launches Online Performance Metrics
The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) has launched an initiative to integrate Performance Metrics into the Sustainable Winegrowing Pro- gram. Metrics include water and energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen use. The CSWA is also developing an online portal to help growers and vintners confidentially calculate, track and store metrics data. For details, see www.sustainablewinegrowing.org.
Coombsville Receives Appellation Designation
The Coombsville Vintners & Growers announced the approval and designation of Napa Valley’s newest sub-appellation: Coombsville Appellation. Approved by the U.S. Department of the Treasury TTB on Dec. 14, 2011, Coombsville is comprised of approximately 11,000 acres, and is considered a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA and the multi-county North Coast AVA. It is the Napa Valley’s 16th American Viticultural Area.
NVV Announces UC Davis Partnership
The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) has partnered with the UC Davis to host a professional development course for winemakers and enologists. The inaugural Wine Favor class, featuring tastings and discussion led by UC Davis faculty, was held on Jan. 13, 2012 at The Culinary Institute of America, Greystone, in St. Helena. For more information, visit www.napavintners.com
Oregon Wine Board Recognizes Central Oregon
Maragas Winery of Culver, Ore., has issued a release stating that the Oregon Wine Board will now officially recognize the Central Oregon wine region. According to a Maragas spokesperson, the Central Oregon region extends from Warm Springs to Bend. The new region is home to two other licensed wineries: Volcano Vineyards
and Faith Hope and Charity.
Fort Ross-Seaview AVA Approved
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approved the establishment of the Fort Ross-Seaview American Viticultural Area (AVA) in western Sonoma County, Calif., on Dec. 15, 2011. Fort Ross-Seaview, which lies within the larger Sonoma Coast AVA, is located on the steep coastal ridges above the Pacific Ocean, approximately 80 miles northwest of San Francisco.
California Sweet Wine Study Releases Findings
The Sweet and Fortified Wine Association (SFWA) recently completed the first study of California sweet and fortified producers since Prohibition. The study found that nearly 10% of the state’s 295 bonded wineries produce sweet and/or fortified wines. The study also revealed that most of these vintners produce between 300 and 1,500 cases annually. SFWA plans to extend its research on a national basis.
Oregon Forms Pinot Gris Group
A group of Oregon wineries that want the state to be known for more than pinot noir, have launched the Oregon Pinot Gris Marketing Group at www.oregonpinotgris.com. The group's mission is to showcase the diversity and complexity of Oregon’s second most popular grape.
Lake County Announces Master Program
The Lake County Winegrape Commission has launched a new “Master Vigneron” program. Offering monthly training sessions on a variety of vineyard topics, the program is targeting vineyard foremen and crew heads in an effort to increase job effectiveness. Those who successfully complete the program will earn a certificate as a Master Vigneron.
PEOPLE
New Director of Membership at NVG
The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) has hired Bette Abbott as its new director of membership. Abbott will focus on all member outreach efforts. Previously, she owned and operated her own retail business with three stores, where she honed her marketing and hospitality skills.
Riverbench Names New Winemaker
Santa Maria, Calif.-based Riverbench Vineyard and Winery has named Clarissa Nagy as its new winemaker. Nagy follows wine industry pioneer Chuck Ortman, who retired with the 2011 vintage. Nagy is a past research assistant winemaker at Byron Winery, and past assistant winemaker and vineyard supervisor at Longoria Winery. Most recently, she made wines for Bonaccorsi Wine Company.
Napa Vintners Announce 2012 Board
The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) has announced its Board of Directors for 2012: President Rick Jones of Jones Family Vineyards; Vice-President Russ Weis of Silverado Vineyards; Secretary Janet Viader of Viader Vineyard and Winery and Treasurer Eric Sklar of Alpha Omega. Also serving on the board are Bruce Cakebread, Susan Boswell, Kathleen Heitz Myers, Michael Honig, Pat Stotesbery, Doug Shafer and Bob Torres.
AWS Honors Gordon W. Murchie
The American Wine Society (AWS) based in Rochester, N.Y., has honored wine advocate, writer and lecturer Gordon W. Murchie with the 2011 Award of Merit for his work improving the regulatory environment for the wine industry and protecting public access to wine. The Society’s highest honor, the award recognizes Murchie’s role as a leader and advocate in the growth and development of the Virginia and Eastern U.S. wine industries.
Charles Smith Wines Hires Dow
Charles Smith Wines of Walla Walla, Wash., has hired Madeline Dow to oversee events and public relations. Based in Seattle, Dow will be focused on increasing national and international awareness of both Charles Smith and his wines. For the last six years, Dow served as marketing manager of the Washington State Wine Commission.
CAWG Inaugurates ‘Leader of the Year’
This month, the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) honors Nat DiBuduo, president of Allied Grape Growers, as the CAWG Leader of the Year. The award recognizes the grower whose personal commitment and record of leadership has benefited California’s wine industry. DiBuduo is the first recipient of the award, which CAWG created to inspire leadership in the industry.
CAWG Honors Grower of the Year
In other news, CAWG presented its Grower of the Year award to Kautz Farms of Lodi. The award is given to an individual, family or company for excellence, innovation and leadership in viticulture and management. Pioneers of sustainable farming practices, Kautz Farms implemented Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the early 1970s.
WINERY NEWS
Pindar to Make Wine with Wind
Long Island, New York’s Pindar Vineyards commissioned GreenLogic Energy, in partnership with the Long Island Power Authority, to install a 156-foot, 100-kilowatt turbine at its North Fork Winery location. The turbine, the largest to be erected in Southold, will power at least 80% of winery operations. Pindar also announced plans to offer educational tours emphasizing sustainable agriculture and renewable energy.
Folie à Deux Becomes a Sonoma Brand
Trinchero Family Estates of St. Helena, Calif., has announced that its Folie à Deux portfolio has become a Sonoma County wine brand. Founded in Napa Valley in 1981, the Folie à Deux wines now include a Russian River Valley chardonnay, a Sonoma County merlot, a Dry Creek Valley zinfandel and an Alexander Valley cabernet sauvignon. The wines are priced between $20 and $30.