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W i n e s & V i n e s M AY 2 0 1 4 15 Brutal Winter in the east ithaca, N.y.—The winter of 2013- 14 brought bitterly cold tempera- tures to the upper Midwest, the mid-Atlantic region and New Eng- land. On March 26, the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture issued a natural disaster declaration for 19 counties in New York. Other states are work- ing to obtain similar declarations so that growers can obtain financial as- sistance to replant or rehabilitate freeze-damaged vineyards. NeW york—In the Finger Lakes, the unusually cold temperatures ranged from -7° to -18° F. Cornell University researchers predict be- tween 50% and 100% bud damage to vinifera grapes including Gewurz- traminer, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and even the relatively hardy Riesling. The farther north along the Finger Lakes, the worse the damage will probably be, said Cornell viticul- turist Tim Martinson. He added that potential spring frosts could make a bad situation much worse. ohio—The northeastern quadrant of Ohio is the state's major growing region, and Nick Ferrante, owner of Ferrante Wine Farm in Geneva, Ohio, expects 100% crop loss in his vinifera grapes. Ohio State Univer- sity researchers estimate the state could suffer a 57% loss of hybrid grapes, 30% loss of native varieties such as Niagara and Concord and close to 100% of vinifera varieties. VirgiNia—Low temperatures in Virginia ranged from 0° to -5° F. Tony Wolf, professor of viticulture at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va., estimated there would be 10%- 15% primary bud damage on vinif- era vines. He noted that for the past 15 years, winter temperatures have moderated. Consequently, growers no longer use vine-protection mea- sures such as graft union protection, retention of trunk renewal shoots, multiple trunking and delayed dor- mant pruning. ioWa—Temperatures in Iowa dipped below zero in early Decem- ber and remained frigid into early March. The lowest temperature reached was -22.4°F on Feb. 10 at the Iowa State University Horticul- ture Research Station in Ames, Iowa. The vineyards at the station sustained damage on cold-hardy va- rieties that ranged from 9% primary bud loss on Frontenac to 23% on La Crescent. Loss was much greater on hybrids such as Arandell (79%) and Corot Noir (81%). —liNDa JoNes Mckee starbucks to offer Wine at More locations seattle, Wash.—In an ef- fort to build its evening busi- ness, coffee giant Starbucks is expanding wine and beer sales after 4 p.m. in selected stores. Though it's starting slowly and the program affects only some of the chain's locations, mem- bers of the wine industry are excited about the sales poten- tial in the company's 12,000 shops. Starbucks has hinted "several thousand" cafés may eventually serve wine. After initial tests in October 2010 at a Seattle store, Star- bucks expanded the trial to about 25 locations in Chi- cago, Atlanta and southern California in January 2012. More recently, the company rolled out its Starbucks Evenings service in the Seattle and Portland, Ore., areas as well as Washington, D.C. Expansion to other regions will progress gradually in the next few years. "We're very picky about locations," said Clarice Turner, senior vice president and general manager, U.S. licensed business. "We want to choose the right locations with the right atmosphere, lighting and music. Not all stores will be suitable." Turner noted that she expects the new offerings will extend Starbucks' welcoming ambience into the evening hours. "Many neighbor- hoods in America, particu- larly in the suburbs, don't have restaurants and clubs with this atmosphere," she emphasized. Starbucks did some early tests with wines from its Se- attle area neighbor, Ste. Mi- chelle Wine Estates, and features a number of the company's wines at locations in the Northwest. Other wines that Starbucks will sell are from other large compa- nies like E. & J. Gallo Winery (the very popular Apothic red blend and Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon), while others come from smaller wineries. Terlato Wine Group represents at least two win- eries: Markham Vineyards in Napa Valley and Sanford Winery & Vineyards in Santa Barbara County. Perhaps the smallest winery represented is 8,600-case Amavi Cel- lars of Walla Walla, Wash., which has a Syrah on the Star- bucks Evenings wine list in Seattle and Portland. Bryan Del Bondio, the president of Markham, says that the program is so new that he can't report much in the way of results. However, he admitted, "It's really cool to have your brand featured in Starbucks. We're very happy for the exposure and sales." —PaUl FraNsoN other top stories Farmers will idle 800,000 acres of land in California because of a lack of water, according to the California Farm Water Coalition. The group increased its estimate by 300,000 acres in March because of the state's drought, which remains unabat- ed despite limited spring rains. Bill Foley's first acquisition in oregon is the Four Graces Win- ery in Dundee. Foley purchased the property after researching an Oregon move for some time. The 22,000-case winery is now the 11th U.S. winery in the Foley Family Wines portfolio. Underage students enrolled in a winemaking or brewing program at one of California's universi- ties or colleges could taste wine if lawmakers in Sacramento, Calif., approve a proposed bill. Assembly Bill 1989 would let a student who is at least 18 sip and spit wine or beer as part of his or her education. 14 hands has a new home in Prosser, Wash. St. Michelle Wine Estates converted the former Snoqualmie Winery into a new home for its popular 14 Hands brand, which the compa- ny claims is the fastest growing wine in Washington. in his first conference call with analysts and investors, Trea- sury Wine Estates' new CEO Michael Clark intimated he's open to cutting jobs and even selling off some of the com- pany's wineries or brands. He said Treasury's portfolio of 83 brands, which includes Bering- er Vineyards and other U.S. wineries, could be too large to operate profitably. latest NeWs More detail on the news at: winesandvines.com starBUcks' DoMestic WiNe list The coffee company's wine options will differ by location and region. White chardonnay, Ferrari-Carano, Sonoma County riesling, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Valley Pinot gris, Erath, Oregon reD red Blend, Apothic, California Pinot Noir, Lange Estate, Willamette Valley syrah, Amavi Cellars, Walla Walla Valley cabernet sauvignon, Columbia Crest H3, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Noir, Sanford Fior de Campo, Santa Barbara cabernet sauvignon, Markham, Napa red Blend, Justin "Justification," Paso Robles cabernet sauvignon, Louis M. Martini, Napa M A Y N E W S