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March 2015 Wines&Vines 23 wine industry news NORTHWEST Idaho wine impact: $170 million An impact study by Stonebridge Research Group on the Idaho wine industry determined it had a total economic impact of $170 million and sup- ported 1,200 full-time jobs in 2013. The state produced 179,000 cases of wine in 2012 and 234,000 cases in 2013. WSU receives donation for fermentation equipment Washington State University's planned Wine Sci- ence Center in Richland, Wash., will be equipped with an automated wine-fermentation system thanks to a donation of equipment worth $3.2 million by Cypress Semiconductor Corp. of San Jose, Calif., and tank supplier Spokane Indus- tries. The donation includes fermentation man- agement software, tanks and other equipment. WSU already had $2.1 million in other funding to help pay for the system. CENTRAL Push to improve Indiana shipping State Sen. Ron Alting co-authored and intro- duced a bill intended to make shipping wine di- rectly to consumers a little bit easier in Indiana. Senate Bill 113 would remove the requirement that consumers need to visit a winery in person to provide their shipping information as well as proof they are of legal drinking age. The pro- posed law would also increase the legal limit of total wine that can be shipped from 27,000 liters to 45,000 liters and increase the direct wine- seller shipment fee from $100 to $500. The state Senate approved the bill in late January. EAST Big Cork Vineyards opens tasting room, winery Big Cork Vineyards in Rohrersville, Md., opened its new, 4,000-square-foot tasting room and pro- duction facility located at its estate vineyard Jan. 31. The company produces wine from a 24-acre vineyard that includes hybrid and vinifera varieties. Wineries urge N.Y. governor to block gas storage A group of wine industry companies in the Finger Lakes region of New York state sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Jan. 30, urging him to block the approval of a proposed natural gas storage facility near Seneca Lake. The group, Finger Lakes Wine Business Coalition, claims the potential risks from an explosion at the facility— or when gas is being transported to and from the storage depot—far outweigh any economic ben- efits of the project. Group members also argue industrialization of the Finger Lakes region would negatively impact the wine tourism industry. SUPPLIER Amcor, Maverick form partnership Packaging suppliers Amcor Flexibles Capsules and Maverick Enterprises Inc. have formed a manufacturing and sales partnership focused on the production of polylaminate, PVC and spar- kling foils for the North American wine and spirits market. The two companies consolidated the manufacture of these products at Maverick's facility in Ukiah, Calif. Amcor will continue to sell capsules under the Amcor brand and continue to produce Stelvin closures at its factory in Ameri- can Canyon, Calif. Free Flow launches Tap'd Draft Solutions Free Flow Wines, which provides wine keg filling and management for winery clients, announced LIQUID NITROGEN HANDLING SPECIALISTS SINCE 1958 Tel 1-781-933-3570 Fax 1-781-932-9428 sales@vacuumbarrier.com www.vacuumbarrier.com LIQUID NITROGEN DOSING Liquid Nitrogen Handling Specialists Since 1958 Keep dissolved oxygen levels to a minimum with the new MiniDose • Designed to discrete dose up to 200 CPM • Compact size ideal for filling lines, mobile bottlers and R&D facilities The NITRODOSE ® MiniDose system is sold only through Vacuum Barrier and their select group of worldwide distributors Big Cork Vineyards