Wines & Vines

October 2016 Bottles and Labels Issue

Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/732978

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 13 of 83

14 WINES&VINES October 2016 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS FIELD STONE WINERY: SARAH STIERCH California eradicates grapevine moth The European grapevine moth has been successfully eliminated from California, the state Department of Food and Agriculture announced Aug. 18. In response, county, state and federal agricultural officials lifted quarantine restrictions to prevent the spread of the insect. The pest was first detected in Napa County in 2009 and then found in Fresno, Mendocino, Merced, Ne- vada, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin, Solano and Sonoma counties in subsequent years. All of the counties are home to significant vineyard acreage. Since June 25, 2014, the moth has not been found anywhere in the state. JFW snaps up Field Stone Jackson Family Wines in Santa Rosa, Calif., purchased Field Stone Winery & Vineyard in Healdsburg, Calif., from owners John and Ka- trina Staten. According to Wines Vines Analytics, the winery was bonded in 1977 and produces 9,000 cases per year in the Alex- ander Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). The property boasts 30 acres of vines and a tasting room. Wineries take advantage of Pa.'s new DtC law The state of Pennsylvania had granted more than 350 direct-ship- ping licenses to wineries as of Sept. 15, two months after Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation to open the state to DtC wine sales. Wineries from California, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Virginia, Washington state and Pennsylva- nia itself were among the licensees. Shipping licenses are issued by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. TTB expands Sta. Rita Hills Three vineyard owners won the ap- proval of a 2,296-acre expansion to the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) announced in late August. The expansion application claimed that soil and growing conditions at the vineyard owners' properties were the same as inside the exist- ing 33,380-acre perimeter. The Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance op- posed the application. Total Wine & More challenges Connecticut minimum-price laws Potomac, Md.-based Total Wine & More filed a lawsuit in federal court contending that Connecticut's minimum bottle price regulations violate antitrust laws and compel consumers to drive to nearby states to purchase wine and other alco- holic beverages. According to the lawsuit, prices are up to 24% higher in Connecticut for identical prod- ucts. After a week of advertising its lack of adherence to minimum bottle costs at its four Connecti- cut outlets, the state handed Total Wine & More a $37,500 fine. A representative for the retailer said that although the store accepted the fine, "Total Wine & More makes no admission of any wrongdoing or liability." Green buys Jaffurs Wine Cellars Vintner Daniel Green purchased J a ff u r s W i n e C e l l a r s i n S a n t a Barbara, Calif. Founded by Craig and Lee Jaffurs in 1994, the win- ery produces around 5,000 cases per year and is focused on Rhône variety wines. The acquisition includes existing inventory, tast- ing room and winery. Green pro- duces wines under the Conarium Wines label and will be involved with day-to-day operations, but is retaining all current staff. Craig Jaffurs will help with the transition and has a seat on the company's new board. Grand jury indicts Banks Charles Banks, founder of Terroir Capital, was indicted on two counts of wire fraud Sept. 7. A former client alleged that Banks, while working as a financial advisor at CSI Capi- tal Management, led him to make bad investments that lost millions of dollars. Terroir Capital has a port- folio of wines that include Qupé in Santa Maria, Calif., and Mayac- amas vineyards in Napa, Calif. Alejandro Bulgheroni acquires Napa winery Alejandro P. Bulgheroni announced his acquisition of a Napa Valley winery formerly was used as the Founders Room of Harlan Estate. Bulgheroni produces Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with wine- making operations led by Philippe Melka with consulting enologist Mi- chel Rolland. The inaugural release of Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate wines (the 2014 vintage) is planned to coincide with the winery's open- ing in Feburary 2017. UC seeks high yields/ high quality balance Researchers from the University of California are evaluating more than 50 red and white wine grape varieties in a search for grape culti- vars able to produce the high yields seen in the San Joaquin Valley but with increased quality and suitabil- ity for winemaking. To be deemed successful, vines must produce more than 10 tons per acre, show wine-quality characteristics and stand up to the legendary heat in California's interior. California lawmakers: Farmers must adhere to standard overtime rules California lawmakers voted in late August that farm laborers should receive overtime pay for work beyond eight hours per day and 40 hours per week, as hourly workers do in other labor sectors. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation into law Sept. 12, and the agriculture industry will be required to comply starting in 2019. Vineyard owners and farm management firms opposed the new regulations, saying agricultural work shouldn't be held to the same standard since weather conditions can make working impossible some days, forcing crews to make up the difference later. See page 15. Investment firm buys Duckhorn's flock TSG Consumer Partners of San Francisco, Calif., purchased Napa, Calif.-based Duckhorn Wine Co. and its wine brands from GI Partners. Duckhorn owns 600 acres of estate vineyards and six brands that pro- duce premium Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Anderson Valley Pinot Noir and Russian River Chardonnay, among other varietals. See page 15. LATEST NEWS More detail on the news at winesandvines.com Top Stories The month in perspective

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Wines & Vines - October 2016 Bottles and Labels Issue