A piece on Missouri Riesling came across the news desk today from Westphalia Vineyards:

Missouri Riesling wine was once widely available in the United States, but virtually all vines were destroyed at the onset of Prohibition in 1919. Considered an extinct, Native American grape, Westphalia Vineyards rediscovered a vine at the National Agricultural Experimentation Center at Cornell University that had been planted in 1890. Thanks to Thomas Jefferson, Cornell University was given the mission of preserving every American grape species.

Westphalia Vineyards started with five cuttings in 2005 and have now propagated this unique varietal to over 500 healthy vines. This year Westphalia Vineyards will bottle the first Missouri Riesling in nearly 100 years. We call this experiment “Renaissance,” the rebirth of Missouri Riesling, a Native American grape varietal. Production of this estate grown release is limited to just 40 cases.
 

The 2013 Wine Industry Technology Symposium keynote speakers have been announced:

Award-winning serial entrepreneur, author, speaker, and former U.S. Army Green Beret Larry Broughton will share his insights on transforming ordinary teams into extraordinary ones	Jonathan Good, Senior SMR Solutions at Oracle will deliver a keynote speech on "Developing a Social Relationship Management Strategy in the Wine Industry."	Miles Ward, Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services will deliver a keynote address about how Amazon is building the next generation platforms that are literally transforming how software and services are delivered.

 To register for WITS, click here.

The Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Foundation (SVVGF) awarded $10,000 in scholarship funds to the college bound children of Sonoma Valley Winery or Vineyard employees.

This year's scholarship recipients and their affiliations include:

Ruben Armenta, Archbishop Hanna High School - La Prenda Vineyard Management

Joshua Banks, Maria Carillo High School - Chateau St. Jean

Halli Dobson, Sonoma Valley High School - Larson Family Winery

Ruben Armenta

In addition to the cash scholarship awards, Pacific Office Automation generously donated a new laptop to outstanding student, Ruben Armenta. Pacific Office Automation is a top level sponsor of Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance and proudly prints the Sonoma Valley Winery Map.

The SVVGA Scholarship Committee includes: Brian Shepard, Chair – Jack London Vineyard; Jeff Bundschu – Gundlach Bundschu Winery; Pat Stornetta – Leveroni Vineyards; and Tish Ward – Atwood Ranch.

Over the past nine years, the SVVGF has awarded just over $100,000 to deserving high school seniors who have at least one parent employed by a winery or vineyard within the Sonoma Valley appellation.

Selected Recent Sales of Grapes & Wines in Bulk for June 3, 2013 courtesy of Turrentine Brokerage:

Bulk Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 wine, Lake County, 10,000 gallons at $17.50 per gallon

Barbera 2012 wine, California, 3,200 gallons at $7.00 per gallon

Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 wine, Alexander Valley, 6,200 gallons at $18.00 per gallon

Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 wine, Stags Leap District, 8,500 gallons at $22.50 per gallon

Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 wine, Napa Valley, 7,000 gallons at $24.00 per gallon

Grapes

Merlot 2013 grapes, Rutherford, 15 tons at $2,900.00 per ton

Pinot Noir 2013 grapes, Arroyo Seco, 40 tons at $1,900.00 per ton

We just received this announcement about the first Chenin Blanc Petite Sirah Conference to take place in Clarksburg, California on Aug 22-23.

The first annual Chenin Blanc Petite Sirah Conference will be held August 22-23 at the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg, offering growers, vintners, the wine trade and consumers new insights into the two varieties' special opportunities and challenges. A presentation will be made honoring wine author and columnist Gerald Asher, who famously said about Clarksburg Chenin Blanc, "the right grape in the right place."

The Old Sugar Mill is an active event site fifteen minutes from Sacramento, where nine wineries have tasting rooms and the Clarksburg Wine Company is headquartered. "The conference will explore where the two varieties are grown and cultivated, plus what types and pricing are doing well in the market," according to John Beckman, General Manager of the Old Sugar Mill. "We're developing our program with the help of area businesses such as Sacramento Farm to Fork and Visitsacramento.com," said G.M. "Pooch" Pucilowski, the conference director. "Wineries are already showing enthusiasm and we'll have a wonderful tasting on Thursday evening."

Conference package registration (two-day conference with lunches and a Thursday wine tasting) is $365 until June 30; $395 July 1-August l0; and $435 after that. The Thursday wine tasting is $35 in advance; $55 at the door. For more information and to register, contact gmpooch@me.com.

More news this week from the New York Wine & Grape Foundation:

We commissioned an industry economic impact study in 2008 which showed our industry's total benefit to the state exceeds $3.76 billion annually. That's old data, and surely now conservative. So we're going to do another one using 2012 data, and also include the economic impact of the other farm-based craft beverages (beer, spirits, cider).

Meanwhile, our friends at Farm Credit East have published the latest data on the "Impact of Agriculture, Commercial Fishing, Forestry and Related Businesses in Six Northeastern States". The total farm gate value of $8.9 billion and 130,579 jobs grows to $17.2 billion and $175,294 jobs when you add in farm and local community impact, and further to $71.3 billion and 378,665 jobs when processing activity is factored in. New York is by far the largest of the six states, with a total economic impact of $38.4 billion and 196,000 jobs, or more than half the totals.

Governor John Hickenlooper has proclaimed Colorado Wine Week through Saturday, June 8.

In 2011, Gov. John Hickenlooper, a former beer magnat who has been a huge supporter of local everything, declared the first week of June “Colorado Wine Week” to coincide with the first annual Colorado Urban Winefest.

It has grown to feature seven days of local wine celebration, including:
-Colorado wine and small plate specials at top restaurants
-Specialized events almost every night of the week
-The annual Colorado Urban Winefest

See the schedule of events here.

This came in over the weekend from the New York Wine & Grape Foundation:

Direct sales of wine to American consumers once again grew in both volume and value in 2012, and now exceed the value of U.S. wine exports, according to a report by ShipCompliant and Wines & Vines.

Total volume (3.18 million cases) increased by 7.7% over 2011 and 18% over 2010, while total value ($1.46 billion) increased by 10% and 24%, respectively. California consumers account for 32% of all shipments, and the top five states (CA, NY, TX, IL, FL) represent over 60% of all shipments. (We do not have specific figures for New York, sorry.)

Three types of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Blends, Pinot Noir) account for over 50% of total volume shipped, with Rose, Sparkling Wine, and Pinot Noir registering the greatest increases. Napa represents 49% of total value shipped, in part because of the average bottle price ($56.87), while Washington State strongly increased total shipments as well as total value (up 40%) due in part to a 19% increase in bottle price.

Ten years ago, wine wholesalers did everything they could to prevent wineries from shipping directly to consumers, and to prevent consumers from having a choice, wanting instead to preserve their legislated monopoly. But the "Granholm" decision of the Supreme Court provided a major impetus for states like New York to finally do the right thing--even though it still remained a pitched battle until the very end. Many thanks to Pete Saltonstall, John Martini, and Julie Suarez of New York Farm Bureau for fighting the good fight.

Not only has direct shipping given wineries more options and increased sales, but it has also prompted some national wine magazines to finally cover wines from New York (and other small winery states) because now their readers may buy them.

Bloom is here in the Petaluma Gap:

From the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance:

With the chance of frost now a distant memory, the warm days of late spring are having their magic effect on the Gap vines. Shoots are reaching skyward toward the sun and young grape clusters are starting to bloom. Yes, grape clusters really do bloom! But don't expect a prolific show of color along our scenic roadways. In fact, you pretty much have to be up close and personal to even see the tiny white petals. Flowering or blooming is the stage where pollination and fertilization of the grapevine takes place. Grapevines are self-pollinating, so no bees are involved. Self-pollination occurs when pollen grains from the anthers of the flower travel to the stigmas of the same flower or to other flowers on the same plant. This results in self-fertilization and leads to the eventual formation of the fruit. While the grapevine is flowering, the ideal weather conditions are mild, wind-free days with no rain. Rain, too hot or too cold days, and lots of wind can prevent proper pollination and could result in bunches that are too compact or too loose with only a small number of berries per bunch. Significant rain is unusual in the Gap this time of year, but strong afternoon winds are a frequent occurrence. Only time will tell if the wind has had an adverse effect on pollination, which is next month's article -- Fruit Set!

Send your bloom photos to blog@winebusiness.com

Wine Institute announced last week the 9th annual September California Wine Month. In addition, they announced "California Wines Road Trip" event details.

A great way to experience many of California's wine regions in one stop is Wine Institute's "California Wines Road Trip" multi-region tasting events in New York City and San Francisco in September. In New York City, Friday the 13th will be a lucky day for wine lovers who can sample wines at California Wine Merchants from 5-7:30 p.m. Later in the month, they can attend a ticketed New York City tasting event with more than 70 wines from 10 California regions at the Astor Center on Monday, Sept. 16 from 6-8 p.m. (click here for information and tickets); and enjoy in-store tastings that will take place throughout September across Manhattan and Brooklyn. In San Francisco, wine lovers can taste their way across the state's regions on Saturday Sept. 21 from 2-5 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Ferry Building, following its popular farmer's market (click here for information and tickets).