WiVi Central Coast announces its new keynote speaker, Peter Faricy, vice president and general manager of the Amazon Marketplace, to address Central Coast wineries on Wednesday, March 20 in Paso Robles, Calif.

Don Neel, editor of Practical Winery & Vineyard, will lead the second portion of the session. He will moderate a panel discussing how growers can manage growth opportunities with a limited water supply and increased regulations.

Chris Alakel, water resources manager for the City of Paso Robles, will discuss how growers can manage growth opportunities with a limited water supply and increased regulations in the second portion of the session.

Water is the hottest commodity on the Central Coast, and a two-part viticulture session will address two important facets of winegrape growers' biggest concern at WiVi Central Coast 2013, held in Paso Robles, March 19-20.

He joins Lisa Bodrogi, land use and public policy advisor at Cuvee Consulting and Chris Alakel, water resources manager for the City of Paso Robles in providing insight and opinion to this important topic. Don Neel, editor of Practical Winery & Vineyard, will moderate.

'Deed Day' festivities planned in tasting room on March 9th

Long-lasting wildfires last summer and fall pumped a lot of smoke into the atmosphere and an unhealthy smoke layer hung over parts of central Washington for days, and sometimes weeks. It caught the eye of WSU viticulture expert Thomas Henick-Kling, who worried that the enduring smoke could harm maturing wine-grapes.

California wines made from Italian grapes, so-called Cal-Ital wines, are an on-again, off-again trend.

Conducted by an international accounting and research firm - Frank, Rimerman + Co, the research also found that the wine industry annually generates around $1.2bn in federal and provincial tax revenue, around $1.2bn in tourism revenue and creates over 31,000 jobs in the country.

Recent research also finds that alcohol can lower blood pressure and that French men who drink a glass or two daily gain less weight.

Registration reaches 993 on first day of Pennsylvania conference-trade show.

A sparkling wine grown by Laithwaite's Wine co-founder Barbara Laithwaite and her friend Cherry Thompson has picked up first prize at the Judgment of Parsons Green.

The Cheshire-based plant, whose customers include Australian Vintage, E&J Gallo and PLB, has filled more than 1.5 billion bottles of wine, beer, cider and soft drinks at its 21,600 site since 2006, exceeding the 200 million bottles a year target set by management when it began operations.

Juventus midfielder, Andrea Pirlo, has spoken of his desire to go into winemaking when he hangs up his boots.

California makes the best Chardonnay in the New World according to Anne-Claude Leflaive of leading Puligny-Montrachet estate Domaine Leflaive.

Analysts have challenged the UK beer sector's complaint that the Government's alcohol duty escalator is threatening the pub and brewing industry.

Champagne negociant business Pressoirs de France is almost certain to be broken up and its assets sold off after the company's administrator failed to sell it.

Described as 'genuinely humble' and 'an absolute gem of a man', Decanter Man of the Year 2013 Gerard Basset is widely credited with transforming the perception of sommeliers around the world.

The first 6,000 bottles of organic "Miraval Rose 2012" will be sold on the Internet on Thursday for $140 a case including shipping to addresses in France.

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber is on a trade mission in Germany this week. One item on his agenda is to promote Oregon wines at a major tourism trade show.

La Paulée, a mélange of seminars, discussions and tastings culminating in a grand dinner in which producers and collectors share precious bottles, has been so successful that it has inspired similar events celebrating other wines.

Growlers are already popular with beer drinkers, and state winemakers are pushing House Bill 2443 as a way to expand wine sales and embrace changes in consumer tastes. If approved, wine buyers would be able to bring or buy reusable containers up to two gallons and fill them directly from kegs at stores, taverns and restaurants.

"Wine prices are moving up. We've averaged over the last 20 years 14.9 percent growth year-on-year so that's pretty exciting."

The bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Jon Lundberg of Bristol is scheduled for an up-or-down vote in the House Local Subcommittee.

Among the wineries cited were Keuka Lake Vineyards, Heron Hill Winery, Lamoreaux Landing, Sheldrake Point, Bloomer Creek, Shaw Vineyards, and Anthony Road Wine Cellars.

Airport closures and flight cancellations today from the Winter Storm Saturn have stranded some chefs on their way to Delaware for the MidAtlantic Wine + Food Festival.

Economic experts say we are now seeing the benefits of bringing alcohol sales to parts of Smith County.

Go to any restaurant and you are likely to witness a bit of discrimination in wine. Women prefer white wine - usually chardonnay - and men prefer beer, cocktail, or red wine. OK, we know this is sexist and a stereotype.

America is in the midst of a wildly exciting love affair with wine right now, fueled not only by the evolving growth and sophistication of wine regions in California, Washington and Oregon, but also increasingly in places like Colorado, Texas, Michigan, New York and New Jersey.

"The concept is to think of a quality beer with a meal instead of wine," said Michael Pendleton, craft beer specialist for Budweiser of Hopkinsville.

The fourth annual Berkeley Wine Festival returns to the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa each Friday evening from from March 16-May 24.

Firefighters used a 105-foot ladder truck to rescue Chuck Sweeney after his SUV landed in 4 to 6 feet of water, 10 to 15 feet from the bank.

During the months of November and December, the winery donated 10 percent of net proceeds from gift merchandise to Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area. With this contribution, Alex from Novato was able to attend a San Francisco Giants game, meet the team and receive a bat signed by the World Series Champions.

What "natural wine" even means is a matter of fierce debate and a controversy where even the terms are being debated.

Since the Legislature legalized beer and wine sales at the stadium last year, football fans have downed almost a million dollars' worth of beer.

Same-store sales fell 5 percent in February, compared with January's increase of 0.4 percent. The first two weeks in February experienced very poor sales, influenced by inclement winter weather.

The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) has issued its 2012 Progress Report and Third Edition California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Workbook. Both the report and workbook can be viewed online at SustainableWinegrowing.org.

Domestic red wine companies are seeing slumping profits, and some are turning a loss for the first time. Experts say that in addition to the falling price of wine, foreign imports are nabbing up market share through new sales strategies and superior marketing.

Wickham Vineyard has reopened following a buyout from administration by its former manager Wilhelm Mead.

A new online fine wine stock exchange for the trade and private collectors and investors is set to launch later this month.

The Shard looms large to the south, the grey tower blocks of a council estate dominate the western horizon, and on the eastern edge of the field, two boys in hoodies scamper off, furtively.

Sonoma County Winegrowers has selected Karissa Kruse to become president of the organization when Nick Frey retires from the role on May 1.

La cave coopérative de Camplong, les vignerons des alentours et des amis de Fabrice Fito, vigneron au village, ont consacré deux journées à la taille des vignes de leur camarade, touché par la maladie.