WITS, the only conference focused on successfully deploying technology solutions in the wine industry, is next week -- August 21, 2018

The California 50 - much like the Bordeaux 500, Fine Wine 50, Burgundy 150 or Italy 100 - tracks the performance of the 10 most recent physical vintages from the five most prominent and actively traded labels in the secondary market. In this instance they are: Dominus, Opus One, Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate and Ridge Monte Bello

"The test results from ETS Laboratories demonstrated unacceptable high levels of TCA in the 2015 RGP Pinot Noir"... James Suckling rated the RGP 2015 Pinot Noir a 79 ...

Key takeaways from Wines & Vines 2018 Packaging Conference

"A wine label is your opportunity to tell your customer what they can likely expect from what's inside the bottle, set their expectations as far as style, quality, price, etc. You don't want to create a situation of cognitive dissonance where the package promise ..."

Despite the gloomy air, producers are pleased as the 2018 harvest kicks off

"The current market for bulk wine, in many ways, has returned to what many consider to be a normal buying cycle in regards to buyers' purchasing habits. With buyers focused on wines for current bottling for the first time since the Global Financial Crisis, this doesn't feel normal to many, since it has been nearly ten years. We, as an industry, need to be cognizant of the differences between indicators of market change and annual occurrences without falsely giving meaning to that which happens every year, regardless of where we are in the wine market cycle"

TWE has commenced a 'Simplify for Growth' (S4G) program in F18. "S4G is primarily targeting operational efficiency, enhanced returns on brand building investment as well as growth opportunities."

The chief executive of Treasury Wine Estates, Michael Clarke, will take home more than $18.6 million this year, after the maker of Penfolds and Wolf Blass met earnings guidance

The organization to increase local community outreach and education, positioning the farm bureau as "the premier policy organization" and "leading voice of Napa County agriculture," the announcement said.

Sonoma County wine community's annual giving benefits education, health and human services, environment, and arts and culture

On Saturday, the group hosts its largest fundraiser, the yearly Harvest Festival at the Oxbow Commons, where the recipients of its academic scholarships will be announced. The group has granted more than $50,000 to date

A wine bar dedicated to promoting Southern Oregon vintages opens Friday in downtown Medford. Owner Natasha Hopkins has refashioned an aging storefront into an elegant establishment she envisions as a touchpoint for newcomers to the local wine industry, and a one-stop tasting room for dozens of local vintners. She also sees Rogue Grape - across the street from the Craterian Theater at 36 S. Central Ave. - riding a new wave of downtown activity.

As reported by Forbes, boxed wine is also enjoying its moment in the sun in the US, with sales up 7% on last year, while the overall wine sales at retail in the US are flat at $3.3 billion.

Since August 2, 2018, the active fire perimeter of the Mendocino Complex Fires shifted into remote forest wildlands around 15 to 30 miles north of Lake County vineyards. Additionally, as of Wednesday, August 8, 2018, thousands of residents were able to return to their homes as evacuation orders lifted for most Lake County towns. Lake County winegrape growers are glad to see people back in their homes and back to work, striving for normalcy on all accounts.

As if the big dry isn't enough for our vignerons to contend with, the drought has presented them with another epidemic that could potentially wipe out their income for the next 12 months - kangaroos.

Clear skies have returned, but many have wondered if the temporary stratum of smoke had any ill effect on the ripening grapes in vineyards dotting those hills? Hardly, growers say.

Lewis Station Winery Chef Jason Dunn and his crew began assembling the large salad at about 3:30 p.m. and had it finished by 5 p.m.

"I'm really excited about that," says Brittany Sherwood, often. She tags the expression onto the end of more than a few sentences as she speaks about her work at Heitz Cellar. The 28-year-old winemaker has been appointed to helm production at one of Napa's most storied labels, part of the changes underway here since the Heitz family sold the winery earlier this year to the Memphis, Tenn.-based Lawrence family,

At 10 months after the blazes, Signorello, Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa's Fountaingrove area and Frey Vineyards in Mendocino County's Redwood Valley are still at least a few years away from fully reopening, but they recently restored key functions such as tasting rooms, winemaking and main offices.

Way back a long time ago, when "yelp" was something the cat did when you accidently stepped on its tail, 691 Broadway was a private home. We know it now as the home of HopMonk Sonoma, and the venue has an interesting backstory

the company has developed and launched a new, dedicated website to better serve our customers, www.swashequipment.com

Aldi, one of the world's largest grocery store chains, will start selling a set of 24 miniature bottles of wine for the first time in its U.S. stores for those observing the religious days leading up to Christmas. The bottles - two of each of 12 different varieties - are intended to be drunk in conjunction with the Advent calendar

The natural wine evangelist and sommelier behind Frenchette talks flavor profiles, price points, and the wines you're not drinking enough

The top chef, whose restaurants hold a cumulative 21 Michelin stars, was ousted from his position after he lost the tender to run the Jules Verne, as well as a brasserie on the first floor and snack counters, to fellow chefs Frederic Anton and Thierry Marx

As one of a very few modern-era grape growers and winemakers in El Dorado County in the early 70's, John MacCready was a tireless promoter of the county as a promising wine growing region. His Sierra Vista Winery founded in 1977 was one of the first three El Dorado wineries in the modern wine business and his vineyard planted in 1974 was in rarified company

After decades of calculated success, Sancerre remains a "basic" pleasure for many drinkers. Can it be more?

Do you tend to follow the advice of "someone who knows," whether that's the sommelier at a restaurant or the staffer at your local shop or a writer you like to follow?

Rupert Symington, one of seven family members who run Symington Family Estates, is convinced that the future of wine is in tourism. He believes that when people walk through a Duoro vineyard, seeing and feeling the soil and tasting the wine, they will have an unforgettable experience and connection to the brand

All they really needed to do was go out into any UK town centre on a Friday night and talk to revellers enjoying Jagerbombs and vodka and Red Bulls.

From Napa to Châteauneuf, here's what the winemakers told us about making the King's cut. Plus, Médoc, Maipo, mayhem collide in epic new wine-painted wine comic; questionable '70s diet recommends wine, eggs, steak, coffee, nothing else

"Just as we have seen with 'craft' and 'natural', the word 'luxury' has been appropriated by lazy marketers."