20100129

California wine sales dropped in '09

California remains No. 1 in domestic wine production, but the state's wine industry experienced a drop in shipments in 2009, the first such loss in 16 years.

Consumption of wine nationally rose 2.1% last year, according to new statistics just released. However, industry analyst Jon Fredrikson says, the public is buying less expensive imported bulk wine rather tha the pricier California wines.

Speaking at the annual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, Frederikson said, "Usually, we're raving about how great the year was, but this was probably the worst year you ever had."

The state's seven largest producers last year had overall sales growth of nearly 7 million cases. Overall, however, the state's wine industry shipments dropped nearly 4%, nearly 4 million cases, for the first 11 months of last year.

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Kosher wine-and-food extravaganza in NYC


From time to time, I get an inquiry about kosher wine and food events. They're few and far between.

However, if you're willing to trek to Manhattan, you can take care of that problem on Monday (February 1).

The Royal Wine Corporation of Bayonne, NJ, is hosting a "Kosher Restaurant & Wine Experience" at 6:30 p.m. at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers. The event will feature tastings from 20 kosher restaurants -- Abigael's, Cho-Sen Gardens, Fumio, Glatt a la Carte, Le Marais, Pomegranate, Noi Due and Taverre 84 among them -- and 200 varietals from 40 international wineries.

Numerous winemakers will be on hand. There also will be a seminar by Jay Buchsbaum, Royal’s fine wine director Jay Buchsbaum.

The cost is $100 per person or $175 a couple. Details and reservations: Call (888) 710-2439 or go online.

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20100126

What is Bill drinking?

I've just added a trio of products to my Dowd's Tasting Notes site.

Join me there to get the lowdown on three products you won't come across every day -- a wine, a liqueur and a whiskey. Specifically:

• Domaine de la MordorĂ©e Tavel

• American Fruits Sour Cherry Liqueur

• McKenzie Rye Whiskey

On Dowd's Tasting Notes, you'll find a large archive of comments on wines, whiskies, brews and other adult beverages, Feel free to post your questions or comments.

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20100123

Lafite '82 auctioned for $46.7 thousand

Anyone used to buying Two-Buck Chuck or similar inexpensive wines may choke on their goblets over this news.

A 6-liter bottle of Chateau Lafite 1982 went for the equivalent of US$46,700 at a sold-out wine auction in Hong Kong.

The sale came during a 10-hour event Thursday covering more than 800 lots. The total sales were $6.8 million, nearly twice the pre-auction estimate by host Sotheby’s.

Despite frequent news reports of economic woes in China, mainland Chinese bidders won about a quarter of the lots.

Hong Kong eliminated wine duties in February 2008, which has sharply increased interest in wines and wine collecting. The city held 14 wine auctions last year which pulled in an estimated $64.3 million.

Sotheby’s says Hong Kong has surpassed London as its second largest market, and it now ranks behind only New York.

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20100121

NY wine-in-markets plan fills gaps

Widespread support quickly formed up this week after New York Gov. David Paterson unveiled his proposed Executive Budget that calls for allowing wine sales in supermarkets. The details in his proposal appear to make up for some of the objections by liquor store owners to a pending bill now before the State Legislature.

The state's ongoing search for new revenues is tied to potential taxes to be paid on such expanded sales. The governor's office has estimated potential annual revenue of $147 million for the state.

The group New Yorkers for Growth and Open Markets, a statewide coalition of advocates seeking liquor law changes, has praised Paterson's proposed FY2011 Executive Budget for including the "Wine Industry and Liquor Store Revitalization Act."

The Paterson version expands on last summer's proposal by Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, D-Monroe County, and State Senator Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, that still is pending. That bill, titled the "Wine Industry and Liquor Store Revitalization Act," is sponsored by 36 legislators from across the state. It is intended to address criticism from liquor store owners fearful that large chain markets would severely hurt their base.

Among the additions the Paterson proposal would make:

• Eliminate Prohibition-era restrictions by allowing liquor store owners to expand their product offerings to include such items as wine accessories and snack foods, something they're currently prohibited from selling.

• Increase the number of stores that may be owned, thereby lifting the current on-license-per-company limit.

• Allow the sale of wine in those outlets currently licensed to sell beer. That would open up significant new markets for wineries.

New Yorkers for Growth and Open Markets is comprised of New York State wineries, grape growers, liquor stores, business organizations, grocers and farmers advocating for comprehensive changes to the state's antiquated liquor laws that will result in increased consumer choice and opportunities for economic growth.

Some comments from various industry spokespersons in favor of the proposal:

Scott Osborn, president of the New York Wine Industry Association: "We are grateful to the Governor for his continued leadership on an issue that is so critical to the sustainability and growth of the New York wine industry. The inclusion of the much needed reforms for our partners, the liquor stores, makes this a comprehensive revitalization package we whole heartedly support."

Bob Demeo, a liquor store owner in Troy, NY, for nearly 30 years: "After last year's wine in grocery store proposal included nothing to help liquor stores, we said to Albany, 'Fix the liquor laws, make this work for our industry too, and give us a chance to compete on a level playing field.' And you know what? They listened. The fact is that there are liquor store owners in New York who support sensible changes like these that can improve our businesses and enhance our bottom line."

Jim Bedient, president, New York State Wine Grape Growers: "[We] join together with our fellow small business partners around the state in applauding Governor Paterson for his commitment to the growth and development of the grape-growing and wine community in New York. Allowing for the sale of wine in food stores will create new jobs and new revenue for our state while providing greater consumer choice for all New Yorkers. New York is home to more than 1,000 grape growing farms and over 270 wineries who welcome the opportunity to place their product in new retail markets. Governor Paterson's proposal will continue to help our growers, vintners and wineries rejuvenate our industry and restore New York to one of the premier wine and grape producing states in the nation."

Dean Norton, president, New York Farm Bureau, the advocacy group for family farmers: "New York Farm Bureau has long supported allowing wine in grocery stores, as well as modernizing the liquor laws so that retail liquor stores can also succeed. Our organization stands behind the Governor and his thoughtful consideration of this important economic development initiative for New York's growing wine and grape sector," said the state's largest agricultural advocacy organization for family farmers."

Heather Briccetti, vice president of government affairs of The Business Council of New York State: "The sale of wine in grocery stores will help New York's wine industry, grape growers while producing new revenue for the state. The current proposal will also help liquor stores compete in the marketplace. This plan will create jobs and increase economic activity in New York."

Scott Wexler, executive director of the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association:
"New York State has had a long-standing need to update its liquor laws, and this comprehensive approach will go a long way toward modernizing an antiquated system. Not only will it help liquor stores, wineries and grape growers, but other small businesses such as restaurant or tavern owners are likely to benefit as well – and the more we can support small businesses, the better the economic outlook will be for all New Yorkers."

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20100120

Wineries Unlimited event targets profit

"Show me the money" could be the subtitle of the upcoming Wineries Unlimited conference.

The formal title is "Balancing Costs and Quality for Profit," the theme of what is the second largest vineyard and winery conference and trade show in North America. It is scheduled for March 9-12 at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA. The event has been produced by Vineyard & Winery Management magazine since 1976.

"The conference theme ... is both relevant and a top priority,” said Richard Leahy, program director and East Coast editor of the magazine (current issues seen above).

"Despite the recession, we can’t afford to sacrifice wine quality, but we must stay profitable. The challenge is how to find the right balance that works for vineyards, wineries and their customers."

"Balancing Costs and Quality for Profit" also is the title of a March 11 plenary session that will be conducted by researchers Keith Striegler, director and Viticulture Program leader at the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology at the University of Missouri, and Chris Gerling, extension enologist at Cornell University.

Both will discuss how they interpret the conference theme from their respective professional viewpoints, and later, present four specialized sessions.

The full conference schedule is available online.

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20100118

Crispin cider puts on a new face

The Crispin Cider Company is putting a new face on its "blue line" of natural hard apple ciders.

The new packaging (right) features a larger Crispin Tree logo, as well as richer, bolder
colors and embossed lettering to give the bottle a more premium look and feel.

Crispin is headquartered in Minneapolis. Its Blue Line consists of the Elegant Original, Invigorating Light and Brut, a European-style extra-dry.

Among its other products, it also makes a yellow-labeled Crispin Honey Crisp Artisanal Reserve (left), a small batch super-premium hard cider smoothed with organic honey. The makers suggest all their ciders be consumed over ice.

Crispin Hard Ciders are naturally fermented using apple juice rather than apple juice concentrate, from a premium blend of West Coast apples, with no added malt, grape wine or spirit alcohol. It is smoothed with pure apple juice or from such natural sugar sources as organic honey or organic maple syrup, and contain no added colorants, sorbate or benzoate preservatives and are filtered cold. They also are gluten free. person.

If you're not up on the ins and outs of hard cider, go to my "All things cider and how to taste them" guide.

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San Francisco about to be ZAP-ed


The 19th annual Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) Festival is set for January 28-20 in San Francisco.

The event, to be held at the Fort Mason and Intercontinental Hotel, is three days of tastings, wine pairings and seminars.

Beverly Gannon (above left), chef of the Hali'imaile General Store in Maui, Hawaii, will prepare Hawaiian-themed food to pair with selected Zins at the January 28 dinner at Herbst Pavilion in Fort Mason.

More than 250 producers will offer samples of their wines at the Grand Zinfandel Tasting on January 30.

Admission to individual events or all three days ranges from $59 to $524, and is by advance purchase only. Information is available online.

Go here for a video interview with Chef Gannon.

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Constellation cuts its cider connection

Constellation Brands has sold off a 240-year-old English cidermaker.

Constellation, headquartered in Victor, NY, near Rochester, completed the sale of its Gaymer Cider Company to the C&C Group of Dublin, Ireland, for about US$80 million.

The C&C Group is best known for producing Magners cider and the lager brand Tennents.

Total cider volumes fell by 15% in the UK over the past three months. A C&C spokesman said business conditions in its core cider markets are "challenging."

The C&C Group’s longtime core brand was Bulmers Cider, but it held brand rights only in Ireland. Thus, it had to develop a new brand to launch outside its home market. The Magners brand was introduced for this purpose in 1999.

C&C acquired the Tennents brand and Wellpark Brewery in August 2009 from brewing giant Inbev, now Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Constellation Brands is the leading producer of premium wines in the world, with a portfolio that includes spirits, imported beers and other select beverage alcohol products. It is the largest premium wine company in the U.S., the largest wine company in the UK, Australia and Canada, the second largest wine company in New Zealand, and the largest beer importer and marketer in the U.S. through its Crown Imports joint venture with Mexico's Grupo Modelo.

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20100115

She can see vodka from her window

She has no known connection with the wine and spirits industries, but Alaska ex-governor Sarah Palin has been scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the 67th annual Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) convention in Las Vegas in April.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate was chosen because she "is a great supporter of America's free enterprise system and understands that industries like the beverage alcohol industry play a key role in driving our national economy," said Craig Wolf, WSWA president and CEO.

"We expect she will share with the convention attendees her analysis of the current political environment and her vision for America's future."

Normally, prominent figures in the industries are selected as keynote speakers.

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20100106

Boston Wine Expo discount tix available

Discounted tickets are available until January 15 for the 19th annual Boston Wine Expo, scheduled this year for January 23-24 at the Seaport World Trade Center.

The organizers call this the largest trade and consumer wine event in the country, with more than 450 wineries participating and pouring samples of more than 1,800 wines from domestic and foreign producers.

The event also includes free food samples from a wide variety of vendors, as well as workshops and seminars.

Full details are available online.

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20100104

Napa's Copia facility still in limbo

April L. Dowd photo

From the North Bay (CA) Business Journal

NAPA, CA -- More than a year after Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts, filed for Chapter 11 protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Rosa, its future is still up in the air.

Copia opened its doors on Nov. 1, 2001, and closed them for good on Nov. 21, 2008, after a tumultuous seven-year run. Built at an initial cost of $55 million, and with major funding from Robert Mondavi and family, the non-profit center lost more than $4 million a year and never attracted the numbers of ticket buyers, memberships or donations forecast in its business plan.

"We are still evaluating possible options for Copia," said a spokesman for Alvarez Marsal LLC, the New York City-based real estate firm retained to market the property. "Some alternatives that have been considered include leasing part of the complex and selling other segments, but no final decision has been reached."

The vision of Copia’s founders was that it would be all things to all people when it came to discovering, understanding and celebrating wine, food and the arts in American culture. It was billed as a cultural museum and educational center, but it was much more. It housed a rare books library, a 74-seat demonstration kitchen, wine tasting table, a gourmet restaurant named for Julia Child, a cafe, gift shop, a 3.5 acre flower and organic edible garden, an event venue with 13,000 square feet of gallery space for exhibitions, a 260-seat theater and also boasted an outdoor concert terrace with seating for 700 plus 341 parking spaces.

[Go here for the full story.]

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