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Statistics |
| Unique Visitors: 1 |
| Total Unique Visitors: 7995 |
| Visitors Out: 469 |
| Total Visitors Out: 469 |
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| Five California Wine Brands Come Home |
| 2008-07-04 13:14:00 |
Jim DeBonis, former COO of Beam Wine Estates, has announced the formation of Ascentia Wine Estates, Healdsburg. Ascentia Wine Estates' first major acquisition is a portfolio of wineries representing a million-case annual production of highly rated wines five from California and three from the Pacific Northwest. The company also acquired 646 acres of prime vineyard land. Ascentia Wine Estates acquired the portfolio of labels from Constellation Brands.The newly-formed company comprises a group of investors that includes William and Peter Deutsch, proprietors of leading wine importer W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd., and GESD Capital Partners, a San Francisco-based private equity food and beverage investor."We are thrilled wit...
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| Temecula, California: wine-country getaway package |
| 2008-06-23 04:46:00 |
Napa, shmappa. Skip the long drive and head instead to Southern California’s own wineries lightly peppering our region from Malibu on down to San Diego. One of the more winery-dense areas is Temecula. If you’re looking for a lure, Temecula Creek Inn offers a package with a stay, tickets to wineries and lots of opportunities to taste-test.Deal: Here’s the scoop on the Wine Country Getaway package: For $335 and up per night (pre-tax and based on double occupancy), you and your companion get a room, a bottle of local wine, breakfast, a picnic lunch, a regional wine-accompanied dinner at the hotel’s Temet Grill and tickets to select local wineries. You’ll visit three wineries; Falkner Winery, Leonese Cellars and Stuart Cellars are among those chosen for guests’ packages.
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| He put California wine on the map |
| 2008-06-11 03:02:00 |
To say Robert Mondavi was to American wine what Julia Child was to French food would not be an exaggeration. Over his long life, especially after opening his eponymous winery in 1966, he did as much as anyone could do to put American wine on the international stage."Everybody in the wine business needs to be grateful to him. He made the California wine industry," said Anthony Terlato, chairman of the Terlato Wine Group and Terlato Wines International, which are based in Lake Bluff. "He was unselfish; he never worried about making money. He was concerned about great wine. He wanted to make great wine."Terlato met Mondavi in 1955 when he traveled to California on his honeymoon. He spent a week on the Mondavi Ranch, tasting wines with Mondavi and watching, fascinated, as he undertook wine training with the wait staff at restaurants in San Francisco. That wasn't done much then.
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| Calif. wine patriarch Robert Mondavi dead at 94 |
| 2008-05-20 15:22:00 |
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Robert Mondavi, the vintner who built his career and helped an iconic Northern California industry blossom by insisting that Napa Valley wines can compete with the best in the world, died in the valley Friday. He was 94.Mondavi died peacefully at his home in Yountville, Robert Mondavi Winery spokeswoman Mia Malm said."It is hard to imagine anyone having more of a lasting impact on California's $20 billion-a-year wine industry than Robert Mondavi," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement. Mondavi, said the governor, was "a tireless entrepreneur who transformed how the world felt about California wine, and an unforgettable personality to everyone who knew him."
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| The U.S Wine Industry |
| 2008-05-06 04:41:00 |
* The retail value of wine produced in the United States in 2005 was $23.8 billion, about 73 percent of the total wine sold in the United States. * About 90 percent of the volume of wine produced in the United States comes from California. California-produced wines also account for 95 percent of the value of all U.S. wine sold. * An estimated 305 million cases of wine from all sources were sold in the United States in 2006. * The vast majority of wineries in the United States produce less than 5,000 cases of wine per year. Together these wineries represent less than two percent of all the wine the United States produces but a major share of the wine costing more than $30/bottle.
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| California merlot ripe for a comeback |
| 2008-04-23 10:21:00 |
There is no doubting that 2005 is a great vintage for Bordeaux's merlot-dominated wines - when all manner of wineries succeed from the fanciest such as Chateau Petrus, which sell upwards of $1,000 a bottle, to Chateau Franc Mayne, which sells in the $35 to $50 category. And wine drinkers are going to be flocking to those wines. But, here is the rub. The 2005 vintage in Pomerol and St. Emilion, those parts of the prestigious Bordeaux region that lie across the river from the famous city, has produced very ripe wines whose California-like roundness and richness is atypical. Moreover, the popular cry that California wines are too ripe and sweet now applies to 2005 in Pomerol and St. Emilion.
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| California Wine Show headed to Metro |
| 2008-04-15 11:23:00 |
It's time to heighten your sense of smell and practice swirling glasses, the second annual California Wine Fair will soon be in Moncton April 22.The wine tasting event in the afternoon provides invited guests from the liquor boards, wine retail trade, and the hospitality industry a chance to sample a variety of wines from over 50 different California vineyards.The evening event, which is being presented by Taylor Ford Lincoln, welcomes the general public to enjoy the quality wines, as well as hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction.
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| Five Perfect Days in California Wine Country |
| 2008-04-10 15:44:00 |
There are some places you can't help but fall in love with at first sight and return to year after year. We've chosen some of the world's most beloved (and touristed) destinations and, with the help of the best travel specialists in the business, have ferreted out their secrets, their treasures, their unmissable experiences. The result is a series of step-by-step trips that will surprise and delight those who've never been to the destination before . . . or have been a dozen times. Each of our highly detailed itineraries has been vetted and perfected by a Condé Nast Traveler editor, and each can be bought as is with just one phone call. Let the romance begin.
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| California wine sales grow |
| 2008-04-01 16:08:00 |
Domestic sales of California wine grew 6 percent last year to a record $18.9 billion as consumers continued to buy more -- and more expensive -- offerings from the state's wineries, according to data released Tuesday by the Wine Institute, an industry group.Despite the 2007 sales increase, analysts point to two causes for concern.First, sales of California wines grew more slowly than import sales, meaning that the state's wineries lost market share.
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| Celebrate Earth Day with Eco-Friendly California Wine |
| 2008-03-26 06:46:00 |
Earth Day 2008 will be celebrated on April 22. This year more Americans than ever will re-examine how their lifestyles and choices impact the environment. Global warming, greenhouse gases and carbon footprint have become household terms, and consumer groups, government agencies, and businesses are working on ways to preserve the land, air, water and other natural resources. Protecting the environment is a priority for the California wine industry, and has been for years. Vintners and growers made a formal commitment to implement sustainable practices by establishing in 2002 a best practices program named the Code of S...
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| Gundlach Bundschu Winery, the oldest continuously operated family winery in California |
| 2008-03-18 14:42:00 |
Those two words - winery and family - are uniquely married in the six-generation history of what almost everyone calls simply Gun Bun, also known as Rhinefarm. And Wednesday, numerous members of the Gun Bun family gathered with local dignitaries to celebrate "Deed Day" and kick off the celebration of their sesquicentennial.President Jeff Bundschu presided over a frequently funny and often inspiring review of the winery's history, and local dignitaries added their congratulations, including 1st District Supervisor Valerie Brown, Sonoma Mayor Joanne Sanders and state Assemblymember Noreen Evans. Representatives of Rep. Mike Thompson and Assemblymember Jared Huffman presented proclamations, and Evans read a letter from Gov.
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| Calif. region has wine lover dreamin' |
| 2008-03-12 02:34:00 |
To define California wine is impossible. There are so many different appellations (defined wine growing areas with unique climatic conditions and soil make-up) that you literally have hundreds of little "wine states" within one big one. Many people have heard of Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. These two regions are so beloved that they may as well secede from the state and form their own wine nation.Remove those two from the big picture, and you still have barely scratched the California surface. Thanks to the movie Sideways, the often-overlooked region of "The Central Coast" soared to fame. But Miles and Jack visited only the southern portion. The reality is that the Central Coast is one gigantic, all-encompassing, magical planet in its own right. You may recognize some of its "appellations" — Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Maria, Santa Ynez, Santa Cruz, Santa Rita and Santa Lucia. It is like Christmas all year round.
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| The issue of vintage can be complex |
| 2008-03-05 16:08:00 |
Weather in a given year is more critical in France, for example, than in California because wine production laws in many parts of France prohibit irrigation of vines. The climates in California wine regions are fairly consistent year to year, making differences between vintages less meaningful. So, unless you are specifically looking for wines to add to your collection for the purpose of aging them over a period of years, don't be too concerned about vintage. It's better to enjoy them according to your own needs and desires than to guess at when they might be at their peak.
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| California wine exports increased 77 percent in value and were shipped to 125 countries |
| 2008-03-02 07:12:00 |
U.S. wine exports, 95 percent from California, reached a record high $951 million in 2007, an 8.6 percent jump from the previous year, according to a report Friday from the Wine Institute, the industry’s lobby. Volume shipments in 2007 increased 12 percent to 453 million liters, compared to 2006. "The long-term sales trend continues to be positive. Over the last decade, U.S. and California wine exports increased 77 percent in value and were shipped to 125 countries," says Joseph Rollo, director of the Wine Institute’s international department.
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| Land of Wine and Food Promotion |
| 2008-02-26 14:15:00 |
Building on California's allure as America's "Capital of Culinary Travel," the California Wine Institute and the California Travel and Tourism Commission have entered into an historic partnership to promote the state's wine and cuisine offerings to the fast-growing travel segment of culinary connoisseurs -- and those who aspire to be.The heart of the campaign focuses on a new LandofWineandFood.com Web site which will debut at wine and food and travel media events in New York. Also to be unveiled at the New York events will be an exciting new national TV campaign featuring Governor Schwarzenegger, First Lady Maria Shriver and wine and culinary celebrities promoting California's rich bounty of wine and food, followed by a call to visit the new LandofWineandFood.com for more details.
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| Playhouse International Wine Festival impresses with age |
| 2008-02-22 16:06:00 |
The event was originally called the California Wine Festival, and one winery kicked it all off—Robert Mondavi. In recent years, they’ve thrown the doors open to all comers, except that there’s a lot of politics that goes on backstage as to who gets in—and which wine region gets proclaimed as the theme. Italy got lucky for number 30, and someone with a crotchety Italian-English dictionary came up with the slogan Innovation by Tradition, whatever that means. Nor is that enough of a fine-tuner; there’s also the “global focus”, which this year is sparkling wines. If you’re a lover of all things bright and bubbly, there’s more of what you crave in this year’s festival.
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| Jamie Davies dies at 73 |
| 2008-02-17 17:47:00 |
“Jamie was without exaggeration one of the most profound contributors to the California wine world,” said close friend and Napa Valley public relations executive Pam Hunter. “With her palate, which was very acute, she was very responsible for setting the style at Schramsberg. Those wines now are among the best in the country, and the reserves can hold their own against the French.”Both Davieses gave up burgeoning careers to try their hand at a new life in wine. Jack Davies had been a successful corporate executive in Southern California when he suggested to his wife that together they create something new.
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| Peter Newton, 81; Napa Valley vintner |
| 2008-02-13 23:48:00 |
Newton became interested in the wine business after buying a weekend home in Napa in the 1960s. He and a partner established Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga and released the first vintage in 1969. At the time, there were about 25 wineries in the area. There now are about 325, according to the Napa Valley Vintners Assn."Peter Newton was at the forefront of the California wine industry," wine merchant Paul Smith of Woodland Hills Wine Co. said this week. "He was very intelligent, he knew what he wanted and had a great vision."
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| The California wine grape harvest up slightly for 2007 |
| 2008-02-10 03:40:00 |
The California wine harvest came in at normal levels for a second year in a row in 2007. Brokers say the industry is heading back into balance after the curve thrown by 2005's bumper crop.Preliminary figures released by state agriculture officials today show the overall grape crop, including table grapes and raisins, totaled nearly three-point-seven million tons in 2007, up five percent from the year before.
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| Wine industry launches ‘buy California’ campaign |
| 2008-02-05 15:25:00 |
A new campaign touting California’s wine industry is being launched by the Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers.The "California First" 2008 campaign is designed to educate policy leaders, the media and consumers about the state's diverse winegrowing regions, wide array of wines and the industry's efforts in sustainability, the two industry groups say.
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| Getting juiced at wine tastings |
| 2008-02-02 04:19:00 |
The latest buzz in the industry comes from the Temecula Valley, where 21 winery owners have imposed stiff new rules requiring that transportation companies police the hordes of customers they bring to the valley on a typical weekend.Before the rules took effect in November, the scene was becoming increasingly raucous, officials said. Bachelorette parties and birthday celebrations would devolve into loud, obnoxious group binges.
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| Diageo buys Rosenblum for £53m |
| 2008-01-28 17:14:00 |
Diageo signalled its intention to dominate the US market for expensive wine by acquiring Rosenblum Cellars, one of the country’s biggest producers of zinfandel, for $105m (£53m).Rosenblum was founded by Kent Rosenblum, a vet from Minnesota who started his own vineyard specialising in zinfandel and Rhône varieties of wines after moving to California in 1970.
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| Plucking favorites on California wine tour |
| 2008-01-28 17:11:00 |
My trick to visiting California's wine country is the same as for tasting good wine: Don't gulp.The temptation is there. So many wineries, so little time. But to try to stop at every winery in Napa and Sonoma counties would be silly, boring and, yes, unhealthy, even with a designated driver. Plus, you'll miss the hidden gems along the way.
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| Disney's California Food and Wine Festival to be held April 11 |
| 2008-01-28 17:06:00 |
Now in its third year, Disney's California Food and Wine Festival will be held April 11 through May 5, 2008, with daily complimentary demonstrations and premiere ticketed events. The four-week festival will include the popular "Taste of California" Marketplace at Disney's California Adventure park, along with exclusive cooking courses at the Napa Rose restaurant and expert wine instruction from a master sommelier.
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| Film festival toasts Napa Valley wine history |
| 2008-01-28 09:58:00 |
A controversial film based on an infamous Paris wine-tasting event that embarrassed France's top experts was uncorked at the Sundance film festival this week.But long before its premiere, a key character in the true story said to have spurred New World wines toppling France's wine supremacy has been severely critical of the film's historical accuracy."Bottle Shock" by director Randall Miller revisits a 1976 blind tasting in which French experts hailed California wines over some of France's finest vintages.
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