Lombardi Leaves Ascentia for Kosta Browne

Tony Lombardi, head of public relations at Ascentia Wine Estates for more than 10 years, has joined Kosta Browne Winery as Director of Brand Management & Public Relations.
Contact info:
Kosta Browne Winery
2064 HWY 116 N, Bldg #3 Ste 31
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Ph: 707-823-5935
Tony@kostabrowne.com
www.kostabrowne.com

Written on August 26, 2010 | Posted in Worth A Look | No comment

MEB Investigating 3 Wineries On Grower Payments

Verified complaints about payment issues were filed in June by growers against three California wineries, according to the Market Enforcement Branch (MEB) of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
The MEB said it is currently reviewing complaints against:

Clos Mimi LLC,  Arroyo Grande
Sunstone Vineyards and Winery, Santa Ynez
Barber Cellars, Petulama

The MEB said complaints should [...]

Written on July 22, 2010 | Posted in Worth A Look | No comment

CDFA Lowers 2010 Pierce’s Disease Assessment

NEWS RELEASE
CDFA Secretary Kawamura Approves Lower Pierce’s Disease Assessment for 2010
Sacramento, CA – July 15, 2010 – A.G. Kawamura, Secretary of California’s Department of Food and Agriculture, has set the wine grape assessment at $0.75 per $1,000 dollars crushed value for the 2010 wine grape harvest. During its June 29th meeting, the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged [...]

Written on July 16, 2010 | Posted in Worth A Look | No comment

Court Orders EIR for Jackson’s Knights Valley Winery

Full Text of court decision here
NEWS RELEASE
Santa Rosa, CA June 21, 2010 – The Superior Court of California, Sonoma County, ruled in favor of the public in protecting natural resources by ordering that a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be completed for the Pelton House Winery and Events Center proposed by Jess Jackson and [...]

Written on June 22, 2010 | Posted in Worth A Look | No comment

Text of H.R. 5034 - Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness (CARE) Act of 2010

Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness (CARE) Act of 2010
H. R. 5034
To support State based alcohol regulation, to clarify evidentiary rules for alcohol matters, to ensure the collection of all alcohol taxes, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 15, 2010
Mr. DELAHUNT (for himself, Mr. COBLE, Mr. CHAFFETZ, and Mr. QUIGLEY) introduced the following bill; which [...]

Written on April 19, 2010 | Posted in Worth A Look | No comment

TTB ANNOUNCES PROPOSALS TO EXPAND THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY VITICULTURAL AREA AND RENAME THE YAMHILL-CARLTON DISTRICT VITICULTURAL AREA

For Immediate Release March 8, 2010
Contact: Art Resnick (202)453-2134 FY-10-04
TTB ANNOUNCES PROPOSALS TO EXPAND THE
SANTA MARIA VALLEY VITICULTURAL AREA
AND RENAME THE YAMHILL-CARLTON DISTRICT
VITICULTURAL AREA
Washington, D.C. – The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published two notices of proposed rulemaking on March 4th, 2010.
The first, Notice No.103, proposes to expand the Santa Maria Valley [...]

Written on March 19, 2010 | Posted in Worth A Look | No comment

Specialty Wine Retailers Statement On Wholesaler Bailout

For Immediate Release: March 18, 2010
Specialty Wine Retailers Statement on House Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Hearings To Consider Wholesaler Bailout From Competition
(Sacramento, CALIF)—Specialty Wine Retailers Association Executive Director Tom Wark issued the following statement today questioning the need for an alcohol wholesaler bailout from competition discussed at today’s Congressional hearings.
“Today’s hastily called hearings in [...]

Written on March 18, 2010 | Posted in Worth A Look | No comment

WSWA Applauds House Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy’s Hearing

NEWS RELEASE
March 18, 2010
WSWA Applauds House Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy’s Hearing on “Legal Issues Concerning State Alcohol Regulation”
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) President and CEO Craig Wolf issued the following statement today applauding congressional focus on problems associated with deregulating alcohol.
“WSWA welcomes congressional focus on the problems created by alcohol deregulation. [...]

Written on March 18, 2010 | Posted in Worth A Look | No comment

VIEW IT LIVE TODAY: Congress Hearing On Wholesalers’ New Way To Abolish Direct Shipping

VIEW IT LIVE TODAY!
The U.S. House Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy will hear testimony beginning at 10 a.m. PDT on the wholesalers’ new method to abolish direct shipping by legislatively prohibiting Commerce Clause challenges.
According to the committee calendar, the hearing is supposed to be webcast by accessing this URL:
http://judiciary.edgeboss.net/real-live/judiciary/17223/256_judiciary-coj_2141_070212.smi
NOTE: The video seems to require [...]

Written on March 18, 2010 | Posted in Worth A Look | No comment

Update: Greenfield/Cartlidge & Browne

This is an update to the introduction of Wine Industry Insight’s March 16, 2010 article titled: Calif Sanctions Greenfield/Cartlidge & Browne, 2 Others Over Grower Issues. The online versions of that article have been updated. The updates to that article are indicated in bold italics.
UPDATE:
Greenfield Wine Company’s ability to buy winegrapes is on probation following [...]

Written on March 17, 2010 | Posted in Worth A Look | No comment