Team C&J
In a significant move for Pinot Noir enthusiasts, Burgundy’s renowned Domaine Faiveley has acquired a majority stake in Sonoma Valley’s esteemed Williams Selyem, following its initial minority purchase in 2020. This acquisition aims to retain the winery’s team and operations while leveraging Faiveley’s expertise to enhance Williams Selyem’s growth and quality. Concurrently, the Bordeaux vineyard market is experiencing a steep decline in value due to decreased demand, contrasting with rising land prices in regions like Saumur and Côte d’Or in Burgundy. On a brighter note, the USA has emerged as the leading market for Chablis wines by value, driven by robust economic growth and changing consumer demographics. Additionally, the FTC is preparing a lawsuit against Southern Glazers for anti-competitive pricing, while PacifiCorp faces a $178 million settlement over the 2020 Oregon wildfires. Napa Valley’s auction has made a successful return, raising significant funds for charity, and local innovations in trellis systems are promising higher yields and sustainability benefits.
Burgundy’s Domaine Faiveley Buys Control of Sonoma’s Williams Selyem
Big news for Pinot Noir lovers: Domaine Faiveley, a famous Burgundy winery, acquired a majority stake in Williams Selyem, a respected Pinot Noir producer in Sonoma Valley, California. This comes after Faiveley initially purchased a minority stake in 2020. The winery will retain most of its team and operations under Faiveley ownership, with the goal of continuing to produce high-quality Pinot Noir. This move allows Faiveley to expand into the US market while Williams Selyem benefits from Faiveley’s expertise and potential for further growth.
Bordeaux Vineyard Lose Half Their Value
The price of vineyards in Bordeaux has dropped significantly in recent years. The average price of Médoc vines was 29% lower in 2023 than the previous year and there has even been a 10% fall in the value of Pessac-Léognan. This is due to a slowdown in demand for French wine, both domestically and internationally. Exports fell by 4% in volume and 10% in value. Some regions, such as Saumur and the Côte d’Or in Burgundy, have seen their land prices rise, but overall, the market is not looking good for appellations that have not created strong brands.
Chablis Wine: USA Has Become the World’s Leading Market by Value
In 2023, the USA reclaimed its position as the premier market for Chablis wines by value after robust economic growth fueled by household spending. Despite a normalization in export growth to the USA, Chablis wines have shown steady increases, with a rise in sales and revenue for Petit Chablis and Chablis, while Chablis Premier Cru and Chablis Grand Cru saw a slight decline. The American market’s significance is further highlighted by Chablis wines contributing a growing share to overall Bourgogne shipments to the USA. Additionally, the demographic of regular wine consumers in the USA is evolving, with an aging population showing an affinity for red and white wines, while younger consumers are driven by unique experiences and individual pleasure in their wine choices.
FTC preparing lawsuit over alcohol pricing – POLITICO
The FTC is considering suing Southern Glazer’s, the biggest alcohol distributor in the US, for potentially anti-competitive pricing practices. This would be the first lawsuit under the Robinson-Patman Act in over 20 years. This act aims to prevent suppliers from favoring large chains over smaller stores with better pricing. The FTC believes this will create a fairer market for retailers. Southern Glazer’s argues that complex regulations and their role as a distributor make them a bad example for the law. The FTC disagrees and believes the case is about ensuring all retailers have equal access to fair pricing from suppliers.
PacifiCorp will pay $178M to Oregon wildfire victims in latest settlement over deadly 2020 blazes
Pacific Power, a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, agreed to pay $178 million to settle a lawsuit with Oregon wildfire victims. This is the latest in a series of settlements related to the deadly 2020 wildfires. PacifiCorp faces more lawsuits, including one from Oregon wineries, alleging the utility’s negligence in not cutting power during the firestorm contributed to their losses. The utility’s attempt to limit its liability in wildfire lawsuits was recently rejected by regulators.
The Bling is Back at Napa Auction
Napa Auction Valley is back after a 3-year hiatus. This year’s event is smaller and more exclusive than before. The Saturday night event raised $2.4 million for charity through auctioning luxurious experiences for wealthy bidders. However, the Friday barrel auction offered a chance to get unique wines at a bargain price, with some cases going for as low as $360. This year’s success might lead to a return of the larger scale, pre-pandemic Saturday night auction.
Mark Neal, a grape grower in Napa Valley, invented a new trellis system that allows him to grow twice the amount of grapes on the same amount of land. This trellis system has red grapes on the top and white grapes on the bottom. Neal says that this system not only increases yield but also reduces water and fungicide use. Although this method goes against the traditional belief that lower yields result in better quality wines, blind taste tests showed that Neal’s wines were high quality. Other vineyard owners are also interested in adopting this trellis system.
Neal also owns and operates his own winery in Napa, Neal Family Vineyards.
Calistoga wine tasting room battling city over outdoor seating
Maria Concetto Winery in Calistoga, known for its robotic wine-poring arm, is in conflict with city officials over its use of outdoor seating on Lincoln Avenue due to municipal code restrictions and state regulations. The winery was fined $1,900 for serving wine outdoors on a state highway where alcohol consumption is prohibited in public spaces. Owner Maria Reznikova has appealed the fines, arguing against perceived discrimination as other nearby businesses similarly offer outdoor services. The city insists the fines are justified under current codes and points to required state permits for such uses. Despite prior discussions to allow outdoor dining, Calistoga ultimately did not implement regulations enabling these features, unlike other North Bay cities which have adopted parklets and outdoor dining. Further investigations and hearings are ongoing to resolve the matter.
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