This week’s newsletter navigates the complex intersection of wine, health, and law. We start with UC Davis experts debating the nuances of wine’s health benefits, while Alaska courts hand a significant victory to free speech in tasting rooms. In California, lawmakers target “American” wine labeling loopholes, and analysts predict a paradoxical grape shortage following historic lows. Finally, we explore a Robert Mondavi luxury experience, a rare 2001 Sierra Foothills vintage, and dining in Florence and San Francisco. From legal battles to harvest forecasts, the industry faces pivotal shifts affecting growers and consumers alike.
UC Davis Magazine – Is Wine Really Healthy? Experts Summarize the Research
by Neelanjana Gautam / UC Davis Magazine
Why not. Another article on the wine’s health benefits or how it will kill you. This article explores the complex and nuanced scientific debate over whether wine has health benefits, emphasizing that the answer depends on many factors, including how much you drink, what you eat with 
it, your biology, and cultural context. A panel of experts convened through the 2025 Savor lecture series reviewed emerging research and offered balanced perspectives that highlighted both potential benefits (such as lower all-cause mortality among moderate drinkers) and well-documented risks (such as increased cancer risk). From the article:
However, as pointed out in a recent publication by UC Davis scientists, the complex matrix of wine — composed of thousands of plant- and fermentation-derived compounds—is unlike distilled spirits. Yet, public health recommendations related to alcohol intake do not take such factors into account.
In September, a group of experts came together to talk about the big question: Is wine really healthy? The answer isn’t simple — it’s nuanced, shaped by scientific evidence, cultural context, drinking patterns and individual biology. But interestingly, wine could be more than a drink when you combine it with certain foods, and the health effects may in fact vary depending on your gut microbiome.
SF Chronicle – Some ‘American’ wine legally contains cheap foreign juice. Can California close that loophole? In this piece, Esther Mobley, senior wine critic at the San Francisco Chronicle, examines how U.S. labeling rules allow wines marked “American” to include imported bulk wine, and why California lawmakers are now trying to shut that door. The article connects consumer trust, grape-grower economics, and the current wine downturn to a proposed state bill that would require “American” wine sold or produced in California to be made entirely from U.S.-grown grapes. From the article:
A bottle labeled “American wine” may not contain entirely American wine. Under current U.S. law, up to 25% of the liquid in that bottle could come from another country.
When a big California winery buys cheap bulk wine from Chile to round out its red blend, the neighboring vineyard — which likely is struggling to sell its grapes during this wine downturn — misses out on selling its grapes to that winery.
Now, California lawmakers are seeking to close the loophole.
AB 1585, which would require that any wine with an “American” designation on its label be made from 100% American-grown grapes. It would apply to any wines produced or sold in California.
Holland and Knight – Alaska Court Strikes Down Entertainment Restrictions for Breweries and Wineries
by Jessica M. Brown & Mary Muradyants / Holland & Knight Insights
This legal analysis covers a January 2026 decision by an Alaska Superior Court that struck down key provisions of Senate Bill 9, which had 
limited breweries and wineries from hosting live music and most “non-product-focused” entertainment in their tasting rooms. In Zip Kombucha LLC v. Richard, the court ruled those restrictions violated free-speech protections under both the U.S. and Alaska constitutions, significantly expanding tasting-room operators’ ability to offer expressive entertainment and other events. From the article:
The court invalidated the statutory provisions prohibiting live music, performances, karaoke, televisions, and most audiovisual or presentation-based displays unless they directly promoted the producer’s products or processes. It also struck the entire live music or entertainment permit scheme, finding it impermissibly burdened expressive activity.
However, the court left intact restrictions on non‑expressive conduct – such as pool tables, dart games, and certain organized activities – where those do not involve speech or expressive content.
W Blake Grey – California Could Face Grape Shortage?
by W. Blake Gray / Wine-Searcher
This story reports that despite a recent surplus of grapes, California’s 2025 grape harvest looks set to be one of the smallest in decades, potentially creating a paradoxical shortage for wineries in mid-2026 as they struggle to source fruit. Analyst Jon Moramarco estimates the grape crush will be down sharply compared with past years, raising concerns that wineries may not be able to find enough grapes if many growers decide not to cultivate their vines due to weak demand and oversupply. From the article:
California‘s official grape crush report won’t be issued until February, but bw166 founder Jon Moramarco estimated Thursday that it will be just 2.25 million tons, which would be the smallest crop in 46 years. It would be 24 percent less than 2024, and less than half of the size of the 2018 crop. The only good news out of that is that Moramarco thinks the state’s wine industry may finally reach a balance this year between supply and demand.
In fact, because many farmers might choose not to tend their vineyards this year, Moramarco thinks it’s possible California may even have a grape shortage.
“In June or July of this year we could see wineries needing grapes and not being able to find them,”
Robert Mondavi Winery at Arch & Tower: A Luxury Tasting Experience in Downtown Napa
Explore the legacy of Robert Mondavi at Arch and Tower, his temporary downtown Napa tasting room. Discover the rich history, iconic wines, and extraordinary tasting experiences that make this a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts in 2023. Book your reservation and savor the best of Napa Valley.
Taken From Granite “Swan Song” Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
This library release showcases the immense longevity of high-elevation Cabernet Sauvignon from the Sierra Foothills. Produced by Gideon Beinstock at Renaissance Vineyard and Winery, the 2001 vintage offers a distinct, savory profile with resolved tannins and moderate alcohol. It presents a look into the history of California viticulture outside the mainstream.
On the quiet, elegant Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci, Posh Firenze is equal parts gourmet restaurant and cocktail club, a 30-seat “salotto di sapori” with Duomo-side skyline views and a polished, design-driven room.
The Morris Corkage: $50 per bottle
Cool, relaxed neighborhood staple in the heart of San Francisco offering inventive New American dishes & an extensive wine list.
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