Team C&J
Here’s some insight into the last week in wine. In the world of wine and spirits, several significant developments have emerged. Flaviar has acquired Wine-Searcher, expanding its global presence in the online alcohol market. This follows Flaviar’s acquisition of Barcart, aiming to create more value in the industry. Douglas Stewart, the original owner of Breggo Cellars, has reacquired the winery, planning to revive its legacy in a new location. Napa Valley Grapegrowers have cut their use of Roundup in half, focusing on sustainable weed control, reflecting an industry trend towards organic practices. In legal matters, Napa County’s Superior Court ruled against two wineries joining Hoopes Vineyard in a lawsuit against the county, focusing on winery entitlements and permits. Chelsea Wine Storage is under investigation for alleged mismanagement of clients’ wine collections. Lake County celebrated the addition of two new American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), emphasizing its unique terroir. In market trends, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates faces layoffs amid restructuring, and global wine consumption shows a shift toward white and rosé wines. Lastly, AI technology has accurately identified the origin of Bordeaux wines, demonstrating its potential in combating wine fraud.
Flaviar Acquires Wine-Searcher | Wine-Searcher News & Features
Flaviar, an influential player in the online alcohol market, has acquired Wine-Searcher, solidifying its position as a global leader in the beverage alcohol industry. This move comes after Flaviar’s previous acquisition of Barcart, enhancing its role as a key platform for global e-commerce in this sector. By combining Flaviar’s expertise in spirits and e-commerce with Wine-Searcher’s vast database and global reach, the acquisition aims to create more value for consumers, retailers, and industry players. Wine-Searcher’s extensive database covers millions of listings across numerous countries, while Flaviar’s focus on enhancing e-commerce in the beverage alcohol realm seeks to address a significant growth opportunity in the market. This acquisition marks a strategic step towards bolstering digital transformation within the industry, as noted by their partnerships and commitment to supporting various tiers of the alcohol system, both in the US and internationally.
Anderson Valley’s Breggo Cellars reacquired by original owner
Douglas Stewart, the original owner of Breggo Cellars, has reacquired the winery after the recent exit of Cliff Lede Vineyards from Anderson Valley. When Cliff Lede announced the end of production at Fel Wines (formerly Breggo Cellars), Stewart seized the opportunity to reclaim Breggo. With a history of accolades and a distinct winemaking style focused on pinot noir and aromatic whites, Breggo gained acclaim before its sale in 2009. Stewart’s repurchase includes the Breggo name, along with wine inventory from previous vintages. He plans to revive Breggo at a new location and continue crafting wines that reflect the region’s terroir, marking a return to the winemaking legacy he’s proud of.
Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVGG) convened their Rootstock conference focusing solely on weed control amid rising concerns about glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup. Napa Green, a prominent sustainability program, mandated its members to phase out such herbicides by 2026. The conference hosted varied perspectives, including discussions on consumer perceptions, health risks, historical herbicide use, and soil health. Presentations ranged from data analytics detailing herbicide usage to debates on health risks associated with glyphosate. The event underscored the shifting landscape and concerns within the industry, prompting growers to explore alternative weed control methods. The conversations covered consumer preferences, health studies, and the move towards organic farming, reflecting a broader industry trend towards sustainable practices.
Wineries Cannot Join Napa Valley’s Hoopes Vineyard in Lawsuit Against Napa County
Napa County Superior Court Judge Mark Boessenecker ruled against the participation of Smith-Madrone and Summit Lake Vineyards in Hoopes Vineyard’s property rights lawsuit against Napa County. The court battle, ongoing since October 2022, involves Hoopes Vineyard contesting the county’s regulations regarding winery activities. The recent ruling deems the inclusion of the two wineries unnecessary and complicating to the case. Napa County and Hoopes Vineyard are set for a jury trial in January 2023, addressing issues like on-site wine consumption and hospitality activities. The lawsuit began with Napa County’s complaint against Hoopes Vineyard, alleging public nuisance and unlawful practices, to which Hoopes Vineyard filed a cross-complaint. The legal dispute revolves around conflicting views on winery entitlements and permits, with Hoopes Vineyard asserting it should not require a costly use permit for its operations. The decision to disallow the two wineries from joining the case aligns with Napa County’s stance, aiming to maintain the lawsuit’s focus and prevent additional complexities and costs.
Investigation Launched Over $300K of Missing Burgundy From NYC Wine Storage Facility | VinePair
Chelsea Wine Storage, a luxury wine storage company, is currently under investigation by the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) amidst rising concerns from customers. The business, known for its upscale facilities, moved clients’ collections from a chic Chelsea Market location to an unfinished basement near Times Square, prompting worries about mishandling or loss of expensive wine. Clients, troubled by unresponsive owners Michael and Amelia Gancarz, fear similar issues to those faced by Sherry-Lehmann, another wine store under FBI investigation for failing to return wine to storage customers. Chelsea Wine Storage clients have struggled to retrieve their collections, facing difficulties contacting the owners and finding their wine. The Gancarzes cited staffing delays, blaming their landlord for issues, but the landlord denies these claims, stating Chelsea Wine Storage didn’t adhere to lease conditions. This dispute includes an alleged $1.5 million reimbursement demand for space improvements, which the landlord considers baseless due to the storage company’s failure to fulfill lease terms.
Lake County winegrowers celebrate addition of two new AVAs
Lake County has proudly welcomed two new American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), the Long Valley-Lake County AVA and the Upper Lake Valley AVA, solidifying its reputation for producing quality wines in California. Situated within the renowned North Coast AVA, Lake County’s high-elevation and volcanic terroir contribute to distinctive wine profiles, particularly sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon. The Long Valley-Lake County AVA spans 7,674 acres, known for red wine grapes like cabernet sauvignon, while the Upper Lake Valley AVA covers about 20,187 acres with diverse soil types, ideal for growing grapes like sauvignon blanc. These new AVAs signify the region’s viticultural potential, building on its rich farming history and the expertise of its growers, as demonstrated by initiatives like the Lake County Pruning School.
Additional layoffs at Ste. Michelle indicate on-going struggles – Northwest Wine Report
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE), the largest winery in the Pacific Northwest, faced its second round of layoffs, affecting about 7% of its workforce, mainly administrative roles, due to a restructured business focus on its Pacific Northwest wine portfolio. This recent action follows a previous layoff of 5% in February, totaling about 12% of staff cut in 2023. The departure of executive Toby Whitmoyer accompanies these changes. These struggles come after SMWE’s acquisition by Sycamore Partners in 2021 and amidst broader industry challenges. Despite SMWE’s challenges, smaller wineries in Washington continue to experience growth despite the industry’s evolving landscape and increased competition.
White and rosé now account for more than half of global consumption, OIV says – Decanter
The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) reports a significant shift in global wine consumption, with white and rosé wines now comprising over half of the market demand. White wine consumption, driven by sparkling wine popularity, has surged since 2010, while rosé saw slower growth post-2008 financial crisis. Red wine consumption, once dominant, has declined since its peak in 2007. This shift reflects changing consumer preferences, with countries like the US, Germany, and the UK driving the rise in white wine demand while red wine consumption has dwindled in major European markets like France and Spain. The overall trend shows an increase of 10% and 17% in white and rosé consumption since 2000, respectively, while red wine has declined by 15%.
AI can pinpoint which estate Bordeaux wines come from with 100% accuracy – Decanter
Is the future of wine AI? A machine learning algorithm has achieved a groundbreaking feat by accurately identifying the exact origin of Bordeaux wines with a remarkable 100% accuracy rate. Researchers from the University of Geneva employed AI to analyze the chemical composition of 80 red wines from seven different châteaux using gas chromatograms, identifying distinct chemical signatures unique to each estate. Lead researcher Alexandre Pouget highlighted the potential of this technology in combating wine fraud by detecting counterfeit products, showcasing the significant applications of AI in enhancing the wine industry’s authenticity and scientific understanding of terroir.
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