A PASSPORT to BUY
There’s a new form of acceptable ID for buying alcohol in Massachusetts: a US passport card. Similar in size to a driver’s license the cards are authorized by the State Department and a substitute for the standard passport book. Liquor ID cards can be used for travel between the United... Read More
JUST THE TAX, MA’AM . . .
The Massachusetts Senate voted in favor of a bill to increase the sales tax from 5% to 6.25% and for lifting the state sales tax exemption on alcohol sold at package stores. The House approved the measure in April. Both produced the veto-proof majority for the sales tax in opposition... Read More
The WHISKY DETECTIVES
The vintage whisky business is big money – but the counterfeit whisky industry is even bigger. With a tremendous demand for rare vintage whiskies, the market has been flooded with fake bottles of worthless spirits. But even with all of the bogus whisky out there, collectors will go to great... Read More
GERMAN PROSECCO GOES POP
The laws of bubbly making are nothing if not stringent. France has its Champagne Spain its Cava and Germany its . . . Prosecco? A German law court has ruled that sparkling wine produced in Germany but made from Italian Prosecco grapes can be labeled as “Italian”. If the basic... Read More
R.H.PHILLIPS CLOSES ITS DOORS
The wine will soon stop flowing at one of the Sacramento area’s largest winemaking operations. On September 1 R.H. Phillips Winery, the Esparto-based facility that produces Toasted Head wines, will close. But fear not – the wines will still be available. Production of Toasted Head and R.H. Phillips wines will... Read More
AMERICA LOVES PORTUGUESE WINES
Portugal has again landed in the U.S. Customs’ list of top 1O wine exporters to the United States. In the first 1O months of 2OO8 Portugal exported more than $56 million in wine to America, making it the ninth largest exporter and beating out tenth place South Africa. Although Portuguese... Read More
A VINE GROWS in LONDON
Is London the next Sonoma? Probably not. But nearly 15OO Bacchus vines were recently hand-planted at Forty Hall Organic Farm in the London borough of Enfield. It is London’sfirst commercial vineyard since medieval times. Bacchus grapes produce crisp light, white wines with Sauvignon Blanc traits of gooseberry and fresh grass.... Read More
COPPOLA WINERY CHANGES NAME
Francis Ford Coppola is changing the name of his Sonoma winery from Francis Ford Coppola Presents Rosso & Bianco to the more concise Francis Ford Coppola Winery. “We are just a few months away from finishing the new tasting room and restaurant. For a place that is meant to be... Read More
2OO6 LAKE SONOMA WINERY ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Forward aromas of cassis licorice, mint, and cedar evolve as this wine aerates. Cassis and raspberry dominate the medium-bodied flavors, with hints of cedar and black olive. Suggested retail is $24. Available from Horizon Beverage Company.
HELL or HIGH WATERMELON WHEAT BEER and BREW FREE! or DIE IPA
Shaun O’Sullivan and Boston-area native Nico Freccia the men behind the 21st Amendment Brewery a San Francisco canning craft brewery, are bringing their canned beers to Massachusetts. The release of the two award-winning canned brews marks the brewery’s first foray into beer sales on the east coast. Hell or High... Read More