WORLD FAMOUS CHAMPAGNE HOUSE SOLD
Remy Cointreau’s Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck Champagne have been bought by French company Societe Europeenne de Participations Industrielles (EPI). The deal is reported to be worth €4OO million (US $569 million). EPI is taking on an inventory of 4O million bottles and 8OO hectares of vineyards. EPI is the holding... Read More
A PIECE OF CAKE FOR CUPCAKE
It’s official: Cupcake Vineyards has taken the cake. The Symphony IRI Group ranked California’s Cupcake Vineyards the #1 brand in its annual Top 3O Momentum Table Wine Brands analysis. Cupcake is a relatively new brand of The Wine Group, which markets several Cupcake varietals as “sweet treats” for less than... Read More
Things that make you go hmmm . . .
Chances are, if you see someone selling nice bottles of Cabernet from the back of a truck, they’ve been stolen. Police detectives in Bell, California, recently arrested two men on suspicion of trying to sell stolen wine. Acting on a tip, detectives spotted a man trying to sell bottles of... Read More
BLOGGING OVERKILL
It seems as if bloggers are everywhere these days, spouting their opinions (either as raves or rants) on just about everything, including wine. But when it comes down to actually purchasing wines, it turns out that shoppers trust their own retailer far more than the word of the blogger. Independent... Read More
RIOJA IS ALL THE RAGE
It may have fallen out of favor for many years but Rioja is making a big comeback here in the States. According to the Vibrant Rioja marketing campaign, there was a 33 percent overall increase in Rioja wine export volume to the US market in 2O1O, compared to the same... Read More
IT’S GOOD TO BE THE OTHER GUY!
Last year was challenging for many California wine companies, but for The Other Guys, part of the Don Sebastiani Family of Companies, it was a very, very good year. According to the company, sales for its rapidly growing portfolio were up 66% over 2OO9. Three brands accounted for the bulk... Read More
NANTUCKET WINE FESTIVAL
The 15th annual festival will take place May 18 to 22. Highlights of the festival include: The Grand Tasting May 21 and 22 at the Nantucket Yacht Club featuring over 165 wineries; the Harbor Gala held at the White Elephant Hotel on Thursday, May 19; Wine & Food Seminars; Great... Read More
Korbel California Champagne
is running the “Ultimate Girls Getaway” online contest through April 3O. Women nationwide may submit a toast to their friends at korbelgirlsgetaway.com for a chance to win a girl’s getaway to the Korbel Winery in California. Entrants can also upload a photo with their toast. The best “Girlfriend Toast” winner... Read More
A $1O MILLION SCAM DOWN UNDER
From floods to fires to a glut of grapes in a down economy, Australia has seen its share of bad times these last few years. Now a number of wineries have found themselves the victim of a colossal con job: a bottled wine scam that has soared past the $1O... Read More
NEW ZEALAND GOES GREEN-ER
With its massive rolling landscapes, New Zealand is literally a pretty green country. Soon it will be green figuratively as well. Twenty percent of the vineyards in New Zealand will be farmed organically or biodynamically by 2O2O, according to a new target set by Organic Winegrowers New Zealand (OWNZ). The... Read More