May 11, 2008

PEJU PROVINCE WINERY RELEASES PEJU PINK ROSE FOR MOTHER’S DAY

PejuPinkLBL200-w.jpgPeju Province Winery will release its 2007 Peju Pink Rosé Wine in celebration of Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11, 2008. Peju is joining the fight against breast cancer by donating 25 percent of sales from each bottle of its second vintage of Peju Pink to organizations that help breast cancer patients and advance breast cancer research. Peju’s winemaker, Sara Fowler, made 350 cases of the 2007 proprietary rosé blend which is available exclusively at the winery and on Peju’s website.

25 Percent of Sales to be Donated to Breast Cancer Patient Care and Research Organizations

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Treat Mom On Mother's Day

mothersdayChampagneRoses-w.jpgIt's Mother's Day, which means it's time to show Mom just how much you care. (In other words, not only are you taking over the kitchen, you're cleaning it, too.) Since Mother's Day falls in springtime, roses and champaign are the ideal match for the day.

That’s right you take her Wine and Roses then cook her dinner and do the clean up after. Yes you can take the easy way out and dine at her favorite restaurant. Make sure she eats and drinks well, especially if she did the same for you every other day of the year until you left the house ... But a meal cooked and served by her children will make for an even more memorable and Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day!
From Avenue Vine

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Artisan Wine, Food & Art Festival at COPIA, Napa

Walk-around winetasting with food and art

LAST DAY FOLKS!

COPIA08AWFAF-w.GIFBoutique wine and food producers come together with top Bay Area artists for a festive spring weekend of wine, food, art and more. Check out original artworks as you taste exceptional, hard-to-find wines from small producers (who make 5,000 or fewer cases a year), complemented by select breads, cheeses and charcuterie. From handcrafted wines to hand-blown glass, you won’t want to miss this celebration of all things artisan.

Festival admission includes wineglass, winetasting and food samples. Artwork and additional food items available for purchase. Admission to COPIA on this weekend will be by festival pass only. COPIA opens at 11:00 am on both days.

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May 10, 2008

Frances’ Millennials Don't Drink Wine?

Millennials-w.jpgWhile wine consumption is increasing in the U.S. -- spurred on in part by the wine adoption habits of American Millennials (young adults aged 21 to 31) -- the opposite is happening in France. Since 1980 French wine consumption has decreased by more than 50% from 120 liters per capita to today's rate of 55 liters per capita.

Though in some ways this is positive, it is also rather alarming. Especially since a large portion of the population that is not drinking wine are France's Millennials or young adults in their 20's. Indeed they have moved away from wine to embrace other beverages -- primarily beer and spirits in the alcohol category, and bottled water, sodas, and juices.

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Little Black Dress Expands Varietal Offerings

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Brown-Forman is expanding its Little Black Dress range with a 2006 Pinot Noir sourced from France. The company will also unveil a Chardonnay in a traditional Burgundy package with the 2007 vintage release and will test a Pinot Grigio in an Italian-sourced version to help meet demand for the varietal.

Introduced in August 2006, Brown-Forman launched the Little Black Dress line in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the iconic “little black dress,” that was created by Coco Chanel in 1926. The label has been making red-carpet appearances to benefit the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation, which auctions off celebrity dresses and accessories to benefit children's charities. To date, Little Black Dress has helped to raise more than $65,000.

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Penfolds 2003 Grange Releases at Bordeaux Prices

Penfolds03GrangeB-w.jpgThe release, along with all Penfolds top-end wines, comes as the Australian auction market is experiencing its strongest ever demand for super-premium red wines.

Grange is arguably Australia's most famous wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. Grange boasts an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951 and clearly demonstrates the synergy between Shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia.

Penfolds Grange displays fully-ripe, intensely-flavoured and textured Shiraz grapes in combination with new American oak. The result is a unique Australian style that is now recognised as one of the most consistent of the world's great wines. The Grange style is the original and most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district blending philosophy.

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May 09, 2008

Bioplastics Having Sticky Label Probles

bio_inside-w.gifIn the second part of our look back series on major developments at this year's Interpack trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany, BeverageDaily.com examines the importance of reforming labelling on bio-packaging to the industry.

Along with innovation in developing wider applications of bio-packaging for beverage, food and other consumer products, the industry must also look at how it addresses consumers through labelling.

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ZinFest Lodi 2008, May 16 Through 18

Don't miss your opportunity to join local winegrowers and vintners at the fourth annual ZinFest - Wine, Food & Fun at Lodi Lake May 16-18, 2008. Lodi's premiere wine event is an action packed weekend celebrating Lodi's heritage Zinfandel.

ZinFest08Lodi200-w.jpgThis is one of the greatest three day events in central California ever! Start with Friday evening, May 16th, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Vintners' Grille a casual dinner with Lodians, vintners' and sponsors at the Lake, featuring great local foods and the Zinfest Silent Auction & Raffle.

Then Saturday’s ZinFest Wine Festival, May 17, 2008, 12 noon - 7 p.m. featuring Wine Tasting with Fifty (50) of Lodi’s award winning wineries. Enjoy delicious food from the region's best restaurants set up throughout the event site. Live Entertainment at various stages throughout the park--lay out a blanket, have a picnic and enjoy the music! Other activities include: Zinfest Wine and Cooking School, Arts, Crafts, booths; Blend your own Zin and loads of fun things to see and do throughout Saturday at the Lake.

Round out your weekend with Sunday’s ZinFest Winery Open Houses, May 18, 2008, with Participating Lodi Wineries. Experience the warm hospitality of Lodi Wine Country as you travel from winery to winery throughout the Lodi appellation.

Don't miss out on Lodi's Premiere Winetasting Extravaganza--Don’t miss any of the fun, folks!

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May 08, 2008

Petite Sirah (Not Syrah!) Going and Growing Seriously

PetiteGrapes2-w.jpgYou know a wine has an image problem when it needs its own advocacy group. Which is why there is the California-based PS I Love You Inc. The PS stands for petite sirah, a grape whose principal problem is that wine lovers too often confuse it with syrah, now increasingly called shiraz.

If you ask most wine lovers what their favorite Petite Sirah is, I suspect you'll get either a blank stare or the name of a Shiraz from Australia or a Syrah from France's Rhone Valley. The few petite sirahs I recall from the 1970s were an inky purple with a surprisingly cherry-like bouquet and robust flavor. It didn't help that wine writers often used descriptions like "easy to drink'' and "versatile,'' which are catch phrases for second- rate picnic wines.

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Raffle Sale Gives Students Lift to College and Research Facility a New Tractor

CWGGF200-w.jpgSacramento, California, May 5, 2008 – When Rhonda Smith bought a raffle ticket to benefit the California Wine Grape Growers Foundation (CWGGF) scholarship fund, the last thing on her mind was that she’d win the tractor.

I was at a meeting with Hector Bedolla, a board member of the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), where he was the speaking on sustainability and at the end of the meeting he asked me if I would buy a ticket,” said Smith. “I said, Hector, I don’t need a tractor.” And he replied, “Then give it to someone else if you win.”

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Family Winemakers and Western Fairs Association Co-Sponsor Legislation to Fix Home Winemaking Law

family_winemkrs_ca200-w.jpgMoving swiftly to address a problem with California’s alcoholic beverage statutes, Family Winemakers of California and the Western Fairs Association are teaming up to co-sponsor SB 607 (Wiggins) to allow home winemakers to continue participating in judging competitions. Currently, home winemakers are prohibited from removing the wine from the place where it is made, which makes it illegal to enter competitions that are typically held at county fairs, regional fairs and the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento. SB 607 remedies that situation and clarifies other aspects of the home winemaker law in California. “Home winemaking can be the incubator for tomorrow’s entrepreneurial producers, as well as fostering the innovative spirit that makes California wine a global leader. Family Winemakers supports broadening the diversity of the wine industry and is co-sponsoring SB 607 to continue that tradition,” said Paul Kronenberg, FWC President.

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May 07, 2008

NATIONAL ICED TEA MONTH

IceTea-w.jpgIced Tea has a history. Many foods and beverages we enjoy today made their debuts at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904. Iced tea joins the others. It appears to have something to do with a Richard Blechynden, from England. He came as a representative from the Far East. He was trying to introduce the rewards of tea leaves. The days were so hot that fairgoers kept passing by the Far East Tea House looking for cold drinks. Blechynden decided if cold is what they want cold is what they will get!

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Tamborine Mountain Distillery Gathers Gold Galore

TamborineBTLs-w.jpgQueensland's Tamborine Mountain Distillery has scored four gold awards at the International Taste and Quality Institute in Brussels.

Top honours of three gold stars for TMD Macadamia Nut Liqueur, two gold stars for their Limoncello Liqueur and a gold star each for the TMD Lavender Liqueur and TMD Lemon Myrtle Vodka.

Australia’s quiet achiever does it again!

Tamborine Mountain Distillery has just received news from the International Taste & Quality Institute in Brussels, Belgium that they have won 4 more gold awards.

Treble Gold Stars for Macadamia Nut Liqueur, Double Gold Stars for Limoncello Liqueur, Gold Star for Lavender Liqueur and Gold Star for Lemon Myrtle flavoured Vodka.

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May 06, 2008

California Vintners Assessing Damage From April Cold Snap

VineFrostBitX-w.jpgApril was a cruel month for California winemakers, bringing a series of unusually late frosts to vineyards baring the tender, green shoots of spring.

Fear of Smaller Harvest on Everyone’s Mind...

The damage still is being assessed - it could be June before growers know the full extent - but most expect smaller-than-average harvests this year.

"It was cold in lots of places," said Karen Ross, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers. "There's lots of misery to be shared."

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JUNE IS NATIONAL ICED TEA MONTH

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Remember the good ol’ days when you were a kid and you stood on the street corner selling lemonade and iced tea to the passers by? You never made very much money, but you loved the experience. It was your first glimpse at the business world and it was pretty exciting.

COCKTAILS BY CASTLE BRANDS FOLLOW!

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May 05, 2008

Beam Global Raises Two Toasts to the Month of May

BEAMGLOBAL200-w.jpgBeam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., a global leader in premium spirits and a unit of Fortune Brands, Inc. is proud to toast the month of May by embracing the festive spirit of two annual May events: the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo. As the world’s number one bourbon producer, owning several of the world’s iconic bourbons including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®, and the producer of Sauza®, the number two premium tequila in the world, Beam Global will support its bourbon and tequila portfolios throughout the month with innovative programming and commemorative offerings as spirits consumption figures historically rise in the United States.

The Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo Only Last a Day but U.S. Spirits Consumption Figures Traditionally Spike During the Month

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May 04, 2008

Niagara Grape Growers call for Help; Threat of Frost Brings in Choppers

FROST_COPTER-w.jpgResidents living in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Virgil who were roused from their slumber in the wee small hours to the sound of choppers whirring overhead might appreciate the early-morning wake-up call next time they look for a vintage vino.

The sudden drop in temperatures - not uncommon in April - caused grape growers to call in some reinforcements to protect their tender vines.

"We were out," said Niagara Helicopters pilot Rene Huessy, who joined Ruedi Hafen and Tony Dempsey flying sorties over vineyards in Niagara's grape country this week to protect their plants from frost.

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Napa Symposium, Winery Marketing People Learn About Their Customers

Direct08Consumer175-w.gifIt wouldn't be difficult to guess that affluent, suburban professionals from the San Francisco Bay Area who visit wine country often are big customers for wine shipped directly from wineries to their homes.

Who Buys Wine Direct?

But how many winery marketing directors would have guessed that some of their other big customers are in Reno, Nev., Birmingham, Ala., Charlottesville, Va., and Bend, Ore.? Or that these customers 10 favorite magazines do not include Gourmet and Vanity Fair, but do include Wired and GamePro?

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May 03, 2008

KENWOOD VINEYARDS WHITE AND RED TABLE WINES

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CASUAL WINES TO ENJOY EVERYDAY

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New Epicurean Enhancements Await You at the 26th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival

Paso08WF200-w.jpgThe complement of wine and food has long been celebrated at our collective dinner tables and this year we take the food experience up a notch at the Paso Robles Wine Festival.

ARTISAN ALLEY SHOWCASES CULINARY TOURISM PARTNERS – Sponsored by Saveur Magazine and Pasolivo Olive Oil, this small expo showcases local artisan producers strengthening Paso Robles’ position as a premiere culinary destination. The specially tented area includes olive oil, artisan cheese, organic vegetables, local bakery fresh bread, abalone, lavender, and author’s corner with book signings throughout the day.

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May 02, 2008

Are You What You Drink?

Drinking-w.jpgCabernet? You're a meat-eating conservative. Pinot noir? You're probably a dabbler. White Burgundy? I'd like to get to know you .

If you had to name your go-to grape, what would it be? Pinot noir? Chardonnay? Cabernet sauvignon? Zweigelt? Rightly or wrongly, the wine you choose can speak volumes about who you are.

Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, the 18th- and 19th-century French lawyer and patron saint of foodies who loved cheese so much they named a 75-per-cent-fat variety after him, gave us that old chestnut, "Tell me what kind of food you eat and I will tell you what kind of man you are." I think if he were alive today, he'd want to know about our bar tabs.

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Scotch Whisky Exports Set New Records

Scotch_Whisky-w.jpgExport sales of Scotch whisky topped £2.8-$5.5 billion last year in another record high for the industry.

Exports increased 14 per cent compared to 2006, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) announced. Several distilleries, both large and small, are already investing in facilities to take advantage of growing markets such as China and India.

Scotch whisky exports earned £90-$179 every second for the UK last year, according to the SWA. Export volume also grew eight per cent to an historic high, with the equivalent of 1.135 billion bottles shipped overseas, added the SWA, using figures released by the UK Government's HM Revenue & Customs.

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FedEx and WTN Services Headline Direct to Consumer Symposium

Direct08Consumer175-w.gifLAST DAY, FOLKS!

Sponsorships and trade show tables were snapped up for the first annual Direct To Consumer Symposium, a comprehensive summit on wine direct marketing and sales that is scheduled for May 1-2, 2008 at The Meritage Resort at Napa.

FedEx Corporation is the Exclusive Day One sponsor and WTN Services the Exclusive Gala Dinner sponsor. The dinner will feature keynote speaker Kenneth W. Starr and a short and lively auction by Fritz Hatton. www.coalitionforfreetrade.org/symposium .

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Texas Pierce’s Disease Symposium Happened on April 30 in Driftwood

Pierces_DiseaseLOGO200-w.jpg The 2008 Pierce’s Disease Research Symposium was held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, on April 30 at Thurman Mansion at the Salt Lick in Driftwood.

The symposium was open to the public, but attendance was limited to the first 100 registrants, said Jim Kamas, Texas AgriLife Extension Service fruit specialist in Fredericksburg, event coordinator and presenter.

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May 01, 2008

Central European Distribution Corporation Announces First Quarter 2008 Results

CEDC_LOGO-w.gifCentral European Distribution Corporation on April 29, 2009, announced its results for the first quarter of 2008. Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 37% to $313.6 million from the $228.2 million reported for the same period in 2007. Operating income increased by 35% to $25.5 million from $18.9 million for the same period in 2007.

Operating Income up 35%; Raises Full Year 2008 and Provides Full Year 2009 Guidance

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Dry Year Late Frost Bad News for Grapes and Growers

VineFrostBit-w.jpgThis year the bad news will cost millions. “The number of calls we’ve received has been unprecedented,” said Chris Maloney of Chris Maloney Crop Insurance Services in Petaluma, “We’ve opened well over 200 Notices of Damage on behalf of our policy-holders just this week.” The damage, from March 31 through the third and fourth week of April, has ranged from Dry Creek, Russian River, Petaluma, the Stags Leap area, Calistoga, and Sonoma, she said. The full extent cannot yet be estimated.

Cold weather equals bad news for grape growers.

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Program Chair Selected for 2009 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium

UW&GSymLOGO-w.gifThe American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) have named Dr. John Thorngate, applications chemist in research and development with Constellation Wines, U.S., as chair of the program development committee for the 2009 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. The 2009 event takes place at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento, January 27- 29.

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Avenue Vine May 01, 2008 Performance Report:

This graphic report shows the trends of recent activity on the AvenueVine website in terms of Successful Hits* over time, i.e.: Months--(November 01, 2007 through April 30, 2008) left click image to enlarge

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EU Wine Reform To Promote Market Balance and Preserve Rural Farming

The Council of European Ministers on April 29, 2008, formally adopted a wide-ranging reform of the Common Market Organization for wine. The changes will bring balance to the wine market, phase out wasteful and expensive market intervention measures and allow the budget to be used for more positive, proactive measures which will boost the competitiveness of European wines. left click image to enlarge:

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Simon Wiesenthal Center Honors Mel Dick, President, Wine Division, Senior Vice President, and Partner of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. with Simon Wiesenthal Legacy Award

SW&S_SWC-w.jpgSouthern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc., the Nation’s Leading Wine and Spirits Distributor and Control States Broker with a tradition of service excellence since 1968 and proud to be celebrating its 40th anniversary, announced that Mel Dick, President of the Wine Division, Senior Vice President and a Partner of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. and his wife Bobbi, were honored with the Simon Wiesenthal Legacy Award. Joined for this special event by Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and Founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Rabbi Meyer H. May, executive director, both from Los Angeles, CA, the ceremony, held at the InterContinental Miami on April 18, 2008, was attended by more than 400 guests.

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April 30, 2008

Free the Grapes! and Coalition for Free Trade Toast ShipCompliant Promotion

Free-the-GrapesANA.gif“Help Shackles” Campaign Supports Winery Free Trade, Consumer Choice in Wine...

ShipCompliant, the wine shipping compliance company, has created a novel promotion designed to help wineries and raise money for Coalition for Free Trade and Free the Grapes!, two organizations at the forefront of industry litigation and consumer outreach on the direct shipping issue. ShipCompliant will donate one month’s revenue for each new customer who signs up for their direct shipping compliance software in May 2008. www.shipcompliant.com/helpshackles.

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Highland Park Launches 40-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky

Highland_HAna.gifHighland Park has released a 40-year-old single malt whisky, reflecting growing demand for premium spirits.

Priced at £899 - $1,782.00 per bottle, the whisky is the oldest in the Higland Park portfolio and will form part of the group’s core single malt range. Their 30-year-old single malt whisky goes for $410.00, the 25-year-old single malt whisky goes for $250.00, 18-year-old single malt whisky is at $100.00, 15-year-old single malt whisky for $70.00 and their 12-year-old single malt whisky about $40.00.

The 'H' represents Highland's "Viking roots"

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April 29, 2008

Fortune Brands Declares Regular Dividend

FortuneBrands177-w.gifFortune Brands, Inc., the company behind leading consumer brands including Jim Beam, Titleist and Moen, today declared a regular dividend of 42 cents per share on the Common Stock, payable in cash on June 2, 2008, to stockholders of record at the close of business May 14, 2008.

The company also declared a regular dividend of 66.75 cents per share on the $2.67 Convertible Preferred Stock, payable in cash on June 10, 2008, to stockholders of record at the close of business May 14, 2008.

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Ben & Jerry’s Global Free Cone Day! April 29th-TODAY FOLKS!

Ben&JerrysIWP-w.JPGAs Ben & Jerry’s celebrates its 30th anniversary across the globe, the socially-minded ice cream maker, with the fun and funky flavors, asks what better way to share the love? They’re giving it away.

Scoop-Shop Only Flavor & Social Mission Campaigns Highlight Annual Event on April 29th

No, this is not one of those internet pranks that makes you send ten emails to your friends for a free pair jeans. This is as plain and simple as vanilla. “Jerry and Ben started their first Free Cone Day as a thank you to their customers,” said Debra Heintz, Retail Operations Director. “It’s cool,” added Heintz with full pun intended, “we get to continue the peace, love and FREE ice cream tradition every year across the world.” Free Cone Day is Tuesday, April 29th, 2008.

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Valley of the Moon 2007 Rosato di Sangiovese Released

VOM07ROSATObtl-w.jpgSpring has sprung, summer beckons and thoughts turn to fresh, cool wines that beat the heat. Rosé has become an increasingly popular warm weather refresher and the newly released 2007 Valley of the Moon Sonoma County Rosato di Sangiovese is sure to add to that popularity. Fresh, flavorful and delicious, it shows premium rosé at its bracing, versatile best.

A COOL QUAFF FOR SPRING AND SUMMER

The reason for rosé’s newly found popularity is simple – today’s pink wines bear little resemblance to those insipid sweet rosés of the past. Winemakers in recent years have utilized premium red grape varieties like Sangiovese and Pinot Noir, and cutting-edge winemaking techniques like limited skin soak, gentle pressing and cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks to achieve bright color, youthful, distinctive fruit character and off-dry finish. In addition, the 2007 Valley of the Moon Rosato di Sangiovese shows the benefits of careful blending and the inclusion of a small percentage of Pinot Noir blush wine contributes both fruit complexity and an extra measure of elegance.

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New U.S. Agency BATL of BATF to Regulate Back Label Clichés

BATL_CLICHE-w.gifBanned under new rigid guidelines:
This wine is immediately approachable, but will yield rich rewards if held several years
Hand-crafted
Great wines begin in the vineyard”.
Seeking the Holy Grail

Another issue that will fall under the aegis of the BATL will be the writing of wine and food pairings...

Without much fanfare, the United States government has just announced a new bureau to regulate the proliferation of back label copy clichés on our nation?s wine bottles.

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Rice Run Outs, One Story Behind it All

Rice1-w.jpgDespite bumper crops in Vietnam and India, export limits and bans have created a global shortage and driven up prices.

At the Costco in San Francisco, rice is all the rage. Not long after the 10 a.m. opening on Apr. 24, the warehouse club was well on its way to selling out the day's supply of Thai jasmine rice. Within an hour, customers cleared three pallets loaded with 50-lb. bags of Super Lucky Elephant brand jasmine rice from Thailand. Real estate broker Mary Jane Galviso snapped up two bags—the limit imposed by this particular store. "This is very frightening," says Galviso, who hails from Orosi, a rural community in California's Central Valley, more than 200 miles southeast of San Francisco. Her local grocery, which specializes in Filipino foods, has run out of Thai jasmine.

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April 28, 2008

UNs’ Food and Ag.Org.Projects Higher World Rice Production

FAO_Logo-w.GIFProduction increases would ease the current very tight supply situation in key rice producing countries. International rice trade is expected to decrease, mainly due to restrictions in main exporting countries.

Sizable production increases are expected in all the major Asian rice producing countries, including Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand, where supply and demand are currently stretched. Governments in these countries have already announced a series of incentives to raise production.

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Iyemon Cha, Premium Japanese Green Tea, Launches in San Francisco

Iyemon_Cha-w.jpgSteeped in Japan’s Finest Tea-Making Tradition, Iyemon Cha, Premium Japanese Green Tea...

Iyemon Cha, a refreshing new premium bottled Japanese green tea from Suntory to be distributed by Calistoga Beverage Company, a subsidiary of Nestlé Waters North America, makes its U.S. debut this May in San Francisco, the first stop on a planned national rollout. Free of preservatives and sweeteners, this pure, all-natural organic green tea is steeped in rich tea-making tradition. Iyemon Cha (pronounced ee-yeh-mon cha) is available in two varieties: Original Green Tea and Roasted Green Tea.

Organic Green Tea as It Was Meant to Be, From Suntory and Calistoga Beverage Company, a Nestlé Waters North America Subsidiary.

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Full Throttle to Succeed POWERade for NHRA’s Top Series

NHRA_FullThrottle-w.jpgIn the world of heads-up professional drag racing, perhaps nothing exemplifies the dog-eat-dog nature of the sport better than words, “Go Full Throttle or Go Home!”

Beginning in 2009, that’s exactly how NHRA’s top professional series will be branded, as Coca-Cola North America’s Full Throttle energy drink succeeds POWERade as the title sponsor of NHRA’s premier professional drag racing series. It’s the first major sports marketing play for the beverage Company’s lead energy drink.

Full Throttle Energy Drink Revs It up with Title Sponsorship of NHRA’s Top Series
Brand’s First Major Sports Association Includes Extension of Coca-Cola North America and NHRA Partnership Through 2013...

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April 27, 2008

Ceja Sonoma Coast Bella Rosa 2007

Ceja07SCBellaRosaX3-w.jpgCeja Vineyards is proud to introduce the newest member of their wine family - their 2007 Sonoma Coast Bella Rosa!

"This gorgeous dry rosé marks our first foray into the 'blush' world and we couldn't be more ecstatic. Crisp and tart, this low alcohol wine is sure to compliment your favorite spring and summer dishes!"

"Crisp tart cherries, pomegranate, cranberries and rose petals."
Pricing Per Bottle - $22.00 (750 ml) / Bottle

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California Weather Makes News Across Atlantic

VineyardFrost-w.jpgApril frosts have caused widespread damage to vines in northern California, and water shortage is hampering the use of sprinklers to protect them.

As overnight temperatures hovered near or below freezing during the past month, some growers estimate the damage may cut yields by 20% this year.

This is the worst we've seen in a number of years,” said Mendocino County vintner Greg Graziano. “Carneros got hit really bad, but I think it was all over California.”

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