The preliminary 2017 Grape Crush Report has been released by the USDA. The 2017 crush totaled 4,233,288 tons, up less than half of a percent from the 2016 crush of 4,217,154 tons. Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 2,242,984 tons, down 1.6 percent from 2016. The 2017 white wine variety crush totaled 1,764,152 …
Historic Legislation Will Provide Significant Benefits and Reduce the Federal Excise Tax Burden on All Wineries Washington, D.C. — Wine Institute applauds the Congressional action to enact the first reduction in wine excise taxes in over 80 years and only the second reduction in the nation’s history. The comprehensive tax legislation (H.R. 1) passed by the House and Senate includes a …
Exposure of wine grapes to smoke from forest and rangeland fires can lead to off tastes in the resulting wines that is typically referred to as “smoke taint”. Wines affected by smoke taint have been described as having the sensory characteristics of smoky, burnt, ash, smoky bacon, or ashtray. Although first recognized as an issue in wines from 2003 in …
SACRAMENTO, CA, November 20, 2017 – Third generation winegrower and artisan winemaker Gina Gallo of E. & J. Gallo Winery will deliver the keynote luncheon speech on opening day of the 2018 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium on Tuesday, January 23, in Sacramento at the Sheraton Grand. “As a member of one of America’s historic winemaking families, Gina embodies a …
Economists and Executives Lead Effort to Determine Facts of Impact, Draw Roadmap for Recovery as Model for Wine Regions Worldwide Rohnert Park, California – The Wine Business Institute (WBI) at Sonoma State University (SSU) today announced a wildfire impact assessment study that was launched on October 11 to evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of recent wildfires on the North …
UC Davis Extension offers a variety of courses for novice and experienced grape growers and winemakers. The following courses will take place Jan. – March 2018 in Davis, unless otherwise indicated. “Analysis of Wine Stability” will be taught by Michael Ramsey, the teaching laboratory manager for the Department of Viticulture & Enology at UC Davis, on Feb. 10, 9 a.m.-5 …
Q&A with a Winery Tax Expert What tax relief is available for wineries affected by fires in 2017? The IRS has announced that individuals and businesses affected by the fires in California now have until January 31, 2018 to file certain tax returns and make certain payments. There are currently seven counties eligible for relief: Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, …
2016 saw increases in domestic sales for Oregon wine alongside reduced vineyard production. The leader in vineyard planted acreage and production remains Pinot Noir accounting for 64% of all planted acreage and 57% of production. Yields were mixed with varieties such as Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir seeing reductions, with varieties including Riesling, Syrah, and Merlot seeing increases. …
Davis, Calif., Aug 28, 2017…The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) has confirmed James Harbertson as the 2017-2018 president. Harbertson, associate professor at Washington State University, Tri-Cities, succeeds Nichola Hall of Scott Laboratories to lead ASEV’s 11-member board. Harbertson also holds the interim technical program director position. An active member of ASEV since 1998, Harbertson has served on the …
SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Lohr, Chairman and CEO of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines in San Jose and Paso Robles, has been elected Wine Institute Board Chairman for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The election was held at Wine Institute’s 83rd Annual Meeting of Members in San Diego. Other board officers elected were Chris Indelicato of Delicato Family Vineyards in Napa, …
