Napa Turns its Attention to Trade Tastings // A smaller and healthier Washington wine industry

Napa County isn't just trying to stop public tastings, it's now also targeting vital trade visits.

As the Washington wine industry contracts, it also finds areas of opportunity.

Perelada castle in the heart of Emporda became host to a pan-European congress on Monday (24 March) as the first-ever Mediterranean Wine Symposium took place.

Foundation Plant Services Classic Foundation Vineyard at the University of California, Davis, detected zero cases of grapevine red blotch and grapevine leafroll associated virus-3 infections.

UC officials had said the requirement would help underrepresented ethnic and racial groups achieve parity, but critics labeled it an obvious political litmus test that would compel applicants to conform to a political policy whether they agreed with it or not.

The 13th annual Eastern Winery Exposition, known simply as EWE, will take place at the Lancaster Convention Center on Tuesday through Thursday.

The question may be answered in court next month, according to Kevin Block, an attorney for a group of neighbors in litigation against Dalla Valle Vineyards, an exclusive winery in Oakville.

Counsel for the Plaintiff in Day v. Henry, which challenges Arizona’s discriminatory wine retailer shipping law, filed a petition for rehearing. There is optimism to believe the petition will be granted.

California farmers and ranchers met at the state Capitol in Sacramento last week to draw attention to key agricultural priorities during this session of the California Legislature, including a tax credit to offset the cost of paying overtime wages and put more money into the hands of farm employees. 

Mixed outlook; Chile coming in short.

Sales of domestic table and sparkling wines through NIQ off-premise outlets totaled $958 million in the four weeks ended Feb. 22, down 6% versus a year ago. Volume in the period fell 7% to 8.7 million cases.

In a welcome development, late last week the European Union announced it’s delaying tariffs on American whiskey until mid-April in order to allow more time for negotiations with the U.S. aimed at ratcheting down trade tensions—and hopefully, avoiding damaging tariffs.

Demand for Canadian wines continues to soar as “buy local” sentiments become entrenched.

Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. (NASDAQ: WVVI) (the "Company"), a leading Oregon producer of Pinot Noir, generated a loss per common share.

California-based Crimson Wine Group saw sales increase 1% to $73 million last year, boosted by a 2% rise in DTC revenue to $28 million and a 1% advance to $41 million on the wholesale side.

Virgin Wines has unveiled a bold five-year strategy aimed at lifting revenues to £100 million, following a resilient first-half performance marked by strong Christmas trading, rising customer loyalty and expanding commercial partnerships.

Greenwashing in organic wine is rife, but Radford Dale founder Alex Dale argues that genuine organic viticulture is the only way forward. 

German winemakers planted grapes such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to replace local varieties in 2024 as the growers adapt to climate change.

It took just two words from my friend Luca for me to realize the drinks industry has a thing about big brands.

Wineries are closing, younger consumers aren’t buying, and the industry is struggling. But I'll be damned if I give up on it.

WIN’s 2025 Wine Industry Sales Symposium brings together industry leaders to share the strategies that are helping wineries succeed despite market challenges.