Vinca Minor Winery Closes as Jason Charles Returns to His First Love: Photography

Jason Charles

After 12 years of crafting wines, Jason Charles has announced the closure of his Vinca Minor Winery. The 2024 vintage will be his last, marking the end of a notable era in the Bay Area wine industry. While the California wine sector faces challenges, Charles emphasized that his decision was based on personal aspirations rather … Read more

Governor Phil Murphy Honors New Jersey’s Top Winemakers at Drumthwacket Reception

Governor Phil Murphy Honors New Jersey’s Top Winemakers at Drumthwacket Reception

On January 28, 2025, Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy hosted a special reception at Drumthwacket, the governor’s mansion, to celebrate New Jersey’s thriving wine industry. The event was organized in partnership with the Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA) and local officials, highlighting some of the state’s finest winemakers. Key figures in … Read more

Lee Campbell’s Influence on New York’s Natural Wine Scene and Her Next Chapter

Lee Campbell’s Influence on New York’s Natural Wine Scene and Her Next Chapter

Lee Campbell has been a major figure in New York’s natural wine world for over two decades. Known for her vibrant personality and dedication to natural wines, Campbell has worked with top shops, importers, and restaurants. Her most significant contributions include spearheading early natural wine programs at Andrew Tarlow’s restaurants and launching New York’s first … Read more

White Rioja Revival Highlights Aging Potential and Legacy of Bodegas Ollauri-Conde de los Andes

White Rioja Revival Highlights Aging Potential and Legacy of Bodegas Ollauri-Conde de los Andes

While Rioja is traditionally associated with red wines made from the Tempranillo grape, the region has a long history of producing white wines. Before the phylloxera outbreak in the late 19th century, white grape plantings were more prominent than red, though this shifted over time. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest … Read more

Immigration Fears Shake Napa Valley’s Wine Industry as Undocumented Workers Face Uncertainty

Immigration Fears Shake Napa Valley’s Wine Industry as Undocumented Workers Face Uncertainty

A DUI checkpoint in Napa Valley recently triggered widespread fear among the region’s immigrant community after rumors incorrectly identified it as an ICE operation. This panic comes on the heels of a U.S. Border Patrol raid in Kern County that led to the arrest of 78 undocumented farmworkers. Advocates report heightened anxiety among immigrants, with … Read more

Wilder Wines Expands to Burlington with Wine Bar and Curated Retail Selection

Wilder Wines Expands to Burlington with Wine Bar and Curated Retail Selection

Sipha Lam’s Wilder Wines is moving to 210 College Street in Burlington, expanding its operations. The new location will feature both a wine shop and a wine bar, offering customers a larger space and a broader selection of wines. The move follows years of Lam’s desire to add a wine bar to her business. The … Read more

Lompoc City Council Rejects Proposal to Join Santa Barbara County Wine District

Lompoc City Council Rejects Proposal to Join Santa Barbara County Wine District

The Lompoc City Council recently voted on joining a Santa Barbara County wine-focused district. Despite a 2-1 majority vote in favor, three votes were required for approval. The proposal would have added a 1% levy to sales at local wine-tasting facilities to fund promotional efforts for the area. However, the city ultimately did not join … Read more

New York’s Push to Allow Wine Sales in Grocery Stores Sparks Heated Debate

New York's Push to Allow Wine Sales in Grocery Stores Sparks Heated Debate

New York is among ten states that prohibit selling wine in grocery stores, a restriction dating back to Prohibition. A 2023 Siena College poll reveals strong public support, with 75% of New York voters favoring the idea, up from 58% in 2010. The growing momentum has prompted lawmakers to reintroduce bills permitting grocery stores to … Read more

Winemaker Maxime Chapoutier Challenges Tradition with Cross-Continental Wine Blends

Winemaker Maxime Chapoutier Challenges Tradition with Cross-Continental Wine Blends

Winemaker Maxime Chapoutier’s innovative wines have sparked debates about tradition and globalization in winemaking. These two wines, a red and a white, blend French and Australian base wines, which are illegal under EU laws prohibiting cross-border grape combinations. France’s strict adherence to “terroir” – the environmental factors influencing wine – clashes with Chapoutier’s modern approach. … Read more

Judging Nonalcoholic Wines at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition: A Grueling Start and Promising Future

Judging Nonalcoholic Wines at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition A Grueling Start and Promising Future

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, held annually by the Cloverdale Citrus Fair, tasked judges with evaluating a vast array of wines from North America. Among over 5,500 entries, the author’s first assignment was to judge 26 nonalcoholic wines, a challenging prospect given the unrefined state of this wine category. Evaluating such wines added complexity … Read more