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
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
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 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’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
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
The wine industry is facing turbulent times, but consumers are enjoying unprecedented advantages in terms of quality and affordability. The State of the Wine Industry report highlights that wine sales in 2024 declined compared to the previous year, a rare occurrence in American history. Despite these challenges for wineries, tasting room fees saw a notable … Read more
In November, exports of Italian sparkling wine, particularly Prosecco, to the U.S. saw a significant surge, reaching a record increase of 41%. This spike was attributed to a rush by importers to stockpile wines ahead of potential tariffs that could be imposed by the newly inaugurated President Donald Trump. The industry group Unione Italiana Vini … Read more
The 2025 Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) State of the U.S. Wine Industry Report highlights an unprecedented opportunity for wine consumers amidst a historic industry downturn. The report predicts a “golden era” of pricing due to an oversupply of wine caused by declining sales over recent years. Rob McMillan, founder of SVB’s wine division and the … Read more
Celebrating excellence in winemaking, the San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC) revealed its top 2024 Chardonnay winners. Among the highlights are five Chardonnays and one exceptional Chardonnay blend, showcasing a variety of regional and stylistic expressions. The competition emphasizes the growing prominence of cool-climate viticulture and craftsmanship. Notably, the Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2022 from … Read more