Archive for the ‘News’ Category


Democracy on the March

February 24th, 2010 by Tom Johnson

In a poll published by the completely reliable New York Post, 58% of New Yorkers want wine to be sold in grocery stores.
There is apparently no truth to the rumor that 63% would prefer it to be given away for free.

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One Reason to Regret Signing the Guest Book on a Winery Visit

February 21st, 2010 by Tom Johnson

Wineries looking to boost sales are hiring telemarketers.

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While I’ve Been Out of Town, the Plot to Take Over the World Continues Apace

February 18th, 2010 by Tom Johnson

The closest thing the wine business has to a James Bond villain, Fred Franzia, takes control of 585 Wine Partners. 585 is a financially distressed holding company that owns Red Truck, Picket Fence Vineyards, Bivio Italia and Steelhead Wines.

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In Which We Pay Tribute to Pickers With Frozen Fingers

February 16th, 2010 by Tom Johnson

In a tasting contest of New York ice wines, the winner is: Fiori Vidal by Casa Larga Vineyards. In case you’re interested.

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Doing the Subcontinental

February 4th, 2010 by Tom Johnson

You hear a lot about the growth of wine in China, but what about India? Well, I’ve got market research:
Changing habits of Indians in drinking have, among other things, changed fortunes of the wine industry in India. Both the Indian wine market and the indigenous wine industry are witnessing tremendous growth. Favorable and promotional government [...]

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Sucks to be French

February 1st, 2010 by Tom Johnson

There is no wine more French than Champagne. While the rest of the world could make decent knock-offs of Bordeaux and Burgundy, Champagne remained unique, by definition the wine of celebration and ecstasy.
Granted, for the last couple of decades competition has been sneaking up on Champagne. Sales are down, inventories are up, prices are falling. The [...]

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Hide the Rich

January 27th, 2010 by Tom Johnson

The World Economic Forum at the Swiss luxury resort Davos is an annual gathering of financial Masters of the Universe, a gathering conspiracy theorists believe is proof that a small clique controls the world.
Last year, in an ostentatious display of sympathy for the less fortunate (read: everyone else in the world) suffering the results of [...]

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Medical Meursault

January 26th, 2010 by Tom Johnson

CI Proud, a central Illinois news website with layout problems, reports that a daily ration of wine helps stimulate the appetite of cancer patients:
Cancer patients going through chemotherapy often lose their appetite and lose weight, which can make them weaker as treatment continues. Many have argued for more use of medicinal marijuana to increase appetite, [...]

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One Way to Decrease France’s Wine Surplus

January 25th, 2010 by Tom Johnson

The French government has proposed tearing up 124 acres of vineyards in Graves, south of Bordeaux, to build a high-speed rail line.
The selected route surprised vintners, who believe the line could be built further west, causing less damage to the vineyards. Local producers have decided to contest the decision and try to negotiate a more [...]

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Dottie and John Sign Off

December 28th, 2009 by Tom Johnson

The wine critics of The Wall Street Journal suddenly resign, reportedly the victims of budget cuts at the largest circulation newspaper in the country. Their farewell is worth reading in whole:
When it comes to wine, we think the problem is that, over the past decade or so, too many people have come to believe that [...]

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