John Haeger has written a book that many of us, who believe Pinot Noir is the purest expression of fermented grape juice, have been waiting years for. And given that Pinot Noir inspires such cultish devotion, it is rather odd that there has been so little writing devoted to the Queen of Grapes. Haeger’s “North American Pinot Noir”(University of California Press) offers a state-of-the-grape overview. It’s not the tale of the winemaker that Marq de Villier gave us in his…

Our 2004 American Wine Writer Survey has been in demand here at the PR firm. I was asked recently if a “Survey-Lite” could be created from the full version. Sure, I said, thinking that’ll be easy. Two hours later….. Anyway, in the course of editing it I come across one of those nifty graphs we created that made me stop and think: “What Wine Issue Will Most Dominate the mainstream Media Over The Next Five Years” This was asked of…

What do distributors want from a winery they handle? According to a new study commissioned by Sonoma State University, distributors more than anything, want wineries to come and visit them in the various states, create tastings for their sales people and engage in “ride-alongs” (that practice of riding about with a sales person, visiting restaurants and retailer and helping them schmooze the buyers. There’s a press release out there that offers some of the details that are in this study…

Wow…the film “Sideways” continues to sweep the awards. I saw it. I liked it. But it didn’t strike me as a “Best Film of the Year.” That said, I still wonder how this bandwagon fueled by wine will affect the consumption and appreciation of wine in America. To date “Sideways” has received “Best Film” awards from the New York Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics, The American Film Institute, and the National Board of Review. It was nominated in the…

So that it doesn’t go unsaid in Mike Dunne’s fine article on wineries coming together to support the idea of fair and balanced direct shipping, Gallo has never supported direct shipping. In fact they have opposed it openly. And, to this day, they’ve made no statement whatsoever that suggests they even lean in the direction of hoping for fair direct shipping laws…no matter what their PR person says.