Analyzing the Ste. Michelle sale Part I: Who benefits?
Chateau Ste. Michelle by Richard Duval Late last week, the Wyckoff family purchased Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE) from Sycamore Partners, a New York-based private equity firm. This included all of the company’s Read more...
Has focusing on “the experience” helped the wine industry or hurt it?
More time at a winery = fewer overall winery visits There has been a lot of hand-wringing of late about why tasting room visitation is down. Overlooked, however, is a very simple math problem that Read more...
B.C. government extending vintage replacement support comes too late
It looks as if the government has done something to help wineries, when the actual effect might not be that different than doing nothing while saying no more assistance is coming. It’s an outrage. The Read more...
Seven reasons it’s a miracle anyone gets interested in wine
If we keep creating near insurmountable barriers to entry, can we really be surprised at the inevitable result? As the global wine industry continues to struggle due to decreasing sales, many people are asking, why? Read more...
Wineries and wine-related businesses need your support
Now is the time to double down on the businesses that you love It’s no secret that the global wine industry is in the midst of tectonic changes. The signs are everywhere. Last year, California Read more...
Washington winemakers should be more judicious with oak
The Columbia Valley, Washington’s largest winegrowing region, is blessed with the ability to consistently produce exceptional fruit. That fruit should always be front and center of the state’s wines. At present, the oak steals the Read more...
Nine words the wine industry has beaten to death
The wine industry loves to use certain words and phrases to describe vineyards, wines, wineries, and other things. The industry is so smitten with these words that they have become over-used to the point of Read more...
Washington wine has an awareness problem. The solution must come from within.
What the shuttering of Canvasback means for the state’s wine industry The news earlier this month that the Duckhorn Portfolio would be shuttering its Washington-focused Canvasback brand (as well as several brands in California) was Read more...
WHO says that living leads to dying
Today The World Health Organization (WHO) published a statement: when it comes to living, in all instances, it leads to dying. “There is no amount of life that doesn’t ultimately lead to death,” says WHO Read more...
The WHO is lying to you about alcohol
WHO acting unit lead Dr. Carina Ferreira-Borges (not really) “No amount” of alcohol is safe? Bullshit. The World Health Organization (WHO) made a big splash when it confidently stated “no level of alcohol Read more...
Why does ‘Reserve’ always mean more oak?
While there is no agreed upon definition of what constitutes a reserve-labeled wine, there is almost always a common thread. The wine sees a high(er) percentage of new oak. For example, a winery’s standard Cabernet Read more...
Who writes about wine?
This is the second in a series of articles this week about wine writing. Read the first article, “What’s next for wine writing?” I wrote yesterday about what I see coming next for wine writing. Read more...
