2024 may well be one of the most challenging years in recent history for the American wine industry. Let’s change that. Multiple Alarm Bells At the recent Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, several prominent experts in various fields sounded the alarms during the enormously popular “State of the Industry” session attended by several … Read more

SACRAMENTO, CA, January 24, 2024–The eighth annual Rich Smith Award of Excellence for outstanding contributions to the American grape and wine industry was presented today to Nick Dokoozlian, Vice President of Winegrowing Research at E. & J. Gallo Winery in Modesto, California. The prestigious award annually reflects the spirit and accomplishments of the late Richard … Read more

Wyoming is one of the smallest and coldest wine states, with no AVAs, but some wineries partner with their Nebraska counterparts to the south to highlight emigration trails such as the Oregon Trail. The Wyoming Grape and Wine Association helps to promote the state’s wineries, which are also supported by the University of Wyoming’s grape … Read more

DC Update: New Shutdown Showdown Congress is back, fighting again while a possible government shutdown looms in just a week. Last year was the least productive legislative session since 1931 (92 years), but this year is likely to break a new record, given the Congressional dysfunction exacerbated by the upcoming election. I hope to have … Read more

Wisconsin’s history as a wine region goes back to the mid-19th Century when future California wine pioneer Agoston Haraszthy planted grapes near the Wisconsin River and created what is now Wollersheim Winery. The first modern era winery, von Stiel, opened in 1967, and today the state has more than 100 producers. Wisconsin is part of the … Read more