This blog post summarizes the process by which licensed wineries can obtain local government approval for events in Napa County held pursuant to their California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (“ABC”) Type 93 Estate Tasting Permit. As discussed in our prior post, last year Governor Newsom...

If this year is defined by a singular emotion, it’s anxiety. That’s nothing new in farming, however I’m talking about anxiety over the abysmal grape market rather than any natural phenomenon. Many of us were so busy scrambling for buyers, we may have forgotten to notice just how great the weather...

The past two months have left many Sonoma & Napa County residents wondering, “Why us?” How many times can we continue to go through this traumatic experience of wildfires? When we start to assess the damage caused by the most recent Glass Fire, we are reminded that there are many items that must be...

A second consecutive lighter-than-average harvest across the state has further solidified the tightening of bulk wine actively for sale. There are currently fewer lots available than we ever have listed in mid-January, and the last time we had as few gallons available at this time of year was in...

by Steve Fredricks Last month I was impatiently waiting for my favorite Philly Cheesesteak as I overheard another sandwich lover describing the success of his investment in Dogecoin to his friend. He was touting Dogecoin as a “sure investment” based on his study of the price trend, and was looking...

Things Certainly Can Change in One Year by Steve Fredricks Last year at this time, mere weeks before the United States shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we were in an excess phase of the cycle for nearly every variety in California. Now, less than two months into 2021, the situation is...

February 10th – Novato, CA – The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Preliminary Grape Crush Report for 2020 has been released. It is a summary for the supply of the wine and grape industry, containing tons crushed and prices of wine grapes sold during the 2020 harvest. The Crush Report...

Introduction: Raising the Bar for Quality and Efficiency in Winemaking In today’s competitive wine industry, producing a high-quality product is no longer optional - it’s essential. Wineries of all sizes are constantly looking for ways to optimize their processes and improve quality. With Pall...