WineBusiness Monthly

🎉 Excited to announce this year's list of Wine Industry Leaders! This incredible group of people have been working to push the industry forward, grow a new generation of wine professionals and support the business. 🥂Read more about about them in our November issue, or at https://lnkd.in/gAFbBAVm #wine #winebusiness #leadership #vineyard #mentor #wineindustry #leader 

Lasseter Family Winery celebrated 100 years of its Zinfandel vines with a fresh new label for their Old Vine Zinfandel, called L'Ame du Sage. To pay homage to these vines' centennial, owners John and Nancy Lasseter asked Sonoma-based graphic designer Lisa Hobro to redesign the label. While it keeps the original artwork by Dennis Ziemienski, the update adds a modern touch that honors the vineyard’s rich history. Vice President of Marketing and Sales Jenifer Freebairn said the new label not only celebrates the 100th anniversary of these vines but also provides a better reflection of the "stately, incredible quality of the wine." The redesigned label also provides clearer info for wine lovers, making it both stylish and informative. It's the first of many label updates Lasseter has planned to elevate their wines. Read the full article by Sarah Brown: https://zurl.co/XUjI

Opus One Winery, led by research manager Alaina Velasquez, has adopted a novel approach by using indigenous yeasts from their estate vineyard to enhance their wine’s terroir. Partnering with Vivelys, a biotech company, the winery isolated and selected six native yeast strains for fermentation, replacing traditional active dry yeast. This process, while labor-intensive, adds unique complexity, aroma, and texture to their wines, offering a more authentic vineyard expression. The system, continuously evolving, supports sustainability efforts and may expand to include malolactic bacteria, further refining the winemaking process. Read the full article by Bryan Avila: https://zurl.co/df2I 🍇

The University of Minnesota Grape Breeding Program has been a game changer for cold climate wine in the Upper Midwest. It all started with early settlers struggling to grow European grapes, but they turned to native species like Vitis riparia to create hybrids. This led to awesome varieties like Frontenac and Marquette, boosting the local wine scene. The program uses modern DNA techniques to breed cold-hardy grapes that resist pests and diseases. With climate change posing new challenges, they’re adapting to keep cold climate wines thriving. It’s an exciting time for Minnesota’s grape-growing future! Read the full article: https://zurl.co/bwOs

Micro-oxygenation (MOX) is a technique winemakers use to add small amounts of oxygen to wine in a controlled way. This helps improve the wine’s color, soften tannins, and speed up the aging process so the wine can be released sooner. By carefully adding oxygen, winemakers can enhance the flavor, aroma, and texture, making the wine more approachable when it's young. However, it's important to not overdo it, as too much oxygen can lead to off flavors and shorten the wine’s life. MOX equipment ranges from manual systems to fully automated ones, allowing for different levels of control. Read the full article by Richard Carey: https://zurl.co/LLR8

The wine industry’s labor market is all over the place right now. Some companies are hesitant to hire due to economic uncertainty, while others are dealing with high turnover—or even growing. Employees are staying put in a trend known as "The Big Stay," unlike earlier times of "The Great Resignation." Some wineries struggle with hiring or finding qualified candidates, while others see more applicants. Competition from other industries adds to the challenge. Referrals and networking are key, as AI hiring tools aren’t always effective. Despite the chaos, some companies like O’Neill Vintners are expanding, while others proceed carefully. Read the full article Katherine Martine: https://zurl.co/SGd2

Join us at the 2024 Wine Industry Financial Symposium for the Wednesday Keynote address: "Meeting the Consumer: Strategies to Reach the New Wine Consumer and Expand the Category". Co-Founder & CEO Allison Luvera will share how Juliet Wines has tripled production, secured placements in top resorts and retailers, and continues to grow by putting consumers first. This is a session you won’t want to miss! Register today: https://zurl.co/fC6Q #WineBusiness

NIQ’s updated data shows off-premise wine sales have dropped. In the four weeks ending July 13, 2023, sales volume fell by more than 5%, with 11.8 million cases sold. Over the past year, wine sales also dropped by 6%, while sales value fell by 3% to $18 billion. Wines in glass bottles priced under $3.99 saw the biggest decline, but box wines priced over $4 increased in both sales and volume. Popular wine types like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon saw small growth in sales, showing that people are sticking with these familiar choices despite overall declines. Read the full report: https://zurl.co/JeOV

Nicole Marchesi is our WINEMAKER OF THE MONTH 🍇 Marchesi is the winemaker at Far Niente Winery in Oakville, CA, known for its exceptional Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. With a history dating back to 1885, the winery produces 55,000 cases annually from its 450 acres. Marchesi, who transitioned from biology to Viticulture and Enology, has been with Far Niente since 2005, becoming the fourth winemaker in its history. She finds inspiration in industry publications, stating, “I particularly appreciate articles focused on scientific research with the potential for real world application.” Marchesi embraces mentorship, recognizing its role in strengthening her team and enhancing the quality of their wines. Read the full story: https://zurl.co/fzrt

This study looks at how to detect leaf reddening in vineyards caused by viruses like Grapevine Leafroll Virus and Grapevine Red Blotch Virus. These viruses harm red grapevines, reducing fruit quality. Traditional monitoring methods are labor-intensive, prompting the use of VineView’s aerial imagery technology for efficient screening. A 2023 study in a Cabernet Franc block revealed that accurately timed aerial images significantly improved detection accuracy, achieving 98.5%. This method enhances understanding of vine health and directs field sampling, while also helping mitigate virus spread, thus benefiting vineyard management and economic sustainability. Read the full article: https://zurl.co/9ETu