News Articles

  • E&E News – “Climate change may endanger Napa Valley's posh wine industry"
    Jul 1, 2011 - Northern California's status as the country's cultural and economic center of high-value wines is likely in jeopardy by mid-century as global warming cuts into the amount of land suitable for growing premium grapes, a study has found. A research team led by Stanford University found that top-notch g... More
  • Washington Post – "Knights of a table that serves wine"
    May 31, 2011 - Where politics and wine meet, there are issues of great import, lots of schmoozing and, of course, funny-looking costumes and silly proclamations. All were present last month at the City Club of Washington when the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine of America honored three members of Congress w... More
  • Calaveras Enterprise – “Lungren talks wine with Calaveras vintners"
    Mar 30, 2011 - The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance hosted Congressman Dan Lungren at Ironstone Vineyards Wednesday, where he sat down for a listening session. A number of area wine industry members mixed with inquisitive members of the public as the congressman discussed a variety of topics. Lungren’s 3rd Congression... More
  • The Record – “Lungren to hear concerns"
    Mar 22, 2011 - Rep. Dan Lungren, hoping to get an earful from Calaveras County's wine industry, plans a listening session Wednesday at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys. The Republican from Gold River recently agreed to share chairmanship of the Congressional Wine Caucus, a bipartisan group that aims to educate and i... More
  • Wine Spectator – “U.S. Congressman Introduces New Act Threatening Direct Shipping”
    Mar 18, 2011 - The fate of direct shipping of wine from wineries and retailers to consumers is once again in the hands of the U.S. Congress. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Republican from Utah, introduced a reiteration of last year’s Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Act (the "CARE Act") yesterday. This year’s version is H... More
  • Politico – “No sour grapes here”
    Feb 25, 2011 - Mike Thompson stood next to the makeshift wine bar set up in the corner of the Agriculture Committee Room in the Longworth House Office Building. Thompson, a congressman from Northern California, asked for a quarter glass of Sauvignon Blanc, emphasized the importance of eye contact when saying “chee... More
  • Sacramento Bee – “Lungren to co-chair Congressional Wine Caucus"
    Feb 4, 2011 - Overseeing House dining facility procedures aren't the only culinary-related responsibilities Rep. Dan Lungren has gained in the new Congress. The Gold River Republican was recently named co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers aiming to "educate and engage collea... More
  • Roll Call - "A Boozy Battle Over Distribution"
    May 17, 2010 - The National Beer Wholesalers Association has mounted a full-court lobbying offensive to find co-sponsors for legislation that supports state-based alcohol regulation and makes it much tougher to file legal challenges to states’ distribution laws. Joined by the Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America, ... More
  • Napa Valley Register – “Feds award AVA to Calistoga”
    Dec 4, 2009 - The battle of Calistoga ended Thursday with a federal decision to grant a new American Viticultural Area appellation to Calistoga, forcing one local winery to change its business. The decision ends a years-long battle between vintners who grow grapes on the edge of the Upvalley city but who have bee... More
  • San Francisco Chronicle – “Calistoga appellation gets the OK "
    Dec 3, 2009 - After holding their breath for six years, Napa Valley winemakers can now put the name "Calistoga" on wines made from grapes grown in that historic town, federal regulators have ruled. The decision (read it here in PDF) ends a long slog through regulatory red tape, and completes a crucial piece of th... More
Wine is bottled poetry. Robert Louise Stevenson