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Wine News

California's Glass Fire claims wineries and restaurants

01 October 2020

Wineries in Napa are suffering huge damage in the latest wild fire to threaten the region. The fires were sparked on Sunday and fanned by flames early in the week. The fire is known as Glass Fire and by Wednesday, 19 wineries saw their buildings burn as the fire spread across 51,266 acres.

Michelin-starred 'The Restaurant at Meadowood' was destroyed by the Glass Fire on Wednesday afternoon. Napa Valley wine region Calistago was evacuated and at the time of writing concerns were rising over increasing winds in the region.

Interviews and News for California

UK Wine Show 40 Joel Peterson of Ravenswood Winery

UK Wine Show 40 Joel Peterson of Ravenswood Winery

Joel Peterson is founder of Ravenswood in Sonoma, California. Ravenswood is the largest producer of Zinfandel in the world and is now owned by Constellation Brands. Find out why Joel is so passionate about Zinfandel and how he became the 'King of Zin'.

UK Wine Show 41 Joel Peterson on the Zinfandel grape

UK Wine Show 41 Joel Peterson on the Zinfandel grape

Joel Peterson is founder of Ravenswood, the largest producer of Zinfandel in the world. In this second interview with Joel we discuss the latest genetic research into the origins of the Zinfandel grape.

Sovio sources from US to get round EU anomaly

Sovio has relaunched by sourcing the grapes from California rather than Spain.

Moths threaten Californian vineyards

A grape-eating moth is threatening crops in the Napa Valley wine region in California.

US wine industry is turning a corner

After two years of declining wine sales US consumers are starting to spend more on wine and the country is exporting more.

Healdsburg won’t cap wine-tasting rooms

With 20 wine tasting rooms downtown Healdsburg council decide not to further restrict more establishments.

GM wines fight Pierces disease

Californian researchers seek to protect grapevines from Pierce's disease

California wine producers make secret stash of wine

Un-named producers are making 'Pot wine' fashionable in California.

UC Davis tackles Pierce's disease with genetic engineering

Gene fusion research project could help fight Pierce's disease in California.

Crushpad bankruptcy sale goes ahead

The assets of the California winery Crushpad have been sold for over $650,000 to two new companies created by CastleGate Partners.

Weather puts high pressure on wine harvest pricing

Smaller harvests in Northern Hemisphere could put pressure on prices

California brings in big harvest as the world continues to move into undersupply

The 2012 harvest in California is a record year both for the amount of grapes crushed and the price paid for them.

Ripening weather is unbelievable for 2013 Napa wines

Napa looks forward to a good harvest and great quality.

Wine in a paper bottle goes on sale in the US

Paper bottle for wine is world's first.

Grapes replaced by almonds in California

Californian vineyards ripped up to be replanted by almonds and other nuts and fruits.

Bumper crop amid warnings of drought

California announces largest wine crop amid threats of drought.

Has the reign of Pinot Grigio finally come to an end?

Short supply of Pinot Grigio forces price increases for this popular white wine

Napa quake hits wine region

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has hit California's Napa Valley but its too soon to count the economic cost and any impact on the price of Napa wines.

Watch out pest it's the attack of the drones

Remote controlled helicopter used to spray vineyards

Whoops, I misheard. Wine order costs $3,750!

Mumbled explanation of wine price leads to an expensive surprise.

Californian wine crop big but not a record breaker

Crush report shows results for the 2014 Californian crop

California wines are full of arsenic, or are they?

PR stunt by Denver lab claims dangerously high levels of arsenic found in Californian wines.

Californian drought continues

The four-year drought in California is having an impact on smaller producers of inexpensive wines.

Google tour of vineyards

Google offer 360 panoramic view of Californian vineyards

Napa Vineyards could be threatened by fire

Californian Valley fire destroys homes vineyards could be next.

Waste water reused

California research looks at waste water for vineyards.

Wine just got butch

Wine in a can to protect male masculinity

California exports value rise as volumes fall

California exports value rise as volumes fall, but exports to the UK are up despite currency headwinds.

Fires rage across California in Napa and Sonoma

Fires are raging across California Napa and Sonoma counties destroying wineries and killing 31 people.

Fires hit Galicia and California is still burning

Arsonists set Galicia on fire, while California still burns.

California harvest looks like a good one in 2018

California harvest looks like a good one with a slightly cooler and longer growing season, producing wines with better flavours.

California produced 10% less wine in 2019 and average price dropped

In California, volume was down in 2019 and so were prices, with the average price down 5%, except in premium regions such as Napa and Sonoma were prices held firm.

California a blaze as the grapes are being harvested

California grapes are being harvested as the state suffers another intense fire season. Top regions including Napa, Sonoma, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties have been affected.

California's Glass Fire claims wineries and restaurants

Wineries in Napa have been burnt by the latest wild fire to threaten the region. The fires were sparked on Sunday and fanned by flames early in the week.

Smoke from California and Oregon fires means many grapes will go unpicked.

The Glass Fire that has destroyed 18 wineries so far is the tip of the iceberg, with many producers planning to not pick grapes because of smoke taint.

Mavrik claims to have found the solution to smoke taint

Smoke tainted wines have become the curse of Australia and California, and the resulting wines have a loss of fruit, unattractive smoke flavours and a harsh mouthfeel.

Bonterra launches zero carbon wine by buying carbon credits

Californian organic winery launches Bonterra, claiming to be the first organic winery to go carbon neutral.

Top 10 US wine producing regions has a few surprises

California produces most of the wine from the US, but what are the top 10 wine regions?

Interviews and News for Napa Valley

Moths threaten Californian vineyards

A grape-eating moth is threatening crops in the Napa Valley wine region in California.

Crushpad Napa could close if funding attempts fail

The Napa Valley company Crushpad has warned that it is likely it will close the business if it fails to get funding imminently.

China recognises Napa's GI status

Napa Valley is first wine region to get GI status recognised in China

California brings in big harvest as the world continues to move into undersupply

The 2012 harvest in California is a record year both for the amount of grapes crushed and the price paid for them.

Ocean aged wines more open and complex?

A Napa Valley winery claims that ageing wine on the ocean floor makes it more complex and open than its land-matured equivalent.

Ripening weather is unbelievable for 2013 Napa wines

Napa looks forward to a good harvest and great quality.

World 2013 Harvest Round Up

2013 harvesting begins across the globe what effect on pricing ?

The future is robot-sorted grapes!

Napa Valley winemaker employs optical grape sorter.

Napa quake hits wine region

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has hit California's Napa Valley but its too soon to count the economic cost and any impact on the price of Napa wines.

Napa Vineyards could be threatened by fire

Californian Valley fire destroys homes vineyards could be next.

Earth Wind and Fire

Elements across the world prove challenging to wine makers

Stags Leap lawsuit

Is the Napa Valley lawsuit stifling competition?

Fires rage across California in Napa and Sonoma

Fires are raging across California Napa and Sonoma counties destroying wineries and killing 31 people.

Fires hit Galicia and California is still burning

Arsonists set Galicia on fire, while California still burns.

Napa Valley name now explicitly protected in UK

Napa Valley wines have been protected under European legislation since 2007 but will now be protected in the UK under our Certification Mark scheme.

Penfolds target Napa and Champagne for overseas expansion

Penfolds is shifting the traditional marketing approach to wine with Champagne and Napa reds for the Australian brand.

E&J Gallo has acquired Napa Valley winery Pahlmeyer

Iconic winery Pahlmeyer has been purchased by E&J Gallo as part of its super premium strategy.

California's Glass Fire claims wineries and restaurants

Wineries in Napa have been burnt by the latest wild fire to threaten the region. The fires were sparked on Sunday and fanned by flames early in the week.

Napa and Sancerre harvest, both have big falls in volume but for very different reasons

Napa has a 25-30% drop in volume at harvest due to drought, while Sancerre harvest is down 50% due to frost and rain causing mildew.