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The Napa County planning commission voted to take back local control of approving vineyards planted on clear cut forest land. Existing regulations requiring erosion control measures of vineyards planted on [...]

Neighbors in the vicinity of a proposed new winery near Calistoga, Calif., have asked that a judge overrule the Napa County Board of Supervisors, who approved the project in October, [...]

A FED-UP CONSUMER calls it "socialism." A fed-up retailer calls it "state-sponsored gouging." They're referring to an Ohio law that requires vintners, distributors, and retailers to jack up the price […]

* The Pennsylvania legislature voted to allow out-of-state wineries to ship limited quantities of wine to consumers who order over the Internet. HB1519 permits Pennsylvania residents to receive no more [...]

* A measure that small wine importers feared would wipe out their businesses and monopolize California's wine market has been shelved. The bill, pushed by Diageo, a British beverage conglomerate, [...]

Responding to a Wine Institute (W.I.) request, the California Department of Health Services Food and Drug Branch announced its interpretation of Section 17010(a) relating to the use of water in [...]

Stimson Lane, Ltd., with vineyards sprawling across much of the Columbia Valley, is the largest wine producer in the state of Washington. The company began using the Supplier Credit Guarantee [...]

First, a federal judge in Virginia rules that the state's current ban on interstate wine direct shipments is unconstitutional. No kidding, it violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. [...]

In November, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) accepted two Offers In Compromise to settle issues disclosed during a six month investigation into violations of Federal laws and [...]

In November, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms added the names 'Counoise' and 'St. Laurent' to the list of prime grape variety names to designate American wines. The names [...]

Hawaii is the 13th reciprocal state and the 21st state that allows adult consumers to receive wine from California wineries. Hawaii's SB 630 bill was signed by Governor Benjamin Kayetano [...]

In May, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms approved Long Island as a new American Viticultural Area (AVA), which encompasses the two longstanding AVA's--North Fork of Long Island and [...]

Issues are presented concerning the decision made by the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Utah which will enable restaurants to provide wine lists to customers whether they ask for them or not. The promotion of wine is discussed.

* On August 8, New York Gov. George Pataki signed legislation initiated by State Senator John R. Kuhl and sponsored by Assemblywoman Naomi Matusow that officially recognizes nine 'wine trails' [...]

* The Congressional Wine Caucus, chaired by George Radanovich and Mike Thompson of California, sent a letter signed by 16 Members of Congress to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms [...]

The law governing the shipment of wine direct to consumers, amended by Senator Orrin Hatch, is discussed. The bill passed in October 2000 allows injunctions against out-of-state shippers if they violate state direct- shipment law.

Much has been said, and written, in M recent months about the new temperance movement and how effective it has been in changing the climate in which the spirits, beer [...]

There have been reports that some French wineries are using banned animal blood products as clarifying agents. The use of such products had been banned by the European Union in 1997 after the mad cow disease scare. The wineries caught using the products do not make the types of wines that are generally exported, but 3 US senators have proposed putting a warning label on all French wines stating the possibility that such products were used.

Wine collector Mark Phillips' home was raided when he attempted to sell part of his wine collection to another collector. The Virginia Department of Alcohol Beverage Control saw an ad Phillips posted on his Web site, and then posed as buyers. Phillips was charged with selling an alcoholic beverage without a license. If convicted, he may be subject to a maximum penalty of 1 year in jail and a $2500 fine.

Senator Strom Thurmond opposes wording in the 1995 federal dietary guidelines that refers to the potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. Thurmond called for an investigation, charging that the Wine Institute had influenced the guidelines, which in turn influence regulations regarding wine labeling.

Senator Orrin Hatch introduced the 21st Amendment enforcement act on March 10, 1999. The bill aims to give states who ban direct shipments of wine to prosecute offenders with federal courts. Hatch is most concerned with the possibility that minors could obtain wine via the mail, though there had not been any significant problem with underage persons obtaining alcohol via the mail.

Associated Press - A bill introduced in New Jersey would ban out-of-state deliveries of alcohol to customers' doorstep. Advocates of the measure, including New Jersey liquor wholesalers and retailers, say [...]

A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to give states new powers in their fight against interstate sales of wine over the Net. The bill, S. 577, is […]

EU member state officials continued discussions on reform of the wine sector in this week's meeting of the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA), leaving delegations little time (or inclination) to [...]

A number of wine distributors and wholesales in several states have been effective in enacting laws that prevent consumers from having wine shipped directly to them. A Congressional subcommittee that heard a proposal to make such shipments even tougher did not appear inclined to intervene.

States such as Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee have recently made it a felony to allow wine to be shipped directly to consumers. States that have wine industries have reciprocal shipping agreements, but middlemen in other states have strong lobbies.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, the news of the death of methyl bromide is greatly exaggerated. But its fate could very well be decided in the next six months. Methyl bromide [...]

You know that from time to time the Bungster likes to raise a serious issue. It riles up the readers, gives gainful employment to the publisher's attorneys and keeps my [...]

To those of us on this side of the Atlantic who reckon that wine is a pretty civilised, and civilising, drink, it has always seemed strange that in the USA [...]

Local wine authorities would not allow Guffens to declare his wine a Viognier, as the flavors were unusually rich. An appellation was denied for the wine that was reminiscent of a Northern Rhone Condrieu.

US Customs allows travellers to bring as much as five gallons of table wine into the country, with the first liter being duty-free. Sales taxes must also be paid at some locations. Shipping wine home and other options are explored.

A group of 44 wine co-operatives in the Italian region of Veneto have decided to withhold part of the quantity of wine which they are required to deliver for compulsory [...]

The Australian - European Wine Agreement comes into force in March 1994 and recognises the winemaking practices of both parties. It will give EU consumers a wider choice of Australian wines and will allow multi-regional and multi-varietal wine blends to be marketed in the community. Additionally, place names of both EU and Australian wine-growing regions will be given protection. Australian wine exports to the EU totalled 54 million lt in 1993, worth ECU113 million. The largest single market for Australian wines was the UK with 47.5 million lt, followed by New Zealand and Sweden.

The Italian state intervention agency AIMA has announced that, due to financial problems, it is not in a position to carry out preventive distillation for table wine. A few days [...]

European vintners are prepared for an FDA move to cut permissible lead content in wine to no more than 150 parts per billion. Makers of fine wines have also decided to discontinue use of lead foil capsules on wine bottles.