#wine-industry

#wine-industry

The Talking France podcast is back and picking through the recent war-like rhetoric heard in France, as well as the crisis for the French wine industry, possible changes to the school day and and early look at next year's crucial elections. Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's Emma Pearson, Genevieve Mansfield and John Lichfield to discuss all the latest news and talking points from France.

A former project manager for Francis Ford Coppola's Inglenook Winery in Rutherford is now facing criminal charges accusing him of taking $1.2 million from the sale of wine tanks and using the money for home improvements without the owner's permission. George Giles Beeker III was charged Oct. 2 with grand theft and embezzlement, according to the Napa County District Attorney's Office. The case builds on accusations first raised in a lawsuit Inglenook's owner, Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery, filed in July 2024.

According to a New York Post report, the State Liquor Authority (SLA) is rejecting up to 70% of license applications this year. They cite fears that new stores could force existing shops out of business. The crackdown comes as alcohol sales in New York have plunged by as much as 25% this year, with similar drops last year, according to the Post and liquor license attorney Max Bookman.

The federal budget allocated a record-setting $170 billion for immigration enforcement. The money is set to go toward expanding detention facilities and hiring new agents for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. After pledging in June to protect the agriculture industry from crackdowns, President Trump reversed course a few days later. Now, as California's annual grape harvest begins, the state's wine community is on edge.

According to the county, the proposed amendments are designed to help farmers and ranchers access undeveloped and actively farmed properties in unincorporated rural areas of Santa Clara County. These properties are being advertised for home development, which in turn has inflated land values. The proposal seeks to mitigate this by updating exclusive agriculture, agricultural ranchlands, hillside and rural residential zones.

Sonoma County's wine industry is facing significant challenges, in line with global declines in wine sales, and shifting consumer trends. Local vintners and grape growers are joining forces to explore a possible solution for the wine and ag sector. Industry leaders have formed a steering committee to explore creating a Sonoma County Wine Improvement District, or WID. A handful of California regions already have WIDs in place. Livermore Valley, Santa Barbara County and Temecula.

The Golden Vines is set to make its U.S. debut in Miami, celebrating wine and spirits through masterclasses, dining, and intimate conversations over a three-day event.

Humble Sea Brewing Co. has opened its first San Francisco location at Pier 39, offering the same acclaimed beers that have won multiple awards.