Top Stories from WINE BUSINESS.com – In Case You Missed It

Grape User Fee, Material, and Service Fee Rate Increase

In late March, Foundation Plant Services (FPS) increased the base user fee due on grape materials—effective for grape propagative units sold, exchanged, or retained in 2023 and after—from $0.04/unit to $0.08/unit. It also increased rates for grape material sold by FPS after April 1, 2023. The new price structure is based on three different sizes for cuttings and budsticks, and for graftsticks. The previous prices for testing & treatment will be honored for any requests that were initiated prior to April 1, 2023.

Pierce’s Disease is Detected in Humboldt County Grapevines

The Humboldt County Administrative Office revealed that grape leaf samples taken by the county’s department of agriculture tested positive for Pierce’s Disease. This marks the first time the disease has been detected in Humboldt County. Three grape leaf samples were taken from domestic and wild grapevines in Humboldt County’s Will Creek neighborhood. The county’s department of agriculture plans to conduct more research and take additional samples after the vines wake up from their winter dormancy.

Washington Wine Reports Larger Harvest, High Quality in 2022

In 2022, 240,000 tons of winegrapes were harvested in the state of Washington, a 34 percent increase over the previous year, according to the recently released Washington State Wine Commission annual Grape Production Report. The report also revealed that both Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay showed significant increases over 2021, 32 percent for Cabernet Sauvignon and 54 percent for Chardonnay. Overall, white varieties experienced a 50 percent increase, while red varieties had a 23 percent increase.

Southern Glazer's Acquires WEBB Banks, Expanding to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits announced plans in mid-March to acquire Miami-based distributor WEBB Banks, which distributes premium wine and spirits in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, as well as in the travel retail and cruise sector. The acquisition, anticipated to close on March 31, expands Southern Glazer’s reach to the Atlantic and the travel retail sector.

WSWA Announces Commitment to Federal Legalization and Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis

On March 23, Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America announced its commitment to advocate for the federal legalization and regulation of adult-use cannabis by applying regulations like those used for alcohol. The organization is the first alcohol industry trade association to make such an announcement. In a letter shared in March to members of Congress, the association presented a comprehensive regulatory framework and a warning that addressing the issue in a “piecemeal manner” may result in a de facto federal legalization that doesn’t address product safety, trade practices, and other factors.

Wine Growers Canada Welcomes Excise Duty Inflationary Cap of 2% in Federal Budget

In a press release Wine Growers Canada said it welcomed the March 28 announcement to implement a cap of 2 percent to the annual adjustment to the excise duty on alcohol in Canada. The annual indexation of alcohol excise duties to the Consumer Price Index would’ve meant a 6.3 percent rate increase this year, according to the press release, and Canadian wine growers would have been hard-pressed to absorb such a tax hike.

Master Oxygen and Time

With each Diam solution, winemakers can choose the ideal oxygen level and optimal bottle aging duration depending on their wine profile and wine history. The Diam cork range is unique as it enables winemakers to best meet their consumers ever-changing needs and makes corking the ultimate oenological act.

Diam, the power of choice