Chateau Cash Flow
When we think of summer, we think Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a great aperitif, pool or porch wine and the perfect wine to accompany seafood and light summer dishes. It also…
Sonoma makes great Pinot Noir, but it’s not all in the Label
Pinot Noir is the sexy grape that makes Sonoma chic. There are so many marquee Pinot wineries in the region with signature names like Rochioli, Hirsch, Marcassin, Kistler and Williams…
Wine Importing Strategies in the Age of a Lower Euro
It wasn’t that long ago that the Euro exchange rate was above 1.35. This made purchasing quality wines that represent true value from countries like Italy, France and Spain much…
Will California’s Bad Crop Yields Lead to Wine Pricing Pressure?
The 2015 vintage on California’s North Coast (which includes Napa and Sonoma Valleys) is quite beautiful, but extremely tiny. And what was so surprising about the crop is that it…
How To Create Consumer Excitement in Fine Wine Sales
On this 73rd Anniversary of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America convention, I thought it appropriate to reflect on my tenure as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board…
Wine Column: Getting The Most Out Of Burgundy
v My love affair with Burgundy dates back a long time, but it wasn’t until a trip to the region in 2000 that I became somewhat obsessed. My fascination began…
Interview: Liquor Stores President and CEO Talks About Growth Through Acquisition
When Liquor Stores N.A. recently purchased 51 percent of two Joe Canals stores in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge, New Jersey for $15 million it raised a lot of eyebrows. The two…
Why Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Should Be On Your Radar
I remember well that first special Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley that I drank almost 17 years ago. It was a Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from the…
Why Expectations Are High For Napa’s 2016 Cab Harvest
As I pen this column, the 2016 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon harvest is half completed, creating much more optimism than the previous harvest. The 2015 California North Coast harvest was…
Should Wine Bottles Shrink Their Carbon Footprint?
When we visit our local wine shop searching for that perfect bottle for the dinner table or for a gift, many consumers care about the label and the overall appeal…