Jana Churich

View the newly released 2023 Certification Report and Appendix, an annual benchmark of the major accomplishments of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) and certified vineyards and wineries at the link below. The report notes that 45% of California’s 610,000 winegrape acres are CCSW certified and that 90% of the 255 million statewide cases of wine are made in CCSW wineries. Both are significant increases from 2022. https://lnkd.in/gCbJwjAe

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SB478 law is making many of us in the California restaurant industry crazy with its ambiguity. If this law is passed, and surcharges and service charges are no longer allowed, what considerations are you looking at making? I am hearing more and more from restaurant clients on how they will be taking surcharges and adding that % to their menu pricing. Would love to hear what other considerations are being thought about.

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September is California Wine Month🍷 Celebrated annually, this statewide event honours the Golden State’s vibrant wine industry. It coincides with the annual grape harvest and showcases the state’s rich winemaking heritage, diverse wine regions, and world-renowned wines. Throughout the month, wineries and wine regions across California host special events such as tastings, vineyard tours, festivals, and wine-pairing dinners. To mark the occasion, here's five lesser known facts about California wine - 🍇 California is the 4th largest wine producer in the world – If it were its own country, California would rank just behind France, Italy, and Spain in global wine production. 🍇 California produces over 80% of U.S. wine – The state’s massive output includes over 4,000 wineries, ranging from small family operations to world-famous vineyards. 🍇 Napa Valley represents only 4% of California's wine production – Despite its fame, Napa’s output is small compared to the rest of the state, focusing more on high-quality wines. 🍇 Wine grapes were first planted in California in the 1700s – Spanish missionaries established the first vineyards, laying the foundation for California’s modern wine industry. 🍇 The "Zinfandel" grape is originally from Croatia – Though widely associated with California, DNA testing revealed Zinfandel’s origins trace back to Croatia. Learn more - https://lnkd.in/ehqFzdFR Pictured: Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, Sonoma County #travelandtourism #travelindustry #luxurytravel

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Over the last 24 years, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon grape prices have been surging. Napa price levels ($9,235/ton) and growth rate (192% since 2000) by far outperformed Sonoma and the California average. In 2000, Napa Cabernet was 31% more expensive than Sonoma Cabernet; in 2023, this was 202%.

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Over the past 50 years, both Napa and Sonoma Valleys have experienced a significant rise in Cabernet Sauvignon Brix levels (approx. +3 degrees). While both had about the same Brix levels up until the late 1990s, from then on, Napa's Brix level have grown stronger. Now, Napa Cabernet Sauvignon has almost half a Brix degree more than Sonoma's.

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🌱 Does harvesting wine based on the biodynamic calendar make sense❓ 🎙️ On the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, you’ll hear the stories and tips that answer those questions in our chat with superstar winemaker Theresa Heredia who has worked for some of California’s most prestigious wineries. https://lnkd.in/gndwcqWs 🌾 Does harvesting wine based on the biodynamic calendar make sense? 🌕 What about actually drinking the wine based on the lunar cycle? 🪐 As Theresa explains, the lunar cycle is correlated to gravitational forces. 🌌 So, on different days, the gravitational forces are really strong. 🍇 On a root day, the fruity esters and aromatic compounds are pulled down into the vine. 🍃 Then there’s a leaf day when Theresa says you might capture more of the leafy vegetal aromas in the grapes and resulting wine. 🌺 On a flower day you might capture a lot of the floral aromatics. This relates to wine in the bottle as well. 🍷 If you're drinking it on a root day the aromatics are pulled more into the liquid. 🌫️ How does fog play a profound role in growing grapes and winemaking in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma, California? 🌡️ As Theresa observes, the fog and diurnal temperature shifts help preserve acidity and color development in the grapes. 🌙 It can get up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime, but at night, the grapes cool down to fog temperature, which is about 50-55 degrees. 🌊 In the Russian River Valley, many vineyards are at slightly lower elevations next to the river which means that they have a gravelly riverbed soil. 🟥 Why do some winemakers add Mega Purple to wine and what the heck is Mega Purple? 🟣 Mega Purple is highly concentrated grape juice made from Rubired grapes that have red purple skins and flesh to impart a lot of colour. 💪 Winemakers use Mega Purple to add color, body and texture, and make bigger, bolder wines. 🔗 Want to listen to these answers or read the article? Go to the link above or in my bio. 🌟 Are you a fan of Pinot Noir❓ Let me know in the comments 👇 Theresa Heredia California Wines Canada Sonoma County Vintners California Wines Europe #natdecants #theresaheredia #sonamawines #pinotnoir #wineexperience #winestories #winestory #winegeek #winelover #winemoments #winetime #wineenthusiast #wine #wines #sommlife #wineinfluencer

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"It’s hard to beat great prices and expansive selection, and Total Wine has this at scale," says Mark Ryski, Author, CEO & Founder of HeadCount Corporation. "Achieving scale is a key element of their success strategy as it will ensure that they have buying power and access to product that others can’t get. I can’t see any immediate barriers that would slow Total Wine’s continued rise other than a potential slow down in overall alcohol consumption due to health concerns since the CDC and WHO came out with strong statements declaring that no level of alcohol consumption is safe." Check out more insights from one of the retail industry’s leading experts - https://buff.ly/3qRfPx2. More great comments on this topic by RetailWire's BrainTrust experts including: Neil Saunders, Brian Numainville, Kai Clarke -L.I.O.N., Gene Detroyer, Robert Amster, Ryan Grogman, Peter Charness, David Weinand, Christopher P. Ramey, Mark Self, Gary Sankary, Dick Seesel, Cathy Hotka, Lisa Goller, MBA, and • Shep Hyken.

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▪️ California has a Grape Glut Problem ▪️ "The California wine industry remains an economic powerhouse, contributing over $88 billion in economic activity and supporting more than half a million jobs. This broad impact on the state's economy underscores the importance of ensuring the industry's continued success." ▪️ Read the entire article here: https://lnkd.in/eixp2iAH #article #wine #distributor #alcohol #sales #marketing #innovation #digitalmarketing #technology #business #career #articles

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Dive into Jock O'Connell's commentary in the May West Coast Trade Report to uncover the dynamics driving California’s wine export growth. From production to distribution, explore the factors shaping this thriving industry. Read it here: https://ow.ly/vmGx50Sc2sQ #TradeAnalysis #WineIndustry #ExportGrowth

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🌱 Does harvesting wine based on the biodynamic calendar make sense❓ 🎙️ On the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, you’ll hear the stories and tips that answer those questions in our chat with superstar winemaker Theresa Heredia who has worked for some of California’s most prestigious wineries. https://lnkd.in/guGMmz-W 🌾 Does harvesting wine based on the biodynamic calendar make sense? 🌕 What about actually drinking the wine based on the lunar cycle? 🪐 As Theresa explains, the lunar cycle is correlated to gravitational forces. 🌌 So, on different days, the gravitational forces are really strong. 🍇 On a root day, the fruity esters and aromatic compounds are pulled down into the vine. 🍃 Then there’s a leaf day when Theresa says you might capture more of the leafy vegetal aromas in the grapes and resulting wine. 🌺 On a flower day you might capture a lot of the floral aromatics. This relates to wine in the bottle as well. 🍷 If you're drinking it on a root day the aromatics are pulled more into the liquid. 🌫️ How does fog play a profound role in growing grapes and winemaking in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma, California? 🌡️ As Theresa observes, the fog and diurnal temperature shifts help preserve acidity and color development in the grapes. 🌙 It can get up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime, but at night, the grapes cool down to fog temperature, which is about 50-55 degrees. 🌊 In the Russian River Valley, many vineyards are at slightly lower elevations next to the river which means that they have a gravelly riverbed soil. 🟥 Why do some winemakers add Mega Purple to wine and what the heck is Mega Purple? 🟣 Mega Purple is highly concentrated grape juice made from Rubired grapes that have red purple skins and flesh to impart a lot of colour. 💪 Winemakers use Mega Purple to add color, body and texture, and make bigger, bolder wines. 🔗 Want to listen to these answers or read the article? Go to the link above or in my bio. 🌟 Are you a fan of Pinot Noir❓ Let me know in the comments 👇 Theresa Heredia California Wines Canada Sonoma County Vintners California Wines Europe #natdecants #theresaheredia #sonamawines #pinotnoir #wineexperience #winestories #winestory #winegeek #winelover #winemoments #winetime #wineenthusiast #wine #wines #sommlife #wineinfluencer

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The wine industry’s labor market is all over the place right now. Some companies are hesitant to hire due to economic uncertainty, while others are dealing with high turnover—or even growing. Employees are staying put in a trend known as "The Big Stay," unlike earlier times of "The Great Resignation." Some wineries struggle with hiring or finding qualified candidates, while others see more applicants. Competition from other industries adds to the challenge. Referrals and networking are key, as AI hiring tools aren’t always effective. Despite the chaos, some companies like O’Neill Vintners are expanding, while others proceed carefully. Read the full article Katherine Martine: https://zurl.co/SGd2

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In recent years, in-the-know travelers are seeking not just high-end wine tastings, but elevated cannabis experiences. Here’s how to plan your journey.

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The forest through the trees… REMEMBER, 100,000,000 gallons of imported wine MORE in one year came into the U.S. between 2021-2022 as a result of the 325,000 tons of rejected smoke fruit in 2020. That imbalance hit the vineyards AND the domestic shelf in 2023. Somebody….ANYBODY? ….and this too shall pass. The perfect storm of the post-pandemic wine imbalances has 2-3 years of rebalancing, and then back to ‘normal’(?) Maybe, as normal is a permanent reset of increased imports….and that’s ok depending on whether your’re a supplier trying to reset or on the sales & distribution side with ‘the world your oyster’. It will balance if we dig into the data and SLOW DOWN before knee-jerk reactions potentially extend the difficulties. Wine Institute ? California Association of Winegrape Growers ? WINEAMERICA ? Consulting Wine/Wine Concepts & Design, Intl. #internationaltrade #tradebalance #wineindustry #businessintelligence Lodi Winegrape Commission Jed Lucey Judd Wallenbrock Nicholas M. Karavidas

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Met with folks in the wine industry in Napa last week. Shocked to hear prices are down 90% for grapes in 2024 harvest. Some wineries are asking for picking costs ($600/ton) rather than typical $6,500 per ton of Cabernet Sauvignon. And even then, it might not get sold. The industry has reported a lot about the structural issues at hand. But what shocks me is the lack of ingenuity that comes from such an existential market correction. David Salazar said, “you’d think this would be a wake up call to do marketing and sales differently—because clearly they need to gain new customers. But instead it’s an old school mentality—write off the vintage and hope for a better year next year.” The wine industry is so weird/ineffecient because of the knock on effects of post-Prohibition regulation. Not many wineries sell directly to their customers. Instead they sell to the distributors. And the distributors care about different things than the wine consumers themselves. There will be great Napa cab in Costco and Trader Joe’s next year. Maybe an innovative brand will capitalize on the incredible juice, too. #wine #napa #industrytrends

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