SACRAMENTO, CA, January 29, 2025 —The ninth annual Rich Smith Award of Excellence for outstanding contributions to the American grape and wine industry was presented today to Emily Hodson, the winemaker at Veritas Vineyards and Winery, a co-owner of Flying Fox Vineyards and Winery, and an active leader in the Virginia wine industry. The prestigious … Read more
Oregon is an incredible success story when it comes to wine. Still young in terms of “wine years”, the state has been a leader in sustainability, varietal branding, industry leadership, and many other ways. WineAmerica has benefited from Oregonians who have taken leadership positions, starting with Bill Nelson who served as Vice President, then President, … Read more
A Tale of Three Presidents Monday marked the inauguration, and in an unusual twist it was the tale of three presidents. Joe Biden ceded the office to Donald Trump, and the legacy of Jimmy Carter was also present. The 39th president passed away on December 29 at 100 years of age, and the flag over … Read more
“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for ‘danger,’ the other for ‘opportunity.’” – John F. Kennedy In the early 1980s, the New York grape and wine industry was in an economic crisis due to a perfect storm of subsidized imports, corporate changes, changing consumer tastes and … Read more
Despite Prohibition, the Dust Bowl, and lingering suspicion of alcohol, somehow Oklahoma has managed to host a grape and wine industry. Actually, the first vineyard was planted in 1898, and Oklahoma was the second-largest grape producing state until the 1930s Dust Bowl. But statewide alcohol prohibition began a decade before the national version in 1919, … Read more