DC Updates

Members of Congress are home campaigning, but that doesn’t mean nothing is happening in Washington. Michael Kaiser is very busy working with beverage industry colleagues concerned about the process of establishing the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) establish these guidelines every five years, … Read more

State Profiles: Montana Wine Country

The Big Sky Country of Montana comes with a cold climate that can be challenging for growing many types of grapes, but the cold-hardy Minnesota varieties can withstand the winter temperatures. Other fruits are also used to make local wines. The Montana Grape and Winery Association promotes the industry in various ways. Tongue River Winery in Miles City, with … Read more

Come Over October

Come Over October is an international celebration of—and with—wine as the beverage that brings us together—family, friends, colleagues, entire strangers—to toast all that is good about life. The promotion was created by noted wine communicators Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible, plus Kimberly Charles and Gino Colangelo, both of whom have their own wine-focused agencies … Read more

State Profiles: Missouri Wine Country

Missouri has a long history of grape and wine production, mostly due to Germans who settled in Hermann and other communities starting in 1837. In the 1870s, when French vineyards were being devastated by the root louse phylloxera, Missouri sent large amounts of resistant rootstock to help save that industry. Before Prohibition, Missouri was the … Read more

Policy Perspectives

DC Updates Members of Congress wanted to get home to the campaign trail, an incentive that helped them come together to avoid a potential government shutdown. They basically kicked the can down the road with a “Continuing Resolution” (current spending levels) through December 20, when they will again play chicken right before the holidays. What … Read more