Years ago, at the Grand Harvest Awards competition in Sonoma, the “Best of Show” round resoundingly elevated a gorgeous Rose above the Sparkling, White, Red, and Dessert wine finalists. We all wondered where it originated in California until it was revealed as being from Mac’s Creek in Nebraska—made from Marechal Foch grapes. Since then, the … Read more

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

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 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

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