Hope everyone is staying happy and healthy and making smart decisions out there. Here’s what’s happening in the wine and food world…
Locally, California has gone back a phase (or two) and all indoor recreation, including indoor dining, wineries, and tasting rooms are shuttered once more. While those latter three can accommodate guests in an exterior setting, all bars (that don’t have a food service attached to them) must close completely. The Press Democrat has a breakdown of what’s going on, but also check out the California Department of Public Health’s Guidance on Closures below.
IF you decide to go out—WEAR. A. MASK. In Napa, the Register reports, COVID guidelines are now officially being enforced. Wear a mask, maintain social distancing courtesies, don’t gather in large groups—or be fined.
In other Napa-news COVID is now potentially affecting harvest. It’s a time when many workers travel from around the globe to pick and crush grapes, but no-go given the current circumstances. Are you a local looking for a harvest internship? Scroll down to the Napa Valley Vintners Job Board link below.
Good wine news? Wine-searcher reports that French sparkling wine is, as of yet, affected by the tariff drama. Cheers to that.
Looking for some COVID distraction? Scroll down to the BLOGS where Eater has a top list of graphic novels that feature food as the major theme. Decanter has a fun crossword that will challenge your Rhone Valley knowledge. And that same publication will take you on a tour of some of the most beautiful California vineyard estates currently for sale.
As always, there’s loads of other things to read—not all COVID and not all bad news. So, have a dose of fun with your newsy news as well.
Cheers, all. Be well.
Press Democrat: California shuts bars, indoor dining and most gyms, churches again as coronavirus cases rise
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has extended the closure of bars and indoor dining statewide and has ordered gyms, churches and hair salons closed in most places as coronavirus cases keep rising in the nation’s most populated state.
California confirmed 8,358 new coronavirus cases on Sunday. Hospitalizations have increased 28% over the past two weeks. Newsom said the data suggest not everyone is using common sense. READ MORE…
California Department of Public Health: Guidance on Closure of Sectors in Response to COVID-19
COVID-19 transmission rates continue to rise across the state, including increasing numbers of cases in rural counties that had not previously experienced significant infection rates. Despite the closure of certain indoor sectors in counties on the County Monitoring list, those counties continue to demonstrate concerning levels of disease transmission that impact not only the general population but vulnerable populations in the community. READ MORE…
Napa Valley Register: Want to work the Napa grape harvest? Due to visa freeze, opportunities abound this year
TIM CARL PHOTOGRAPHY
The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on international travel and the Trump administration’s freeze on J-1 visas have disrupted a significant portion of the harvest intern workforce for Napa Valley’s wineries.
The pandemic had slashed available flights, closed borders and shuttered embassies. READ MORE…
Napa Valley Vintners: Job Board Created for Napa Valley Wineries Hiring this Harvest Season
More than 25 Napa Valley wineries are currently seeking interns, and hope to attract workers who want to deepen their wine knowledge or wish to explore a career in winemaking. READ MORE…
Napa Valley Register: Napa County adopts new COVID-19 enforcement powers
Tim Carl
apa County has beefed up local COVID-19 health law enforcement by authorizing the issuance of speeding ticket-like citations to violators.
People who hold gatherings and flout other Napa County COVID-19 health laws risk fines of $25 to $500. Businesses flouting health laws risk fines of $200 to $5,000. READ MORE…
Wine Spectator: COVID-19 Spikes Are Nightmare Roller Coaster for Restaurants
Surging coronavirus cases across the country are forcing some restaurants to close just days after reopening
Just when they thought indoor dining was back, restaurants are being forced to close their doors again. As the number of COVID-19 cases spike in Florida, Texas, California and many other states, restaurants are grappling with health and safety guidelines that change day to day. Restaurateurs and their staffs are suffering financially while also trying to accommodate the erratically changing rules—from mandatory masks for employees to reduced capacities to outdoor dining only. At the same time, they remain focused on keeping guests and staff safe, which makes the situation ever more challenging.
“We were open as of June 17 for [indoor] dining,” said David Osenbach, wine director of Providence in Los Angeles. “The restaurant in general is pretty well spaced-out, but we still had to take out a little over a quarter of our seating. Then, as of July 1, restaurants in L.A. had to stop indoor seating, and, well, since we don’t have a patio, we had to revert back to doing only take-out. [It’s] a little rough on the staff.” READ MORE…
Eater: Imperfect COVID-Era Takeout? One Star.
As restaurants struggle during the pandemic, many owners wish Yelp would do more than appeal to its users to be “empathetic and patient”
When Arsalun Tafazoli opened his first restaurant, each bad review felt like a punch to the gut. “I can still remember that anxiety,” he says. “You put everything you have into building this place, and someone goes on this platform and just says something shitty. It’s impossible to not go down this really dark hole.” Until the coronavirus pandemic, it had been years since a Yelp review kept Tafazoli up at night. READ MORE…
wine-searcher: Wine Dodges the Tariff Bullet
French luxury goods will face higher tariffs in a transatlantic trade spat, but wine has escaped – for now.
The US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that, as threatened in January, it plans to enact new 25 percent tariffs on some French goods in response to France‘s new digital services tax
The good news is that French sparkling wine was spared. Instead, the US will be slapping 25 percent tariffs on handbags, makeup and soap; the tariffs were deferred until January. French cheeses, some of which were already hit with a 25 percent tariff in a different trade dispute, were also spared. For now. READ MORE…
North Bay Business Journal: Top wine business analyst Jon Moramarco to speak at July 29 industry conference
How the wine industry is working through grape-price fluctuation, economic turbulence and COVID-19 pandemic will be the focus of North Bay Business Journal’s 20th annual Wine Industry Conference, a July 29 virtual event being held free to the public. READ MORE…
The Drinks Business: How to Help South African Wineries During Lockdown
The South African government’s ban on domestic alcohol sales has already had a negative impact on brewers, wine estates and distilleries.
Spirits giant Distell’s share price fell 6% when the JSE opened on Monday (13 July) after President Cyril Ramaphosa extended the country’s strict measures to prevent cases of Covid-19 from surging. READ MORE…
Wine Industry Advisor: Turning the Tables on Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher
Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher conceived and wrote The Wall Street Journal’s weekly wine column, “Tastings,” from 1998 to 2010. They are currently senior editors at Grape Collective (grapecollective.com). They are also the authors of four books on wine and appeared regularly on TV (from Martha Stewart to “Today) and radio, including “Fresh Air.” READ MORE…
Blogs Worth a Read
Taken from the list of Blogs I follow regularly, here are just a few posts from this past week I think are worth a read. Shoot me a note if you have suggestions of blogs to follow or want your blog included on that list.
Tablas Creek Blog: Which of the many Covid-19 changes to the wine industry will prove enduring?
I think it’s safe to say that this pandemic will be a generation-defining event, in the way that 9-11 was, or the Vietnam War. Covid has spurred changes large and small to nearly everyone’s personal and work lives. I’ve been thinking a lot about which of the changes that we’re making to our business will be things that will endure even after the pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, and which will fade away as we get back to normal life. Here are my current thoughts. READ MORE…
Eater: The Best Food Comics and Graphic Novels to Help You Escape
If you’re like me, you take comfort in books. Fiction is the best escapism, but sometimes — say, in the midst of a global pandemic — processing a block of text feels too overwhelming, and I’d rather get lost in a book filled with a dazzling array of colors. That’s why I like to add graphic novels into my rotation.
Now, if you’ve never read a graphic novel before, the transition into comics can feel daunting. The medium is so heavily saturated with superheroes that it’s easy to get lost, or to think that’s all there is. But graphic novels go beyond Spiderman and the X-Men, essentially touching every genre. So if you like reading about food, which I assume you do because you’re here, I’ve compiled a list of food- and restaurant-focused graphic novels to get you started. READ MORE…
The Gray Report: In defense of “clean wine”—Wake up, wine industry
The wine Internet is furious about actress Cameron Diaz’s foray into the wine business. Diaz is calling her new Avaline brand “clean wine” even though, as Alder Yarrow points out, it’s bulk wine from Spain that’s full of unnecessary (but not harmful) chemicals.
I could jump on the bandwagon of wine snobs bashing Diaz in public. I’m not going to spend my own money on a bottle of Spanish bulk wine that touts its imaginary virtue while hiding its origins. READ MORE…
Vinous: Big Love for Loire
Thankfully, things are changing. First of all, a taste for more savory wines is spreading among younger drinkers, who also prefer reds with higher acidity, lower alcohol, more earthiness and less oak. Loire Cabernet Franc ticks all those boxes. Not surprisingly, younger wine professionals have strongly embraced the wines. Consumers and professionals alike are looking for drinkable wines that pair better with the changing ways many of us now eat – less meat, more vegetables and less focus on cuisines of old Europe. Of course, in France, Loire reds have always been the classic, everyday bistro wines. READ MORE…
BK Wine Magazine: New star in Saint Joseph: Domaine Bastien Jolivet, superb red and white wines
Bastien Jolivet is young winegrower in the Northern Rhône Valley. In 2014 he decided to start to make his own wine. He took the family vineyards out of the local cooperative and presented his own first vintage the same year. An adventure, for sure, and not an easy decision because it involves quite a lot of investments. READ MORE…
Decanter: Rhône Wine Crossword
How well do you know your Rhône Valley wines?
Sit back with a glass in-hand and tackle our Rhône wine crossword. How well do you know the history and many styles of the Rhône Valley? Let’s find out…PLAY HERE
Decanter: California dreaming: Three great-looking vineyard estates for sale
Have you ever dreamt of owning a vineyard in California? Here are some examples of high-end properties being offered by real estate agents in the region…
If you’ve ever wondered about taking the plunge, then here are three high-end California wine properties currently listed by different real estate agents in the region. READ MORE…
BottleRock Napa Valley: BottleRock Napa Valley Opens Tickets for 2021
After careful consideration and extensive coordination with local and state authorities, we are announcing BottleRock Napa Valley 2020 will be rescheduled for May 28 – 30, 2021. READ MORE…
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**Please note: all reviews and opinions are my own and are not associated with any of my places of business. I will always state when a wine has been sent as a sample for review. Sending samples for review on my personal website in no way guarantees coverage in any other media outlet I may be currently associated with.**