Tasting Flight 6/5/06
Helen Settles
The Roy Estate has settled its lawsuit with Helen Turley. Of course the terms of the settlement were kept confidential, leaving us wondering who got what. I will say, this press release is one of the strangest I’ve read. The information provided by the PR firms is not particularly relevent, and the prose style is not your standard PR prose. You might get a chuckle for reading about how great the Roy’s are. (Wine Business)
Radioactive Champagne
Greenpeace is claiming that radioactive waste is seeping into the ground a few meters from France’s Champagne region. They claim that the nuclearactive waste is finding its way into the water table, where it will eventually taint the vineyards. French authorities claim there is nothing to worry about, and they are working to fix the crack in a nuclear tank that is the source of the leak. (Decanter)
Distillation Debate
France and Italy approached the EU with a request to send large amounts of surplus wine to distillation. The EU seems set to rebuff the large request, instead approving a smaller request as part of a comprehensive restructuring of wine regulations. I have a feeling those “militant” French winemakers who need subsidies might have a new target for their anger. (Financial Times)
NY Wines Ready for Prime Time
The state of New York is backing financial grants for New York-based wineries. The grants of up to $2,500 in matching funds will help the wineries further develop marketing - particularly on their website. Now that wineries can sell and ship outside the state, New York wants to help these wines reach new markets. (New York Business Journal)