The Grape Geeks

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Apprehension abounds in U.S. wine industry

Grape buyers, sellers wary amid ‘aggressive’ plantings, industry leader says. Read more in this article from the Western Farm Press.

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Winery Visit: Oregon's Melrose Vineyards

Winery Visit: Oregon’s Melrose Vineyards

At the Wine Media Conference, my pre-conference group was hosted at Melrose Vineyards for a luncheon and tasting, and I enjoyed everything about this winery. Melrose Vineyards is located near the South Umpqua River in the Central Umpqua Valley and the owner (and all-around down-to-Earth farmer) Wayne Parker is a real gem. He planted the original vineyard here in 1996 and in a few years, began…

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Winery Visit: Oregon's Knostman Family Winery

Winery Visit: Oregon’s Knostman Family Winery

During the pre-conference excursion to Oregon’s gorgeous Umpqua Valley, Wine Media Conference participants were fortunate enough to visit the Knostman Family Winery. I really enjoyed the hospitality there! This down home, family run winery is casual and friendly, with a terrific back porch and view of the Umpqua River. It’s a great place to hang out and sip a while. Look at the view from the…

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Winery Visit: Oregon's Delifino Vineyards

Winery Visit: Oregon’s Delifino Vineyards

There’s a solid balance going on at Delfino Vineyards: 5 star hospitality, 3 star wine. Sometimes it’s all about the experience, and this endearing little winery delivers that tenfold! If you’re looking for perhaps the friendliest winery in the area, look no further. I was hosted here along with a group of 19 other wine writers at the annual Wine Media Conference, and it was one of the highlights…

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Winery Visit: Oregon's Hillcrest Winery

Winery Visit: Oregon’s Hillcrest Winery

I visited Oregon’s Hillcrest Winery with a group of wine writers and we were given a complimentary tasting and tour. There’s so much to love about the experience at this winery, but the wines were just not to my palate at all. I’m not sure if any of these wines would appeal to many people, but they do actually sell them to consumers so that means somebody enjoys them. For me, it was a no-go as…

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Wine Media Conference Pre-Conference Excursion Day 1

Wine Media Conference Pre-Conference Excursion Day 1

It’s my third time attending the annual Wine Media Conference, but my first time participating in a pre-Conference excursion. Today began my adventure to the Umpqua Valley. A fantastic group of fellow wine writers, podcasters, and bloggers (all of us with huge personalities) met up at the Hampton Inn in Roseburg, Oregon this afternoon. Tonight was the welcome dinner, an informal get together at…

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2021 Wine Media Conference is a Go!

2021 Wine Media Conference is a Go!

Exciting news for wine writers everywhere: the 13th annual Wine Media Conference (WMC) will be going on as scheduled next month in Eugene, Oregon. The Grape Geeks will have writers in attendance, so be sure to check our Twitter feed and this website for up-to-the-minute information. Each year, the WMC attracts wine bloggers, traditional wine media, social media influencers, and wine industry…

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Cabernet Franc's Rosy Outlook

Cabernet Franc’s Rosy Outlook

Cabernet Franc isn’t the most popular varietal, but you can thank climate change for causing French growers to start growing the grape. It’s more durable in very dry and hot conditions than other, more favored varietals like merlot. Is this Cab Franc’s time to shine? Read more. 

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Australia Fights Back Against Counterfeit Wines

Australia Fights Back Against Counterfeit Wines

It’s every wine lover’s worst nightmare: you spend your money on a great bottle of wine, only to open it and discover it’s a cheap imitation. There’s good news if you live Down Under: Australia has devised a new database where consumers will be able to check the authenticity of their purchased wines on their laptop. The system, dubbed ELISS, will catalog wines so buyers can check if their bottle…

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The Only True CHampagne Comes from France

The Only True CHampagne Comes from France

According to French Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie, the name “champagne” can only be used on sparkling wines from one of the most famous wine growing regions of France. No other country or foreign producer should use the designation. The issue is currently heating up in the wine world. Read more.

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German Wine Regions Devastated by Flooding

German Wine Regions Devastated by Flooding

Torrential rains pelted Northern Europe last week, causing horrible flooding that has devastated parts of Germany. Belgium and the Netherlands also suffered damage from rainstorms. The vast amount of rainwater caused rivers to overflow, sending water surges into small villages in the affected areas. The impact to wine regions in Germany is not yet known, but it appears to be extensive. Read more.…

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Post-Pandemic Wine Trends

As leisure travel is bouncing back to pre-pandemic levels, business travel is not. That means great news for wineries in tourism areas, but not-so-great news for fine wine companies who depend on carte blanche expense accounts for big sales. The North Bay Business Journal explores this topic in their new issue. Read more.

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Technology is the Future of Wine

Technology is the Future of Wine

To remain relevant, the wine industry needs to fully embrace more digitalization, technology use, and new or untapped markets. The future of the industry is going to look very different than its past, thanks to emerging tech, changing consumer preferences, and the surge in online shopping. Read more. 

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California Winemakers and Fire Prevention

California Winemakers and Fire Prevention

Many wine professionals in Napa and Sonoma  are learning how to fight fires following the devastating blazes that have recently plagued the region. Read more.

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Record Burgundy Sales from Bordeaux Index

Record Burgundy Sales from Bordeaux Index

The Bordeaux Index reported selling more Burgundy in 2020 than during any previous year, with activity particularly on the rise in Asia. Demand for both Burgundy and Bordeaux also showed a pronounced increase between the start of October and the end of December. Read the full story in “The Drinks Business Online.”

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California Zin Originated in Croatia

California Zin Originated in Croatia

America’s signature wine, the California Zinfandel, has actually been found to have originated in Croatia! So exactly how did this ancient European grape come to be known as the an all-American one?  University of California Davis professor and plant geneticist Carole Meredith says that the grape, known as crljenak kastelanski, is something researchers have positively traced as being the source…

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Production Down 40% in Napa Valley

Production Down 40% in Napa Valley

A preliminary grape crush report obtained by The Napa Register reveals that Napa Valley production is down almost 40 percent. According to the paper, it’s unclear where the market for Napa Valley grapes and wine will go from here. The pandemic could continue to adversely affect consumer demand for wine. If that drop in demand continues, a large or even regular-sized harvest in 2021 could set the…

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