What We’re Reading —

How Natural Wine Became a Symbol of Virtuous Consumption

The mainstreaming of natural wines has brought niche winemakers capital and celebrity, as well as questions about their personalities and politics.  (The New Yorker)

 

The Impact of Chinese Tariffs on U.S. Wine, As Seen at ProWine China

It was challenging enough already. The tariff situation is almost crippling.

Yet US wine businesses and trade organizations, from the Wine Institute in California to Deutsch Family Wines and Spirits to Delicato Family Wines, dug in – for ProWine China itself, and the Chinese market in general. Here are three reasons why.  (Forbes)

 

Time to Say Goodbye? In The Wake of the Kincade Fire, Some In Sonoma County Are Saying Yes

From retirees to young families, from folks who lost a house to those who never lost power and weren’t even asked to evacuate, the yearly siege is wearing people down, as we learned in interviews and email exchanges with more than 20  area residents.

Many of those who say they are leaving or thinking hard about it described the perennial wildfire threat — and the attendant pains-in-the-butt of blackouts, evacuations and bad air — as the crowning insult, the issue that finally has forced their hand. After fires, however, they were quick to catalog the county’s other problems, including homelessness, high cost of living and lack of affordable housing, to name a few.  (Post-Democrat)

 

Wine Moguls Destroy Land, Pay Small Fines As Cost Of Business, Say Activists

After California wine industry mogul Hugh Reimers illegally destroyed at least 140 acres of forest, meadow and stream in part to make way for new vineyards sometime last winter, according to a report from state investigators, state officials ordered the former executive of Jackson Family Wines to repair and mitigate the damage where possible. Sonoma County officials also suggested a $131,060 fine.

But for environmental activists watching the investigation, fines and restoration attempts aren’t going to cut it; they want Reimers — an experienced captain of industry whom they say knew better — to face a criminal prosecution, which could lead to a jail sentence.  (NPR)

 

 

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