Weekly Wine News Around the Web

Glen Ellen Brand Disappears: What was once a trailblazing brand produced by the Benziger family of Sonoma County, Calif. has, through successive ownership, disappeared as a brand (see bottle at left) based on the most updated label filings on the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) website, as noted by WineIndustryInsight.com. Given its history as an early high-volume, low-cost brand, the disappearance of the brand seems bittersweet. RIP Glen Ellen.

Dry Spell Brings Boffo Harvest in Oregon: Harvest updates abound this time of year, and many folks in U.S. environs are quite happy with how things are turning out. Due to a long stretch of dry weather and cool nights, the state of Oregon seems particularly excited about the potential of the 2012 harvest, according to this report and this KMTR.com video.  

Signature Bottles: We learn something new about the wine world every day here at the 'Zilla. It turns out that until recently, if you bought a bottle of wine in CA from a winemaker who is also a celebrity (Joe Montana, Madonna, Jeff Bridges, Sting, etc...), they could not legally put their signature on the bottle for you. According to the Alcohol Beverage Control division, wine is a tightly regulated product, which means that wineries are restricted in how they can market it and advertise it, as noted in this report from The Press Democrat. But thanks to CA Gov. Jerry Brown, a new law has passed (AB 2184), which permits celebrities to hold promotional signing events at wine shops. 

China recognizes Napa: In a recent announcement, The People's Republic of China has recognized Napa Valley with Geographic Indication (GI) status in that country. This recognition provides a pivotal element in consumer protection against wines illegitimately labeled as being from Napa Valley in this important and rapidly expanding market, according to this report from Napa Valley Vintners.