Weekly Wine News Around the Web

Bordeaux 2011 Wine Futures Rev Up: Two reports from the Wine Spectator and Decanter magazine sum up the state of the market for 2011 Bordeaux wine futures – Decidedly mixed. Known as en primeur releases in France, the wine futures are a closely watched indicator of Bordeaux pricing and demand, particularly as prices have skyrocketing for recent vintages. The Wine Spectator characterized the 2011 vintage as “less than classic” while Decanter magazine reports that so many released their 2011 vintage futures that some were getting lost in the shuffle among so many choices. Both reports acknowledge lower prices due to a vintage that is viewed less favorably than 2009 or 2010.

Good Times for Grape Growers: Farmers growing grapes got some good news at a recent vineyard economics forum, according to this report. Among the interesting tidbits - 45 percent of growers and wineries surveyed said they plan to plant new vines, a reaction to ongoing grape shortages that's leading to rising prices.

Justin Makes Post-Acquisition Moves: Justin Vineyards and Winery, a staple of the west side of Paso Robles, CA, has made several moves following its acquisition in late 2010 by Fiji Water, according to this report. Among the changes at the winery are: the acquisition of more vineyards, the hiring of a new winemaker, and a new style for its wine labels.

Sobering Investigation: On a more serious note than is sometimes found in the Weekly Wine News Around the Web feature on CORKZILLA, a Bay Area television affiliate aired an investigation of drunk driving in Napa and Sonoma Counties. A lot of the reporting isn’t exactly new, but an interesting fact uncovered in the report was that more than 80 percent of drunk driving arrests in Napa and Sonoma Counties were of local residents, dispelling the notion that it is wine-tasting tourists that are the cause of much of the problem.