News and Announcements:
redwinebuzz.com brings you news from the world of wine. News entries are not meant to provide comprehensive coverage of an issue, but to provide a summary or an issue and a jumping point to more detailed information. We seek out stories that are relevant and interesting - whether they are serious or not. Additionally, this section publishes announcements about events and other news related to Central Coast wine.
Petition to Establish Ballard Canyon AVA Submitted to TTB
Michael Larner notified Central Coast Wine Report today that a petition to establish the Ballard Canyon AVA has been submitted to the TTB. In an email this afternoon, Larner said...
Richard Sanford sells Sta. Rita Hills "La Encantada" Vineyard
A press release sent out yesterday, announced the sale of La Encantada Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills...
Constellation's Central Coast operations will run leaner starting in March
Changes aim to to create efficiencies across Constellation's Central Coast wineries...
Jeff Wilkes Has Passed Away
redwinebuzz.com was notified of the passing of Santa Barbara County Winemaker, Jeff Wilkes....
Santa Maria Valley AVA Expanded
Nicholas Miller notified redwinebuzz.com this afternoon of the TTB's Final Rule today...
Personnel changes in two San Luis Obispo County wineries
Just prior to the Holiday season, two San Luis Obispo County wineries made announcements...
FIJI Water Acquires Paso Robles Icon
Justin Winery & Vineyards is sold to importer of bottled water.
Tolosa Winemaker Larry Brooks Now Also Sales and Brand Manager
Industry veteran, Brooks, has assumed additional roles at Edna Valley's Tolosa Winery..
EOS now part of Foley Wine Empire
Financially troubled Paso Robles winery, EOS, has been acquired by Bill Foley...
York Mountain Winery sold to Epoch
Following the liquidation of Martin & Weyrich assets no public mention was made of the fate of the historic winery...
Ortman Family Wines Wine & the Arts, August event
Live music by local duo J Street Slim and the Leisurnaut. Local artist Sharon Sobraske..
Martin & Weyrich Winery assets sold off
The court-appointed receiver has dispensed the winery's tangible, non-real estate assets...
Nathan Carlson moves on to Center of Effort
After two years with Eos Estate Winery in Paso Robles, Winemaker Nathan Carlson has...
Wine & the Arts with Ortman Family Wines
Celebrate First Saturday: Ortman Family Wines presents an evening of arts, music and wine...
Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival
The 15th Annual Lakeside Wine Festival will be taking place Saturday, June 26th...
Dascomb Cellars Grand Opening
Grand Opening is this Saturday, May 15th. Appetizers, wine, live music...
Wine & The Arts at Ortman Family Vineyards
Ortman Family Vineyards Presents First Saturday—Wine & The Arts...
Wine Tasting To Die For
SMVWINES and PCPA will be joining together for: Murder. Mystery. Wine...
The Chardonnay Symposium
The Chardonnay Symposium is a celebration of the country's most popular varietal: Chardonnay......
Fess Parker dies at Santa Ynez Valley home
Santa Barbara County media is reporting that the former TV star and winery owner passed away.....
FiddleFest 2010
FiddleFest 2010 brings together 14 different wineries producing Pinot Noir from the famed Fiddlestix vineyard.....
Byron gets a public tasting room
After over 40 years in existence and approximately ten years in Kendall-Jackson hands, Byron Winery will open it's public tasting room in Los Olivos....
Weyrich properties to go to creditors
A chapter in the story of Martin & Weyrich Winery, York Mountain Winery, over 250 acres of vineyards throughout San Luis Obispo County and the Villa Toscana....
Weyrich foreclosure and auction update
The online portal for The Tribune, SanLuisObispo.com, reported on Thursday, that the auction of David Weyrich's properties was postponed until Christmas Eve....
Beckmen's wines at the White House
Beckmen Vineyards 2007 Grenache was served at President Obama's first state dinner....
Paso Tuesday Twofer
Paso Robles is testing new media waters with a reality show and an iPhone application.....
Martin and Weyrich Winery owner in financial trouble.
David Weyrich has defaulted on $20 million in loans and could loose Martin & Weyrich Winery, over 250 acres of vineyards, Villa Toscana bed and breakfast and other....
EOS changes hands again
The Saint James Company announced the acquisition of Tennessee-based Sapphire Wines LLC and EOS Estate....
Buellton's Terravant adds restaurant
Building on its goals to be both a wine tourist destination and a custom crush facility, Terravant Wine Company....
Los Olivos tasting room appeal denied
Santa Barbara County Planning Commission heard an appeal of a Los Olivos tasting room permit yesterday....
Some humidity and damage after storm
Last week's storm brought very high rainfall to most of the Central Coast. Weekly totals are very likely higher....
Los Olivos residents oppose more tasting rooms
Los Olivos residents and their supporters will attend a Santa Barbara County Planning Commission meeting....
Rain abating, growers hope for warmth
Yesterday's storm brought rain and wind to California, with strength and output ....
Remnants of typhoon descend on wine country
Rains and winds, remnants of Typhoon Menlor, have come to California. The severity....
Heavy rains imminent in the Central Coast
Heavy rain and winds are forecast for tonght and tomorrow for most of California...
Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA official
As expected, the TTB has ruled to formally establish the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA...
Epoch Estate Wines Names Matt Hobbs General Manager
Epoch Estate Wines, which produces Rhône varieties in west Paso Robles, announced...
Fears of harvest frost damage in the Central Coast unrealized
redwinebuzz.com reported yesterday that nighttime temperatures in the Central Coast had dropped...
Central Coast areas hit with harvest frosts
Temperatures dipped dangerously low in parts of the Central Coast during the last two nights...
Central Coast wineries at top of green list
Sta. Rita Hills' Alma Rosa Winery topped Greentopia's list of environmentally-conscious wineries...
Laetitia kicks off Central Coast harvest
Harvest at Laetitia Winery in Arroyo Grande signals the start of harvest in the Central Coast every year...
Hahn Family Wines label banned in Alabama
Last week, the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board notified the state's restaurants and retailers ...
Byron, Rebranded
Santa Maria Valley's Byron Winery has a new look and feel starting with the 2006 reds and 2007 whites...
Central Coast's Academic V&E Rising Star
Aspiring Central Coast winemakers don't have to go to Davis or Fresno anymore for wine science training.
Los Olivos out of balance?
Concern is growing about the number of tasting rooms in Los Olivos, the epicenter of Santa Ynez wine tourism.
York Mountain Winery for sale
Historic York Mountain Winery is up for sale, Avenue Vine reports. The Owners of Martin & Weyrich...
California and Chile Sign Wine Accord
Vinnova SA, Tecnovid SA and the University of California, Davis - the leading wine research bodies of Chile and California - will be working together researching wine subjects such as sustainability, energy efficiency, green winemaking, carbon footprints, wine flavors and phenolics, as well as the economics of the wine industry reports Decanter.com
Robert Mondavi Dies at 94
Winemaking pioneer and the Godfather of California wine passed away this morning at 9 am at his Yountville home. His legacy is marked by the Wine Spectator, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.
'08 West Coast Wine Competition
In a press release today, the winners of the 2008 West Coast Wine Competition were announced. 11 of the Best of Class wines were from the Central Coast. The competition, whose judging took place April 16-18 in Santa Rosa, California, seeks to recognize outstanding wines from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Baja California, British Columbia, Australia and New Zealand.
Ortman Family Vineyards Moving
Ortman Family Vineyards will be moving into a new tasting room in downtown Paso Robles. The new tasting room is located at 1317 Park Street, and is expected to open on Saturday, May 17 - during the Paso Robles Wine Festival.
Nathan Carlson is new EOS winemaker
In a press release sent out yesterday, EOS Estate Winery announced the appointment of Nathan Carlson to the position of Director of Wine making. Carlson is leaving his position as winemaker at Tolosa where he worked closely with Larry Brooks.
GM of Paso Robles Winery Dies
winebusiness.com reported today that the General Manager of Paso Robles - based Treana Winery, Dennis T. Collins, died at home Thursday, March 27 from complications of Multiple Myeloma.
Crushpad offers 10 Central Coast vineyard sources in 2008
Crushpad, the San Francisco-based custom winemaking enterprise has released its list of vineyard sources available to its customers for the 2008 vintage. Ten of those vineyards are located in the Central Coast.
CA Legislation is Message to TTB, Hope for Paso Robles
California State Joint Resolution 22, aimed at protecting the option of creating future sub-appellations in California, was passed last week.
More Santa Barbara County Wineries Found Serving Minors
In another decoy operation conducted by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) on Saturday February 16th, 14 wineries in the Santa Maria and Snata Ynez valleys were visited by decoys.
Kris Curran moves from Sea Smoke to Foley
James Laube wrote on Friday and Jancis Robinson reported yesterday that Sea Smoke lead winemaker Kris Curran [rhymes with "learn"] has moved to Foley Estates Vineyard & Winery - on the other side of the Santa Rita Hills
Megan McGrath named chief winemaker for Lucas & Lewellen
Since November 2007, Megan McGrath has been serving as the chief winemaker for Lucas&Lewellen winery. She replaces Daniel Gehrs who had been the Lead Winemaker for Lucas & Lewellen over the past decade.
Larry Schaffer Has Solo Project
Fess Parker Assistant Winemaker, Larry Schaffer, is launching his own label: Tercero. The first production will consist of about 500 cases of Rhône varieties sourced form prominent Santa Barbara County vineyards
Santa Barbara County Wineries Found Serving Minors
The Santa Barbara Independent reported yesterday that three winery tasting rooms in Santa Barbara County were cited for selling alcohol to minors.