NOTE: The text below is redacted and reformatted for improved non-lawyer readability. Among the changes are the elimination of various legal references, shortened paragraphs etc. The full original document can be found at this link (for premium subscribers) Attorneys are consistent in recommending that agreements be captured in written contracts, state laws offer a specific […]

  Bryant Family Vineyards — one of the most expensive Napa Valley “cult” wineries — may be experiencing financial problems according to a complaint filed in a U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The winery is one of the original cult wines to emerge during the early 1990s, along with wineries […]

The “Spirit of the East” is still sailing the world, but the Montesquieu group of “bespoke collection” wines from Napa Valley and beyond has capsized and is flailing about for a way to right itself with Chapter 11 filings in the Delaware District of U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Montesquieu Inc., a Delaware Corporation, filed for bankruptcy […]

Link to article 2, explaining Mendelian Randomization The recent population study of adults in China that found no cardio-protective benefits of moderate alcohol consumption should be re-examined in the context of methodological and confounding factors not addressed in the published paper. Published in early April by The Lancet, the study provoked sensational headlines among the […]

Link to main article Mendelian Randomization (MR) is a relatively new statistical method designed to provide an estimate of a causal connection between the effects of an observable exposure to a risk factor (such as alcohol consumption) on a specific outcome (such as cardiovascular events like stroke and heart attacks). It is necessary to note […]

Source: BofA/Merrill Lynch 4Q19 earnings preview – 040119) via John Heflebower, Napa   “STZ’s wine & spirits margins improved post STZ divestiture of Canadian wine assets. In addition, operating margins have benefited from on-going premiumization efforts (i.e. rationalizing lower margin value SKUs), COGS has increased due to transportation costs and higher marketing spend on brands […]

Thirstie has integrated its services with brand-oriented websites that take orders from consumers. The orders are then sent to Thirstie for the “last mile” of on-demand delivery. This differs from on-demand services Drizly (#3/$69.56 Mil) and Minibar (#23/$6.8 Mil) which operate their own apps that accept orders directly from consumers then deliver using purchases from […]

Milwaukee-based Bright Cellars announced a $8.5 million Series A round last week, bringing their funding total to at least $13.46 million. That total moves them into #17 in Wine Industry Insight’s WineTech Finding series. That funding, led by AOL co-founder Steve Case’s D.C.-based Revolution Ventures, put Bright ahead of Saucey and knocked Wine Communications Group […]

Au Contraire says these labels are not similar. Teeter-Totter says, “Au contraire!” And a federal court case ensues In one corner, the plaintiff: Teeter-Totter LLC, small Napa Valley winery owned by vintner Benoit Touquette whose wines have received outstanding 90+ ratings from Parker, Galloni, Cellar Tracker and other fine wine critics since his first vintage […]