This time of year in Napa Valley the landscape is dominated by vines seemingly finished; denuded of leaves, browned and blackened by cold; heaving downward with the weight of the raining season on their canes; apparently dead and done. It’s all a head fake toward a spiritual and physical reality that all creatures succumb [...]

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Leo McCloskey is a very smart man.
He probably knows more about the chemical composition of great wine than anyone else alive and he puts this information to use through his consulting firm, Enologix. He is also a keen observer of market condition in the wine industry. He’s also a very creative man with [...]

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There is a limited audience for a 250+ page state government report on the history, success, problems, legality and politics of the direct shipment of wine to consumers. Turns out I’m part of that fairly small audience. So, I read with great interests Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot’s report on this subject released on Tuesday.
Following [...]

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For twenty years now Americans have heard alcohol wholesalers and members of the prevention community explain how the direct shipping of wine will put minors in harms way; that minors will use the Internet to obtain alcohol and get all liquored up and hurt themselves and others. And for twenty years, the use of [...]

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I’ve written a lot of press releases in my day, but I don’t think I’ve ever penned one that relies on “Humiliation Marketing” tactics.
Maybe I’m behind the times. Maybe I’m just not that creative. Maybe I have a conscience. But it’s doubtful I’d ever advise issuing this type of release for a client:
“Beware the Holiday [...]

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