IN THE NEWS

  • A Look Back at 2008
    Thursday, May 12, 2011 - 20:04
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  • Creating Brand Loyalty in a Post-recession Economy
    Thursday, May 12, 2011 - 19:43

    In many ways, wines are recession-proof. People joke
    that there are even more reasons now to drink than ever
    before. For wineries who understand the US market,
    opportunities abound to gain brand loyalty even in this
    uncertain economy. To gather insight, Cornerstone Communications
    consulted industry strategist Barbara Insel,
    President and CEO of Stonebridge Research Group LLC.

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  • First Thursday Spotlight: Stonebridge Research - Delving into the data to build businesses
    Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - 15:37

    An interview with Barbara Insel, Founder, President & CEO

    Stonebridge Research specializes in the wine industry but their services defy a simple description. So we talked to Barbara Insel, President and CEO for clarification. "We understand the business of wine and we believe that to build a business strategy and to run a business in this industry, you have to start with the facts and the data and then build a realistic strategy. We understand the market and we also understand numbers, finances and costs," she explained.

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  • Recession forces farmers and wine marketers to adjust by Steve Adler
    Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 14:56

    What a difference a year makes.

    That's the sentiment that has permeated California's wine sector this fall, as growers ship their final gondolas of grapes to wineries to be crushed.

    Steve Fredricks of Turrentine Wine Brokerage in Novato sums it up this way: "At this time last year, especially on the North Coast, we were actually looking for sellers. We had plenty of buyers, the market was good and the prices were up for most of the major varieties. Now it is basically the opposite. We have all of the sellers we need and the buyers are mostly absent from the market."

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  • Seeking Fulfillment by Patricia Dynes
    Monday, November 2, 2009 - 17:07

    NorthBay biz reports on why a growing number of wineries are using direct wine shippers to increase sales—a trend that only promises to grow.

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  • "Argentina está bien posicionada en el mercado externo" by Ana Tagua
    Thursday, September 10, 2009 - 14:05

    Organizada por Bodegas de Argentina y operada por Área del Vino, la quinta edición del Foro Internacional Vitivinícola, realizada el 3 de setiembre en Mendoza, reunió a referentes de la industria local y a expertos internacionales, quienes brindaron su visión sobre los vinos argentinos en el mercado externo.

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  • A Look Back at 2008 by Liza B. Zimmerman
    Monday, April 13, 2009 - 13:10

    FEW YEARS HAVE SEEN the economic ups and downs of last year. While many executives in the wine business believe the industry has been somewhat insulated, there was no saving any sector completely last year from the ravages of the economy. Volume has stayed steady while total wine spending has lessened and skewed heavily to the off-premise sector. However, that’s only part of the picture. This story looks at the many ways in which the wine market is evolving, according to top marketing executives and recent data.

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  • Wine Lovers Uncork Cellar Stock, Sap California Vintners’ Sales
    Thursday, December 25, 2008 - 22:13

    Dec. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Producing vintages that delight the palate and impress the nose won’t be enough to make this a good year for California winemakers.

    “People have money but they’re afraid about the future,” said Paul Hayashi, California sales representative for Grgich Hills Estate, whose Napa Valley wines retail for $30 to $135 a bottle. “When the mortgage thing hit, it was a sharp drop.”

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  • Family Wins Massachusetts Case
    Friday, November 21, 2008 - 15:57

    In a sweeping decision issued November 19, the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts granted Family Winemakers of California's motion for summary judgment and ruled that the state's production cap law was unconstitutional.  This is the first court victory on the issue of state efforts to impose market entry barriers for wineries based on production size.  In Massachusetts, the 30,000 gallon barrier has been rendered illegal.  The state will be barred from enforcing Section 19F of the Massachusetts General Laws.

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  • The Napa Valley Vintners releases "The Economic Impact of Napa County’s Wine and Grapes"
    Friday, November 21, 2008 - 12:22

    On October 30, 2008, the Napa Valley Vintners released the Economic Impact of Wine and Grapes in Napa County report which states that the Napa Valley wine industry has increased 15 percent from the 2005 report for an annual value of nearly $11 billion on Napa County, and $41.9 billion nationwide.  The study conducted by top industry analyst Barbara Insel of Stonebridge Research concludes that, “While Napa Valley is uniquely suited for fine winegrowing due to its geography and climate, this value statement is also a reflection of the region’s reputation for quality and consistency...”

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