Safety is a priority for our industry, whether in the field, during sorting, in production, and bottling. And our federal and state workplace safety agencies, OSHA, want to ensure we’re doing all we can to keep ourselves, our employees, and our customers safe. OSHA mandates industries with fewer than twenty employees to hold regular safety […]
Have you received a letter from Registrar Corp. Threatening your business unless you pay them $195 to renew your FDA food registration? It’s a scam. Throw it away. And no matter what you do, don’t give them your bank account information! First, an FDA registration is free. Second, the only things these folks would do […]
Oregon wineries – or at least some of them – will soon (starting August 8, although of course the state must create licensing and permit requirements) be able to ship wines directly to consumers in Pennsylvania soon. Producing wineries will have the ability to ship up to 36 cases annually per consumer (not address), but […]
Idly flipping through Facebook one day, I saw a happy post: “Doctors and scientists agree, red wine is good for health!” So good, so far — if I were Roman, I’d have been at the temple of Bacchus. But then, the dreaded violation of TTB Circular 2013 13-01 happened…. Immediately following that relink were two […]
I received an email late last night – a client of mine has been receiving calls from the “US Corporate Compliance” office. Should I be concerned, said client wrote, should I be worried about not being in compliance? The answer is that yes, you should be in compliance, but no, not with these folks. Three […]
Every reader of this blog knows I love two things: international affairs and wine. Combine them and I’m thrilled. Let me introduce you to the Portland Bologna Sister City Association! I first met the good folks at PBSCA when I was serving as Director of International Relations for the Mayor of Portland. One of my […]
The Washington State Liquor Control Board is seeking input on proposed wine regulations. The proposed regulations have some expanded rights for domestic wineries (albeit those that pay an extra fee). As the regs currently stand, a domestic winery can apply for additional location licenses — for example, serving samples, selling wine, and renting spaces. The […]
Happy 2014 harvest, everyone. Reports from the field: clean grapes, very few birds, practically no hens & chickens. I’m predicting that the ’14 vintage pinot noirs will be jammy and robust but with fewer tannic spirit than the ’12s, which was a remarkably dry year. I visited some of my friends (and clients) last week […]
I wrote this up for Jean Yates (who is brilliant, by the way — if you need dynamic social media for your winery — if you want to increase your tasting room sales — you should call her right away) and wanted to share: http://oregon-wine.com/wineries-want-big-fine-use-volunteers/ Because this is what can (will?) happen: http://www.mercurynews.com/my-town/ci_26541167/castro-valley-winery-fined-115-000-using-volunteers
Oscar Wilde said, “Charity creates a multitude of sins.” One sin a non-profit or charitable entity can inadvertently partake in? Failing to secure permission from the OLCC to hold a raffle or auction of wine. The good news? That sin can be erased by following a few easy (and free!) steps to be in compliance with […]