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SVB’s collapse sends California wineries into a state of uncertainty

Mar 28, 2023
More than 400 California wineries borrowed from Silicon Valley Bank. In the aftermath of its collapse, many are wondering what comes next.
In addition to lending to wineries, SVB helped raise money for basics like bedding and food for area farmworkers, said farmworker advocate Rosaura Segura.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Can winemakers salvage grapes tainted by wildfire smoke?

Jun 7, 2022
Scientists are looking at ways to determine if grapes from smoky areas can still be used, without adding an unpleasant ashy taste to wine.
Phil Crews at his Pelican Ranch Winery in Scotts Valley. Crews, an organic chemist at UC Santa Cruz, showed that a method pioneered in Australia can detect smoke's impact on California wines.
Jerimiah Oetting/KAZU News

Smoke damage to grapes is the latest blow to California wine industry

Oct 6, 2020
A glut of grapes on the market, the pandemic and fires that damaged or destroyed wineries. Now, grapes tainted by smoke may be unusable.
“It was difficult this year, and it’s going to be even harder next year,” says Enrique Lopez, who employs up to 100 people to harvest grapes.
Beth LaBerge/KQED

How Charles Shaw wine became Two Buck Chuck

Apr 18, 2017
It wasn't always cheap, and it wasn't always sold by Trader Joe's.
Wikimedia Commons

Napa Valley insists: It's in California, not Texas

Sep 9, 2016
A loophole allows out-of-state winemakers to use the prestigious name if the grapes were imported.
A loophole in federal regulations allows a winemaker to label its bottles "Napa Valley” as long as the grapes came from Napa and the wine is sold only within the winemaker’s state. 
Jacqueline Romano/Getty Images for SOBEWFF