A pioneering Napa Valley grapegrower has filed a federal lawsuit against businessmen over the use of his trademarked names, according to court filings. W. Andrew “Andy” Beckstoffer alleges the defendants exploited the Beckstoffer-owned marks associated with the company he founded five decades ago to raise money to buy wineries and vineyards, according to the complaint. […]
Wine Industry
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Napa County sunsets winery code compliance program
A program that has allowed wineries that violate their permits by producing too much wine, welcoming too many visitors or violating other county rules has come to an end. On Tuesday, the Napa County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to sunset the winery code compliance program on April 30. The board approved the resolution in […]
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Premiere Napa Valley, winter wine trade auction raises $3 million
Premiere Napa Valley last weekend raised at $3 million to support the trade association that represents most wineries in Napa County. The sold-out event, exclusively open to members of the wine trade, drew crowds at a time when the industry continues to face a downturn in wine sales. For the past 30 years, the annual […]
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Pacific Legal Foundation appeals $3.96M judgment against Hoopes Vineyard in Napa County case
The Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) is representing Hoopes Vineyard free of charge in an appeal of a recent judgment requiring the winery to pay nearly $4 million to Napa County. The Napa County Times covered this story here. According to a press release from the foundation, Lindsay Hoopes, owner of Hoopes Family Winery Partners and […]
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Historic Diamond Creek Vineyards wins county approval to grow
A winery south of Calistoga that pioneered the production of single-vineyard designated Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley can boost its wine production, build a new winery facility and receive more guests. Diamond Creek Vineyards on Jan. 21 received permission from the Napa County Planning Commission to build a new 23,245 square-foot winery on the […]
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Wine industry faces another difficult year in 2026
The US wine industry may not improve for another two years, according to a recent analysis by Silicon Valley Bank, released on Jan. 15. The US wine industry will not bottom out until 2027-2028, the report concludes. Sales must first improve, reducing wholesalers’ wine oversupply before the industry can recover. The wine industry decline should […]
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Napa County launches pilot vineyard tastings program
Beginning Jan. 1, winegrowers will be able to host wine tastings for up to 49 people in vineyards without wine production facilities. The Napa County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 unanimously approved the pilot program to implement a new state law that becomes effective Jan. 1. The pilot program ends July 1, 2027, unless […]
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Family-owned Trinchero set to acquire storied Mumm Napa winery and brand
Trinchero Family Wines and Spirits has agreed to buy Mumm Napa from the French company Pernod Ricard. The sale of Mumm Napa to Trinchero, a family-owned, St. Helena-based producer, announced on Tuesday, could become final in 2026. The financial terms were not made public. The agreement includes Mumm Napa’s Rutherford winery and brand. It does […]
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Hoopes Vineyard may face millions in fines, attorney fees and other costs
The three-year-old legal battle between Napa County and Hoopes Vineyard over wine tastings and other issues may be wrapping up in state court, with the Yountville-area winery facing millions of dollars in fines, attorney fees and other costs. Napa County Superior Court Judge Mark Boessenecker oversaw a bench state trial in early 2024 over Hoopes […]