Podcast appearances and mentions of Tom Wark

Dan Berger. California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon and Dan Berger today includes Dan's thoughts about tariffs and wine sales. This continues some of the subject matter he discussed on this episode of CWC three weeks ago. Dan Berger begins by describing an online newsletter and Substack called Fermentations, written by Tom Wark. Dan says it has the most interesting perspective on the business. For the rest of today Dan and Steve will talk about some tastings and also about tariffs and the changing retail and wholesale wine market. Dan sees that the impositions of tariffs is going to be devastating throughout the wine industry. It will negatively impact foreign wine, but it will also adversely affect the entire market. 37% of retail sales are imported. If a bottle of champagne has gone from $50 to $125, buyers won't buy. Wine prices are going to stay the same for California wine, and prices of European wine will go up. The United States Wine Trade Alliance, representing 5,000 businesses, is attempting to lobby against the tariffs, but with dim prospects. Dan suggests looking for wines that are already here and buying what you want, now. Layoffs, Disinvestment & Ownership Concentration There have been layoffs in the wholesale wine business. In the last year, wineries have been going out of business. Vintage Wine Merchants has closed and Constellation has announced their intention to sell their wine properties. Mr. Foley has been buying wineries in these distressed conditions and now owns something like thirty brands. Dan says that if the tariffs stay in place for over a year, look out for big trouble. Also, Canada has stopped buying American wine and spirits too. Canada has been an important source of revenue for some California wineries. Chardonnay, Albariño and Gamay 2023 Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay from New Zealand that comes from a winemaker named Michael Brackovich that Dan knows. The winery is not far from Auckland, on a lovely bay. The wine is delicious. No tariffs have been threatened on New Zealand and Australia, at least yet. It is a great example of southern hemisphere Chardonnay. They also taste a Hendry 2023 Albariño, from the Napa Valley. It is a variety that grows in Portugal and Spain, and also some in California. Dan says it has the structure of Gewürztraminer but the aromatics of a Riesling only with additional orange peel flavors. Dan has selected wines today from California, Australia and New Zealand whose prices will not change. Finally they taste a Gamay, which is similar to Pinot Noir. This comes from a property called Mount Edward in New Zealand. It could have been made into a fruity Beaujolais style wine but this one has a little more substance. It has black pepper flavors that come from the colder climate. New Zealand makes a lot of Gamay, which usually becomes the young fruity Beaujolais style. This wine is made more like a Syrah, focussed on acidity, instead of that. Dan would pair it with a well-done hamburger with some char on it.

We've got Hot Takes with Tom Wark! From DTC shipping, the anti-alcohol movement and more, Tom's got something to say, and he says it on our pod. But you can get a regular dose of Tom's commentary and insights on the wine industry must read Substack, Fermentation. Because everyone wants to know what Tom thinks. Tom Wark is one of the OG wine bloggers and the wine industry's favorite muckraker, a man who is not afraid to call out an industry that doesn't always play fair or the forces he feels are working against the American wine consumer. Tom speaks for us, the wine lovers and little guys, and he's not afraid to push back against the big dogs or the accepted norms in the wine industry.

In this show, I welcome my friend and wine industry guru Daniel Posner, the owner of the prestigious New York retailer, Grapes, The Wine Company. Daniel joined Grapes, The Wine Company in 2000 and was the managing partner by 2004. For the past 23 years, he has been a wine consultant, with clients from all over the globe. He travels to wine regions to meet with producers, winemakers, winery owners, especially in his favorite areas of Burgundy, Piedmont, Tuscany, and California. He knows the ins and outs of the New York wine scene, and the inside dirt that is pretty fascinating to those of us on the outside.   Daniel also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Wine Retailers, a national trade organization founded in 2006, for which he served as President from 2011 to 2019. I met him at the NAWR conference, where he and frequent podcast guest Tom Wark were gracious enough to have me.   Daniel has been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wine Spectator, Food & Wine Magazine, Forbes Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal referred to him one of the most influential wine retailers in the United States.    From how companies in Europe get their wine to the us, to pricing and how the producers and consumers lose out through layers upon layers of markups, to the murky politics of wine and international wine scandals, in the last 20+ years, Daniel has seen it all and he shares it in this show. This podcast will teach you more about the business of wine than almost any other I've done. I often talk about the shady underbelly of wine – here it is, exposed in all its glory!   Check out Daniel's amazing, curated selection and order wine for shipping (where legal!).  https://www.grapesthewineco.com/   Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can't find locally. Go to www.wineaccess.com/normal to join my co-branded wine club with Wine Access and www.wineaccess.com/wfnp so see a page of the wines I'm loving right now from their collection.  Get 10% your first order with my special URL. Check out Wine Access today!    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes

The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 241 Exploring all things wine with you! In this episode Kim and Mark interview Tom Wark. Tom Wark is a prominent figure in the wine industry, known for his work as a wine writer, publicist, and wine marketing expert. He has a deep understanding of the Three Tier system and has made significant contributions to the field. Tom Wark is the author of the popular wine blog "Fermentation: The Daily Wine Blog," which he started in 2004. The blog covers a wide range of topics related to wine, including industry news, wine reviews, and commentary on various wine-related issues. It has gained a loyal following and is recognized as an influential source of information within the wine community. In addition to his blog, Tom Wark is also the founder and president of Wark Communications, a public relations and marketing agency specializing in the wine industry. His agency helps wineries, wine regions, and wine-related businesses develop effective marketing strategies and reach their target audience. Tom Wark is known for his passion for wine and his ability to communicate about wine in an accessible and engaging way. He has a unique perspective on the wine industry and is often sought after for his insights and expertise. We discuss the Three Tier alcohol system in detail. Starting with the history we then touch on how it impacts wine consumers. Tom has a book you can find on Amazon “Fermenting Change: The Politics, Corruptions and Reform of the Three-Tier System of Alcohol Regulation “ Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Tom-W...Tom Wark: books, biography, latest update You can also find Toms blog here: https://tomwark.substack.com/ Cheers Kim and Mark

Welcome to Episode 1074 in which Steve Raye interviews Tom Wark, author of “Fermentation” in this installment of Get US Market Ready With Italian Wine People on the Italian Wine Podcast. About today's guest: Tom Wark is a veteran marketer and media consultant who has worked in the wine and alcohol industry since 1990. Since 2007 he has served as executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers. In that position he has advocated for reforms to the alcohol regulatory system, overseen legislative and litigation initiatives and helped grown NAWR to on of the most important trade organizations in the United States. Since 2004 he has authored “Fermentation”, a newsletter that covers issues of alcohol and business, media, politics and culture. That newsletter is accessible at http://www. https://tomwark.substack.com/ To learn more visit: Website: www.warkcommunications.com – http://www.nawr.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/tomcwark Twitter: @tomcwark More about the host Steve Raye: Steve Raye of Bevology Inc originally joined our weekly lineup with narrations from his book “How to get US Market Ready” - but everyone just loved him so much, we brought him back with this series of interviews that informs and inspires! Each week he speaks to industry professionals; guests who have gained valuable experience in the Italian wine sector and have insightful tips and stories that can help anyone who wants to learn about getting US Market Ready! To learn more visit: Website: www.bevologyinc.com/ Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram @italianwinepodcast Facebook @ItalianWinePodcast Twitter @itawinepodcast Tiktok @MammaJumboShrimp LinkedIn @ItalianWinePodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin!

Tom Wark is a wine writer, wine public relations company owner (Wark Communications), and our trusted resource for figuring out what is going on with the US wine industry and how it affects us, as wine drinkers. In his role as the executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers, he manages and helps direct lobbying, litigation, and membership strategy and management for the retailers in the US and in that role has really helped dissect and expose some of the logistical and really cultural issues around wine in the US. He is the author of “Fermentation: The Daily Wine Blog”.   Photo: Tom Wark. Source: "Fermentation Blog"   In this show we discuss a variety of topics, including the recent threat to US interstate wine shipping from the Uniform Law Commission. The bulk of our conversation revolves around the historical legacy of alcohol Prohibition in the US and the damage it caused to the way alcohol is sold, marketing and viewed in the United States.   Our main topics for the show: The latest news from the Uniform Law Commission, a body of lawyers from all 50 states who try to create laws that states can adopt and adapt based on common principles. We discuss the misguided nature of their proposals, and how it could potentially affect wine shipping in the United States The history of Prohibition in the United States – how it came about based on the events and culture of the 1910s and how, during the repeal, systems were set up that are now outdated but have enormous ripple effects in how wine is sold, distributed, and ultimately viewed in the US The Crusaders were a group that fought to repeal Prohibition in the 1930s. Photo: Smithsonian Institute We touch on the active temperance movement of today and why the temperance lobby has a big problem fighting against wine, in particular. We mention marijuana as well, and the coming reckoning for that new industry. Here is the Washington Post article we reference: “From Dry January to Fake Cocktails, Inside the New Temperance Movement”     Tom tells us what the US market would look like without a three-tier distribution system (Hint: pretty awesome) and the multitude of choices it would open up for producers and retailers.   I highly recommend that you subscribe to Tom's very well-written blog, which is full of excellent and novel thinking. Click here to sign up. _______________________________________________________________ Thanks to our sponsors this week:    Wine Spies uncovers incredible wines at unreal prices - on Zinfandel, Barolo, Champagne...you name it - up to 75% off! It's not a club and there's no obligation to buy. They have a build-a-case option, so you can mix and match wines while enjoying free shipping on every purchase. Visit www.winespies.com/normal you'll get $10 credit to use on your first order! Check them out today!   If you think our podcast is worth the price of a bottle or two of wine a year, please become a member of Patreon... you'll get even more great content, live interactions and classes!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople   To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes

If you like this podcast, please be sure to rate us 5 stars in Apple podcasts and like our videos on YouTube. Tom Wark, executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers, a public relations professional specializing in the wine space with Wark Communications, and publisher of the widely read Fermentation Blog, joins me on this podcast. Check out Tom Wark at: The Fermentation Blog at: https://fermentationwineblog.com/ The National Association of Wine Retailers https://nawr.org/ Wark Communications https://warkcommunications.com/Visit our website at www.VitiCulturePodcast.com, and don’t forget to share with your friends via all major social media platforms @VitiCULTUREPodVisit Bellangelo Winery and Missick Cellars at www.Bellangelo.com and www.MissickCellars.com.You can watch the interview on our YouTube channel here: Get full access to The Viti+Culture Podcast Newsletter at viticulturepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

If you like this podcast, please be sure to rate us 5 stars in Apple podcasts and like our videos on YouTube, and visit my winery in the Finger Lakes at Missick Cellars. Episode 0029:Wine Reads – January 1, 2022Hi, this is Chris Missick, and welcome to Viti+Culture, and our segment Wine Reads, where we take a look at some of the most interesting, compelling, and even controversial stories and articles in wine.  On the heels of this holiday break, I have decided to take a few spur of the moment trips, one to the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina, and the other to the Texas  Hill Country in mid-January.  I’ve heard so many great things about both regions, and the Hill Country in particular, and figure it will be a nice break from the upstate winter we’ll be fully enmeshed in.  With that in mind, my Google News Alert with the keyword Finger Lakes popped up with this message about Fredericksburg, widely considered the heart of the Texas Hill Country AVA.  It’s an AP wire story, so I don’t have an author to directly credit, but you can find the article by googling the title, Fredericksburg pleases the palate in a Texas-size way.So here we go:“California has Napa and Sonoma; New York has the Finger Lakes and Texas has Fredericksburg,” said Jesse Barter, owner of Hill & Vine Restaurant as he poured a ruby-hued Tempranillo into my glass.It does indeed. The Hill Country west of Austin and north of San Antonio includes Texas-sized acreage devoted to wine production, making it the second largest AVA (American Viticultural Area) in the U.S.The Central Texas Hill Country is one of two major wine-producing regions in the state – the other being the Llano Estacado (Staked Plains) in Texas' northwestern corner.Here in the Hill Country, some 100 wineries dot the landscape along Highway 290, known as the Wine Road, from Fredericksburg to Austin. Fifty of those are in Fredericksburg itself, with 50 more in the permitting process.More about the wines later, but back to Barter and Hill & Vine. When I was there for dinner the restaurant had been open for three weeks, and if you were lucky enough to snag a reservation at all, the waiting time for a table was often two hours or longer.The buzzy crowd sipping cocktails while they waited didn’t seem to mind. Yes, the food is that good. Most everything has a Texas twist — the hummus, for example, contains black-eyed peas. The taco is stuffed with snapper from the Texas Gulf Coast, while the onion rings use onions from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas.I ordered the watermelon and green tomato salad with mint and basil leaves, spiced local pecans and herbed goat cheese with a citrus vinaigrette dressing, and thought it the tastiest salad I have ever had.That was followed by the smoked Santa Maria Tri-Tip with smoked chili butter, sea salt, roasted butternut squash and Brussels sprouts with a chili salsa. Dessert was Croissant Bread Pudding with bourbon anglaise sauce. You get why people are willing to wait two hours for a table.Now, back to that award-winning Tempranillo. You just know that this being Texas, they wouldn’t be satisfied with a mere medal of excellence, and they didn’t have to be. Hill & Vine’s vintage won a saddle (yes, a saddle) at a wine competition during the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show, and pardner, that beats a medal any day.Hill & Vine is just the latest addition to a remarkably robust dining scene for a town of 12,000 people. Alas, I didn’t make it to the Granite House or Vaudeville Bistro, two lauded dining spots, but I did do dinner one night at Otto’s German Bistro.The German influence is strong in the Hill Country as German settlers were the only ones able to forge a tenuous co-existence with the native Comanche Indians who ran off others attempting to put down roots. Today, you’ll see examples of German culture everywhere.The menu at Otto’s transcends schnitzels and sauerbraten to include dishes such as Steelhead Trout and Deep Sea Prawn with green pea puree, sugar snap peas, snow pea shoots and tomato oil, and veal loin with broccolini, mushrooms, sweet potato puree and almonds.I did go German and ordered the Wurst Platte (smoked paprika gruyere sausage, German potato salad, house made sauerkraut and house made spicy mustard.) I was glad I did.The menu changes weekly, and Otto’s gets most of its ingredients from local, organic or sustainable farms, ranches and fisheries.There’s no dearth of breakfast and lunch options either. Try Caliche Cafe for the former — the Salmon Eggs Benny are to die for. Clear River Ice Cream & Bakery makes a good lunch stop — you don’t have to eat one of their 47 flavors of ice cream for lunch, but you can if you want to.Finally, don’t miss Das Peach Haus. This multipurpose facility tempts those in search of shopping, sipping, dining and learning.The general store sells everything from jams and jellies to chipotle and BBQ sauces. Shoppers can sample their peach cobbler or peach cider while browsing.I had dinner there beside a small lake and under a canopy of pine trees more reminiscent of East Texas than the Hill Country, and those wishing for a full dining experience can reserve a table. They recently opened a distillery where you can sample their gin and whiskey, and if you’re interested in cooking classes, they are happy to oblige. About the only thing you can’t do is pick the peaches.Don’t fret. At Jenschke Orchards, you can pick all the plump peaches you want from the 3,000 trees in their orchards. You will have to think of a creative way of getting them home as the Orchard doesn’t ship outside of Texas.As strange as it may seem to those who equate the American wine scene with California and Oregon, Texas is one of the country’s leading wine producers, and Fredericksburg ranks right behind Napa as a destination for lovers of the grape.As for that grape, because of its hot climate, Texas excels in Mediterranean varietals – those found in sultry, steamy southern Spain and Italy.During a lunch and tasting at Signor Vineyards, I tasted some of these under the expert tutelage of winery host Andre Boada, whose wine pedigree comes courtesy of his Spanish father and French mother. My favorite of the wines Boada poured was an Albareno white, originating in the Galicia Region of Spain, but utilizing Texas grapes.Signor is one of the Hill Country’s most beautiful wineries. Open only three years, it has become such a popular stop they are adding 40 casitas in the vineyards for overnight guests. Even if you don’t stay overnight, you can sign up for one of Boada’s food and wine classes (Friday and Sunday, $50).Two other wineries I highly recommend are Pedernales Cellars and Narrow Path Winery and Vineyards.At Pedernales, the vineyards overlook the scenic Pedernales River, and their white wines come mainly from its sister winery in the High Plains around Lubbock. Narrow Path has a tasting room in Fredericksburg, but make your way to nearby Stonewall to sip in style in their main tasting room overlooking the vineyard.If you want to combine wine tasting and shopping, do head for Fredericksburg’s picturesque main street. At Becker Vineyards, sip a Viognier from their vineyard 12 miles outside of town where, in addition to grapes, five acres are given over to lavender fields.To get your alcoholic intake in a different form, drop by Chocolat, specializing in liquor and wine-infused chocolates. The shop offers some 400 different European-style chocolates rotated throughout the year, with about half on display at any given time. Chocoholics will think they have died and gone to chocolate heaven.When it comes to quality wine, watch out Napa, Sonoma and Finger Lakes – Fredericksburg is gaining on you.I was fortunate enough to get some great recommendations from the fellows over at the podcast Cork Talk, which focuses on North Carolina wine.  I also reached out on a whim to Chris Brundrett of William Chris Winery in the Hill Country.   I had learned about him and William Chris winery from the wonderfully produced Texas Winemakers, a docuseries currently available on YouTube that features an amazing array of different Texas winemakers and viticulturalists.  He informed me that the Texas Hill Country Wine Symposium had been planned for the week I was visiting, and so I promptly purchased a ticket, and plan on tasting and meeting with a number of great producers in the AVA.  I’ll be bringing my equipment with me, and plan on reporting on the regions while I’m there.  I’m excited to report on my findings, and in the meantime, if there is a destination, or a winery that you recommend, drop me a line at viticulturepodcast@gmail.com.  In our next episode, this Thursday, we’re sitting down with Tom Wark, a pro in the wine public relations space, and the author of one of the most influential wine blogs - The Fermentation Blog.  Tom is insightful, opinionated, extremely intelligent, and willing to tackle the tough issues in the wine and culture space.  I think you’re going to love this show.  Thanks, and see you soon. Get full access to The Viti+Culture Podcast Newsletter at viticulturepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Instituted in a different time, post Prohibition, the 3-Tier system of alcohol distribution and sales in the US creates inefficiencies in matching inventory with demand.  Tom Wark, Executive Director of the National Association of Wine Retailers (“NAWR”), founder of Wark Communications, and writer of Fermentation -  the Daily Wine Blog educates us on the history, key issues, and challenges of navigating the 3-Tier system for wine consumers to get the wines they want.  The NAWR is on a mission to modernize the regulatory landscape for alcohol and bring choice to consumers. Listen in to Tom's decades of war stories on wine regulation! Detailed Show Notes: Tom's backgroundHe grew up in Northern California and got interested in wine at an early ageHe got a Masters in HistoryWorked in wine PR, then started his firm - Wark CommunicationsStarted Fermentation -  the Daily Wine Blog, in 2004 - wrote a lot about regulation, was pro-DTC (direct-to-consumer)Approached by the board of National Association of Wine Retailers (“NAWR”) to be Executive Director (2008)NAWRMembers all independent fine wine retailers (e.g., K&L, Zachy's, Grapes, the Wine Company)>100 members nationwideEstimate ~500 retailers actively doing e-commerce and interstate shipping~400,000 alcohol licenses nationallyWine Retail SpaceGrocery stores, convenience stores, drug stores, big-box retailers - mostly focus of NAWRMulti-state retailers (e.g., Total Wine, BevMo)DTC from wineriesKey issues for fine wine retailersPrimary - want to serve customers where they areAmazon could get into the wine space w/ Whole Foods alcohol licenses and ship to anyone locally -> The only way for independent retailers to compete is to do interstate shipping16 states currently allow interstate shippingWine.com has retail licenses in many states to ship to most statesSecondary issue - procurement of inventoryRetailers must buy from in-state wholesalers who have a limited selectionRetailers desire to purchase directly from importers or wineries no matter where they are to broaden their selectionNAWR mission - to modernize the regulatory landscape for alcoholMost regulations  were written in the 1930s-1950sAlcohol is more regulated than tobaccoE.g., if a brewery wants to sell direct to consumer, it needs to sell to a wholesaler and then repurchase it to sell to the consumerFranchise laws - binds producer to a wholesaler for life, even if the wholesaler is no longer supporting the brandAdvocate litigation for change - e.g., states that allow their own retailers to ship to other states but don't allow out-of-state retailers to ship in, believes that violates the dormant commerce clause of the ConstitutionLobbying, education of retailers, cultivation of allies (very few - consumers and media; most against - distributors, non-online retailers (believe it will create more competition), wineries (indifferent), importers (were not active supporters))The 3-Tier system in the US1930's - post-prohibition (1933) - each state had to regulate alcohol, and each did it a bit differentlyTwo main concerns - prevent tied house laws and organized crimeTied house - producers controlled retailers => got bars to do sketchy things and promote high alcohol consumption3-tiers - producer, wholesaler, retailerRetailers must buy from wholesalersStopping tied house - wineries can't own retailersHistorically - lots of wholesalers competing to represent producersToday - 10,000+ wineries, fewer wholesalers -> wholesalers act as gatekeepers, not required to bring producers in and shut out small producers who aren't worth the time and effort to represent themCA producers and importers can sell direct to retailers/restaurantsWholesalers are very powerful - contribute meaningfully ($10M+/year) to state political campaigns, 10x more than wineries and retailers combinedEach state has different 3-tier regulation, creates an enormous compliance burdenIL - wineries can sell directly to retailers only if they produce

Talking DTC for wineries and online retailers with their staunchest advocate, Tom Wark of Wark Communications and exec director of the National Association of Wine Retailers. ---Panel---Harry is joined by Sarah Barrett.---Contents---00:00 Intro - Tom Wark01:55 Update on retailer direct shipping to consumers across state lines.02:30 The reciprocity era. 04:20 Explaining dicta in court rulings: The court may declare Tom and Harry to be a-holes, but it's not the law.05:00 Most interpreted Granholm to only apply to producers/wineries, not retailers.05:20 The weird Tennessee case.07:40 Easier for states to level-down?09:20 Wineries still account for vast majority of DTC shipments, even where retailers are allowed to ship direct.10:30 And the vast majority of bev-alc retailers are not shipping direct. 13:25 Not just wineries. Most new labels are imported, and must get through wholesaler. 14:30 Today big suppliers, retailers, and wholesalers all invested in three-tier system. 19:40 Tracking provenance.22:00 What's next for Tom?23:10 Future of retailing is to source unique products.24:35 The cannabis effect on $7 - $15 wine.28:25 Russia bans French Champagne from being called Champagne.29:50 Only one reason to take cannabis:  Getting high.31:10 Harry tells story of getting arrested with a firearm. 33:00 Tom and Harry make amends for old war wounds. ---About---Beer Business Daily publisher Harry Schuhmacher joins his editors and other guests every workday as they grok the industry issues of the day.  -Text comments and topic ideas to Harry at:‪ (262) 345-2501‬-Video feed on YouTube.Twitter / IG / TikTok:  @beerbizdaily

--Panel---Harry is joined by Wine & Spirits Executive Editor Sarah Barrett for a special edition pod.---Contents---00:00 Intro01:00 Delicato acquires Coppola, what do it mean?03:23 Harry tries to flex and compares himself to Bill Murray in Lost in Translation. Sarah checks him. 04:45 Is it believable that Daniel Craig can date 20 year-olds in Bond movies?05:36 Grokking the challenge to Missouri's in-state vs out-of-state laws. 06:40 Same issue, same players, different decade:  Tom Wark and James Tanner still hammering away at three-tier.08:17 State residency requirements and physical location mandates under attack.14:46 Will the Supreme Court hear the case?  Probably not.---About---Beer Business Daily publisher Harry Schuhmacher joins his editors and other guests every workday as they grok the industry issues of the day.  -Text comments and topic ideas to Harry at:‪ (262) 345-2501‬-Audio feed at HarrysPod.com-Video feed at youtube.com/c/beerwriterTwitter / IG:  @beerbizdaily

The Wine Makers celebrate their favorite holiday of the year, Repeal Day, with Tom Wark, wine publicist, wine blogger and tireless advocate for wine consumers, producers and retailers. Perhaps best known for his Fermentation Wine Blog, where he never shies away from controversy and frequently takes on the archaic “Three-Tiered Read more... The post The Wine Makers – Repeal Day With Tom Wark appeared first on Radio Misfits.

Zach speaks with Tom Wark, Executive Director of the National Association of Wine Retailers, about their ongoing efforts to liberalize interstate sales and shipping laws for wine, especially in light of recent Supreme Court decisions. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to podcast@vinepair.com. Thanks for listening, and be well. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome, Hit the Bottle listeners, I'm your host, Michael Wangbickler. When you have an opportunity to spend an hour with one of your respected peers, it's a refreshing experience. It makes you remember why you do what you do, and that there are others out there that have similar experiences and thoughts. That was the case when Tom Wark, founder of Wark Communications, joined me on the podcast late last year. It is one of our longer interviews, but there were so many valuable insights that we felt guilty about cutting it down, so we didn't. The conversation took us in many different directions, but some of the key points discussed were the evolution of blogging; the importance of third party endorsement; how you gauge whether an independent blogger is worth your time; why all beverage producers should be publishing their own content on a frequent basis; how the wine industry needs a better communication strategy when communicating digitally; and how wineries should take their experiences on the road. You may need to listen to this one more than once, honestly, but I guarantee you will learn something new. So, let's get on with it. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/htbpodcast/support

As the Consulting Winemaker and Brand Ambassador for Miller Family Wines, Wes Hagen talks about wine for a living. And if I had a day to spend tasting and learning about wine, Wes would be the first person I’d choose to join me. He’d wax eloquent about coaxing soil into the deliciousness that is wine and postulate that without wine there would be no democracy. He is perhaps the most articulate and persuasive advocate for the exceptional wines that come out of the Santa Barbara County.A former teacher, Wes loves to share the history of the vineyards and founding winemakers and would be the first to point out the many local heroes in the Santa Barbara County wine industry. He has solidified his own legacy by writing the petitions that created four of the seven American Viticulture Areas recognized by the federal government: Santa Rita Hills, Happy Canyon, Ballard Canyon, and the newly created Alisos Canyon AVA. He is quite literally putting Santa Barbara County wines on the map, and in the process, creating publicity and veneration for the unique wines created in our beautiful community. I first met Wes when my then-husband, Noah Rowles, hired him to write the petition of what would become the Alisos Canyon AVA. Noah had just purchased a ranch in Los Alamos that we would call Dovecote, which was home to the 30-year-old historic Thompson Vineyard. Five years later, the Alisos Canyon AVA makes its debut this week just as Noah is releasing the first wines he made as full-time winemaker at Dovecote.In our wide-ranging conversation, Wes and I reflect on the process of creating the AVA. We also discuss how Wes became the winemaker and vineyard manager at Clos Pepe, how he shaped Santa Barbara county’s maps as its most prolific AVA petition writer, how the wine industry benefits our community and how it can co-exist with the cannabis industry, and why wines from this region stand up to any on the world’s stage. His passion for wine is contagious and I have no doubt our conversation will leave you yearning for a glass of crisp pinot blanc on this hot summer day. Dovecote Estate is featured in Small Business Spotlight. Mention this podcast to receive 20% off your tasting fee. Tasting is available by appointment only.Also mentioned in this episode: Day Drinking with Wes Hagen YouTube show, Miller Family Wines, J. Wilkes Wines, The Wine Bible, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Richard Sanford, Clos Pepe, Adam Tolmac of Ojai Vineyard, Tom Wark’s Fermentation blog, Arthur George on The Myth of Wine, Will Castello’s Somm School.

Tom Wark, executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers (WineFreedom.org) rejoins the podcast to discuss the huge WIN for American wine consumers that has taken place. The Supreme Court of the US, the highest court of the land, has basically decided that states are not permitted to block interstate commerce -- meaning wine shops anywhere in the US are permitted to ship wine to any consumer in the US, unless there is a health and safety reason for them to forbid it (which is pretty hard to prove!)    Tom and I discuss the finer points of the case (https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/18-96_5i36.pdf) and the next exciting steps for us, as wine drinkers, across the US. Here are some of the high level topics we discuss:  Tom refreshes us on what was at stake in the Supreme Court case. We get a bit wonky on the details but it's worth it to listen!   We discuss the ruling and why and how this opens the door for retailers to ship wine legally to all states.   We talk about the future -- potential challenges to shipping laws and how we, as consumers can help with the process.    Go to https://www.winefreedom.org and sign up to find out how when activity is happening in your state that you can help with. A phone call or email could mean that your ability to order that really rare bottle of orange wine from Greece (or whatever other random stuff you want!) is just a click away!    Canadians -- take note of this show. You're issues are similar and you need to see what happens here to model it so you can open up your wine trade too!   Thank you to our sponsors: Thanks to YOU! The podcast supporters on Patreon, who are helping us to make the podcast possible and who we give goodies in return for their help! Check it out today: https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople  And to sign up for classes, please go to www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes!      Last Bottle    I love this service!! Last Bottle Wines finds great wines and offers them at a one time discount. Last Bottle Wines: Is a fun way to discover the best wines at the lowest prices Maintains relationships with producers in the most prestigious wine regions around the world and traveling to Europe several times each year to eat with, stay with, drink with, walk the vineyards with the people who make the wines. Offer a range of prices from low end to high end $9 to $99 and the wines range from the lesser known kinds like Albariño and Bläufrankish to Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay. Visit: http://lastbottlewines.com/normaland join to get a $10 instant credit to use toward your first order. Invite your wine drinking pals and they’ll get $10 instantly and you get $30 when they make their first buy.     Halpern Financial   Imagine a path to wealth that just works. A team of experts at your beck and call, technology to keep tabs on your money 24/7, financial education and the personal touch that makes organizing your financial life feel achievable, rather than daunting.Halpern Financial is a fiduciary, fee-only, independent advisor that offers a combination of online tools and personal connection to help clients systematically achieve their goals. Go to halpernfinancial.com/wine for more information!  

A Landmark Wine Decision in the Supreme Court; Tennessee Wine vs Thomas Our guest today is Tom Wark, President of Wark Communications and author of the Fermentations Blog. The Supreme Court just handed down a landmark decision when it comes to changes in wine retail laws and wine shipping. It’s all great news for wine Read More The post Episode #519 – A Landmark Wine Decision in the Supreme Court appeared first on .

After watching a video by Julien Miquel, Bill and I jump off onto the topic of cork taint. Julien’s insight on “What is cork taint? Why are so Many Wines Corked?” is a must see video. The iconic wine retailer Bottle Barn now has an online presence. If you already buy wines online, do yourself a huge favor and put them on your list of suppliers. There’s a six bottle minimum, but the shipping is free. Jessica Zimmer writes a post that gives a historical viewpoint of how White Zinfandel saved Napa Valley. Noteworthy wine blogger Tom Wark of Wark Communications, a wine P. R. firm, has moved his family from Napa Valley to a new home in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. He writes his own exit interview for the Napa Valley wine business community. The new Prisoner Winery tasting room in St. Helena is the bomb. Owned by Constellation Brands and perched directly off Highway 29, the tasting room could be described as Napa Valleys newest and coolest foodie and wine destination. So why have they been issued a code violation notice? Bill and I discuss these topics and many more in this weeks addition of VinoWeek. Thanks to everyone for listening. Cheers!The wine of the week is the 2013 Castello Colle Massari Montecucco Rosso Riserva. The Colle Massari estate is located in the southern part of Tuscany, approximately forty miles south of Siena, roughly a hour and twenty minute drive. The vineyards, cerified organic, are located on the Montecucco hill which gives its name to the Montecucco DOC, awarded in 1998. By law a Montecucco Rosso (red) wine must contain a minimum of 60% Sangiovese. The first vintage of Colle Massari was in 2000 and in 2014 Colle Massari was awarded the Gambero Rosso 2014 Winery of the Year Award. The owners Maria Iris and Claudio Tipa, also own Tenuta San Giorgio and Poggio di Sotto both in Montalcino and Grattamacco in Bolgheri, so one could say they are firm believers in the terroir of Southern Tuscany. My wife and I first discovered Colle Massari at a local wine shop in a small village south of Siena called Serra di Rapolano. We stayed in that village for ten days and we wiped out that wine stores stock of Colle Massari. Every since then we have been big fans of the wines made at that estate. You can learn more about the Colle Massari estate here.The 2013 Montecucco Riserva was aged in oak barrels for 18 months and then spent a year in the bottle before it was released. The wine is composed of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. A deep ruby color in the glass, the nose displays black plums, cherries and hints of licorice and leather. On the palate the frame is medium bodied, smooth tannic structure, and well balanced acidity. This wine won’t bowl you over with complexity but it’s a fine example of Sangiovese from Southern Tuscany. The current vintage 2015 retails for about $20. 14% abv Located between Montalcino and Morellino di Scansano, the vineyards covering the Montecucco hills of Colle Massari produce a lovely expression of South Tuscan Sangiovese.

David talks with Tom Wark, Executive Director of the National Association of Wine Retailers, and author of the Fermentation blog, about the challenges of wine buying and shipping in the U.S., due to states’ laws. Tom explains this complicated issue in an easy-to-understand way, but you should also check out his award-winning blog! To stay Read More The post Episode #487 – U.S. Wine Commerce, and Cannabis & Wine appeared first on .

This is an enormous moment that could improve the lives of wine drinkers in the U.S. and have great effects for importers, distributors, and wine lovers who live in/represent winemaking nations!! The United States Supreme Court has agreed to take on the question of whether or not citizens can receive shipments of wine from retailers anywhere in the US. Guest Tom Wark, Executive Director of the National Association of Wine Retailers (www.winefreedom.org), tells us the how, why, & the implications for everyone from importers to drinkers. THIS IS NOT a partisan, political podcast. Sadly, members of all political parties have reasons for denying us the right to have wine shipped to us. We only talk about the ramifications for consumers and retailers, we do not discuss red v. blue.    Don't forget to go to www.winefornormalpeople.com to register for classes and attend the Raleigh event on 10/28!    Here are the show notes: We discuss the Graholm case and why it didn’t resolve the question of retailer shipping to consumers in 2005. Then wevdiscuss Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association v. Byrd and what we hope changes with this decision to be rendered this spring!  We use Michigan as an example of how the current system of allowing states to block interstate wine shipping has failed wine lovers. We talk about the significance of the US Supreme Court taking n wine, again. I ask Tom the million dollar question: Does interstate shipping of wine actually harm local retailer business? Tom talks about what’s going on behind the scenes. We speculate: What is the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) preparing in their fight  What states are doing to prepare for this case  We talk about the big question: Are most retailers in favor or against open shipping laws? Tom mentions www.winefreedom.org as the single most important vehicle to enact change and help with this case! Sign up today!   Thanks to our sponsors this week:  YOU! The podcast supporters on Patreon, who are helping us to make the podcast possible and who we give goodies in return for their help! Check it out today: https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople   M. Gemi M.Gemi is redefining the luxury Italian footwear market by taking all the things we love about the industry—unparalleled quality, family-owned workshops, and personalized, concierge-level service—and leaving behind the luxury price tag. Many brands that once represented the epitome of quality craftsmanship have abandoned Italy in order to maximize profits—all at the expense of quality, their customers’ wallets and the very craftspeople who helped build their businesses. M.Gemi is Italian luxury made the old way, sold the new way. The result is the highest-quality, handcrafted Italian shoes at a price that clients can feel good about. Go see for yourself how amazing these shoes are at www.mgemi.com/wine for fifty dollars off your first pair.       Last Bottle I love this service!! Last Bottle Wines finds great wines and offers them at a one time discount. Last Bottle Wines: Is a fun way to discover the best wines at the lowest prices Maintains relationships with producers in the most prestigious wine regions around the world and traveling to Europe several times each year to eat with, stay with, drink with, walk the vineyards with the people who make the wines. Offer a range of prices from low end to high end $9 to $99 and the wines range from the lesser known kinds like Albariño and Bläufrankish to Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay. Visit: http://lastbottlewines.com/normal and join to get a $10 instant credit to use toward your first order. Invite your wine drinking pals and they’ll get $10 instantly and you get $30 when they make their first buy.  

Tom Wark, executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers (Winefreedom.org), wine PR guru, and author of Fermentation Wine Blog  gives a fascinating look at the history of US wine law, current inane laws (unconstitutional) on interstate wine shipping, and the ripple effects for wine producers, importers, and drinkers. *Note: This issue is not a democrat v republican issue, so if you fear this will be a partisan conversation, both sides are restricting consumer rights and there is no discussion of party politics in the show.  Even if you are not an American listener, the history and politics of the world's biggest market (by volume) and the restrictive environment in which wine is sold will shock and amaze you.  Here are some of the issues we tackle in the conversation: 1.The issues with retailers shipping between states and why consumers and retailers and hamstrung by regulation   2. The historical background -- from the 1700s to today on how the US became so protectionist about alcohol. Nerdy details include.. Why the current laws violate the spirit of the Articles of Confederation and then the Constitution of the United States The Pre- and Post- Prohibition eras, Constitutional Amendments and a violation of the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution Granholm v. Heald, a 2005 case that should have resolved this and why it didn't   Implications for consumers, retailers, small producers, and importers, and why we need to use our voices to stop the politics 3. A discussion of "the money" and why the Wholesalers rule our choice in every state.   4. The New York Times article by Eric Asimov and why New York and New Jersey retailers may soon be suffering.    5. What's next? What can we do to promote free trade and help the mission here? The essential mission American consumers have and the importance of signing up for Winefreedom.org and getting our voices heard!   And finally, an invitation from Tom  -- if you know any state legislators in the US, contact him! 

Tom Wark by Jeff Schechtman

This is an extra special episode. 15 Year old Tom Wark is guest presenter and does a fantastic job at presenting a letter written by Bert Smythe to his family where Bert recounts the landing and first few days at Gallipoli before he gets shot by a sniper. If you have any interest at all in the Gallipoli legend this is the episode to listen to. Bert gives a great account of the Turks, deaths in the First Brigade of the AIF, the work of the Third Brigade and Turkish attacks. This one is seriously not to be missed!

Mark reports on a remarkable tasting of aged rums from the Bacardi Facundo Collection: four selections from the family’s private reserve, now released in a limited edition. He also examines the American renaissance in hard cider, revealed in a new website by blogger Tom Wark called The Cider Journal (ciderjournal.com). Turning his attention to wine served at 30,000 feet, he … Read more about this episode...

Jeff Lefevere and I are back with another edition of the Unfiltered podcast after nearly a year in hiatus. We are joined by Tina Caputo, the Editor-in-Chief of Vineyard & Winery Management magazine, Joel Vincent, Executive Director of the OpenWine Consortium and co-founder of VinTank, and Tom Wark from Wark Communications and FERMENTATION. Show Notes: 00:26 - Welcome & Introductions 01:18 - Wine Bloggers Conference 07:31 - American Wine Blog Awards 15:55 - Social Media & Wine 23:27 - “Robert Parker’s Bitch” video 48:58 - Tina’s Blog, The Wine Broad’s Board 49:35 - Tom’s Blog, FERMENTATION 49:51 - Jeff’s Blog, Good Grape Production note: My recording levels were not set correctly and attempts at adjusting this in post-production introduced a lot of noise. This has been corrected for the next episode. These things happen when you don’t podcast for several months ;-) Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Voicemail: +1-646-495-9203 ext. 19765 http://drop.io/winecast Copyright 2009 Acan Media, Inc. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

A new monthly podcast featuring a panel of wine bloggers and an industry guest. Co-host Jeff Lefevere of Good Grape and I welcome Tom Wark from FERMENTATION and Jeff Stai from the Twisted Oak Winery. Show notes: 00:24 - Welcome and introductions 01:53 - Show format 02:16 - Twisted Oak Winery background 08:04 - Direct to consumer shipping trends 14:28 - Do wine blogs create demand? 15:47 - Tom's new role as Exec. Dir. of SWRA 22:35 - Current state of wine distribution 31:07 - Balanced, "Old World-styled" wines 39:07 - The "hot wines" of 2007? 45:36 - Round of plugs for participant blogs 47:32 - Contact details and next show participants Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/