Latest news with #wineries
Forbes
2 days ago
- General
- Forbes
Wine And Truffles Go Together Like...
Stasi Seay, Hope Family Wines' director of vineyards, stands beside a newly acquired estate for growing grapes and truffles in Paso Robles, California. Hope Family Wines An increasing number of California wineries are diversing their vineyards and growing truffles. Hope Family Wines of Paso Robles announced Aug. 7 that it purchased an estate for its sauvignon grapes and organic truffles. The Donum Estate announced two years ago a partnership with the American Truffle Company to cultivate Perigord black truffles in Sonoma, and, in 2022, the truffle company teamed with the Boisset Collection wine company to cultivate Perigord black truffles at Raymond Vineyards in Napa Valley. Trainer Alana McGee works with her dog Lolo to search for truffles at the Robert Sinskey Vineyards Truffle Orchard in Napa, California. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Associated Press 'The truffle orchard is a happy inheritance that takes me back to my childhood, when my parents were farming more than grapes,' says Austin Hope, the owner and winemaker of Hope Family Wines. Hope, the son of winegrowers Chuck and Marlyn Hope, grew up in Paso Robles, and Hope Family Wines now has six brands: Austin Hope, Treana, Quest, Austin, Liberty School and Troublemaker. In 2022, Hope Family Wines was named 'American Winery of the Year' by Wine Enthusiast magazine in its yearly Wine Star Awards. 'While wine grapes predominate in Paso Robles, there's a rich history of agriculture here that includes almonds, olives, apples and grains,' Hope says. 'Truffles are part of a new wave of artisanal agriculture that is gaining ground in Paso Robles, and we are excited to be a part of it.' Truffles, which can command prices exceeding $1,000 per pound, are difficult to grow. Truffle spores grow underground among the roots of certain trees and, years later, require trained dogs to locate the truffles by scent. About 15 years ago, according to the New York Times, Rob Sinskey Vineyards began planting truffles in the Carneros region, which stretches across southern Napa and Sonoma. The company has since moved to another Napa Valley location. In 2011, Jackson Family Wines, which is based in Santa Rosa, California and has wineries in various countries, planted in California hazelnut and oak trees innoculated with truffle fungus. Six years later, according to Wine Enthusiast , the first truffles were harvested. Thrity pounds of truffles were harvested in 2019 and 65 pounds in 2020. Organic truffles at Hope Family Wines' newly acquired vineyard, Tufera Farms, are grown with 'specially cultivated' holly oak trees. The winery plans to use its culinary arm, Hope Provisions, to package the truffles. Formerly known as Creston Valley Vineyard, Tufera Farms' vineyard sits on rolling terrain at an altitude of 1,200 feet and encompasses 250 acres. It has been a longtime source for Austin Hope's cabernet sauvignon. Grapes were first planted there in 2000, and Hope Family Wines began buying grapes from the site seven years later. The company's other vineyard is in Paso Robles' Templeton Gap district. 'The cabernet sauvignon from the Tufera Frams vineyard consistently ranks among the best lots we produce year after year,' Hope says. 'It is a key component of Austin Hope cabernet sauvignon, and, when the vineyard became available, we jumped at the opportunity to acquire it.' The previous owner planted 10 acres of holly oaks for truffle growing, and the orchard is now rounding into form, Hope says. The truffles are harvested annually, beginning near year-end and into February, with the help of specially trained dogs. Hope Family Wines is one of more than 200 wineries in the Paso Robles grape-growing region, according to Paso Robles Wine Country. The region sits on California's Central Coast, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Firefighters battle to avoid reignition of France's largest wildfire in decades
About 1,400 firefighters were deployed in France's southern Aude region to prevent the country's largest wildfire in decades from reigniting, as all residents were allowed to return to their homes. Aude prefect Christian Pouget said the fire has been contained since Thursday after burning this week more than 160 square kilometres (62 square miles) in the wooded region, known for its wineries. All roads have been reopened but authorities issued a strict ban on accessing the forest, Mr Pouget said at a news conference on Saturday. 'The fight is continuing, firefighters are still working on (fire) reignition,' he said. The blaze left one person dead and 25 people have been injured, including 19 firefighters, Mr Pouget said. High temperatures in the coming days are expected to complicate firefighters' efforts. 'The fire won't be extinguished for several weeks,' Colonel Christophe Magny, director of the Aude fire department, said, pointing to several 'hot spots' that are being closely monitored. France's national weather agency Meteo France placed the southern half of France on a 'high vigilance' alert for a heatwave, with temperatures expected in the Aude region of up to 39C on Saturday. In neighbouring Spain, firefighters continued to battle a wildfire in Avila province, over 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of Madrid. Victor Fernandez, a technician at the advanced command post, told reporters on Saturday the fire was being contained but warned the next hours would be 'critical'. Extreme temperatures are expected to continue until at least next week, according to Spain's national weather service. The fire began on Friday afternoon with the Spanish Military Emergencies Unit working through the night to bring it under control and prevent it from approaching roads and train lines. Southern Europe has seen multiple large fires this summer. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Firefighters battle to prevent reignition of France's largest wildfire as residents return home
About 1,400 firefighters were deployed on Saturday in France 's southern Aude region to prevent the country's largest wildfire in decades from reigniting, as all residents were allowed to return to their homes. Aude prefect Christian Pouget said the fire has been contained since Thursday after burning this week more than 160 square kilometers (62 square miles) in the wooded region, known for its wineries. All roads have been reopened but authorities issued a strict ban on accessing the forest, Pouget said at a news conference on Saturday. 'The fight is continuing, firefighters are still working on (fire) re-ignition,' he said. The blaze left one person dead and 25 people have been injured, including 19 firefighters, Pouget said. High temperatures in the coming days are expected to complicate firefighters' efforts. 'The fire won't be extinguished for several weeks,' Col. Christophe Magny, director of Aude firefighters department, said, pointing to several 'hot spots' that are being closely monitored. France's national weather agency Meteo France placed the southern half of France under 'high vigilance' alert for heat wave, with temperatures expected in the Aude region of up to 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday. Southern Europe has seen multiple large fires this summer. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Small town locked in $50M brawl with wineries is forced to sell its beloved lighthouse to pay court fees
A township in Michigan is scrambling to gather cash after being ordered to pay millions in damages to local wineries for stifling their business. Last month a judge ordered that Peninsula Township pay almost $50 million to the 11 local wineries of Old Mission Peninsula. The order came after wineries won a five-year legal battle against the township over zoning regulations that they claimed affected their business. Now, Peninsula Township officials are discussing drastic steps to find the money - including selling a historic lighthouse or suspending park and cemetery maintenance. A lawyer for the wineries called the budget recommendations a 'PR stunt' designed to villainize the 11 plaintiffs who won the five-year legal battle against the township tle on July 7. The saga began in October 2020, when a federal lawsuit brought about by the wineries argued that strict zoning rules stifled business and violated their constitutional rights. According to the lawsuit, the zoning ordinances adopted by Peninsula Township regulated the vineyards' activities. The zoning ordinances prohibited the hosting of 'weddings, receptions, and other social functions for hire' at these venues. They also stated that a winery with at least forty acres may host a tasting room, but only with limited retail sales. Peninsula Township attempted to negotiate changes because they understood that the ordinances were unpopular with the wineries. However, when negotiations stalled the wineries initiated a lawsuit against the Township, claiming the ordinances were unconstitutional. Now that the wineries have won the $50 million lawsuit, officials are publicly discussing how they can gather the money. 'Selling property and cutting back things in the office are two ways that we can immediately have money in place to be able to lessen the burden all around for the taxpayers,' Township Supervisor Maura Sanders told MLive. A special assessment, or additional property taxes, will be added to the Peninsula Township tax roll to collect the damages. Liability insurance will also cover some of the cost, but Sanders said the township is still unsure about how much will be paid by that. The memo describing what cost-saving measures the Peninsula Township board will discuss at the upcoming August 12 meeting also suggested closing all township offices, as well as suspending planning and zoning. It also mentioned the 'review and potential sale' of township assets - like the historic Mission Point Lighthouse, an iconic site built in 1870 at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula. Other township assets listed include Archie Roadside Park, some lots at Haserot Beach and Bowers Harbor Park. Sanders described the lighthouse as the 'crown jewel' of the township and said it would be devastating to sell it. 'Nobody in the township, the region and all the folks that we've had visiting from elsewhere would want to see that go into private hands,' she said. 'But the township needs to look at all potential opportunities to limit the burden on our taxpayers.' Joe Infante, a Miller Canfield attorney who represents the wineries - including Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery, says the dramatic measures are being discussed to 'drive public opinion' against his clients. 'The township's litigation strategy for this whole case is really to try to rally the public against the wineries and (make the public) think the wineries are the bad guys,' he said. 'You read the judge's opinion and the bad guys are the township. The person who violates somebody's constitutional rights, that's the bad guy.' He also said he's not sure how helpful it would be to sell the lighthouse. 'There's a lot of ways to do it, short of selling a lighthouse,' he said. 'Not sure there's much of a market for a lighthouse.' The Peninsula Township board voted to dispute the judge's ruling in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and while the appeal is pending, the township on August 5 asked the court to pause any lawsuit payments.
CBS News
02-08-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg faces foreclosure after owner's passing
A popular wine destination just outside of Sacramento is facing an uncertain future. The Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg is in the foreclosure process after the property's owner passed away unexpectedly. The Old Sugar Mill is a local favorite, not just for its wine but for its history and charm. The newly formed Old Sugar Mill tenants group is doing everything it can to keep it going. "This building has been here for years. My great-grandfather actually was part of the group that brought this building to Clarksburg to be a sugar beet factory," said David Ogilvie, a member of the Old Sugar Mill tenants group. The Old Sugar Mill has been around since 1934. It has lived a few different lives. Right now, it lives as a venue and home to 14 wineries. The current tenants are trying to keep it that way. "With the unfortunate passing of the previous owner of the sugar mill, we kind of banded together to create this tenants group that is keeping the place running," Ogilvie said. The owner of the Old Sugar Mill passed away unexpectedly in June. With him went the control over the mortgage loan. Now, a trustee has filed for foreclosure. The notice states roughly $9.25 million is owed to the lender. "We're basically funding an account that's outside of rent. We've been instructed by our attorney we need to stay in good standing and pay rent. So we've elected to set aside some other funds of our own to keep up with landscaping, electricity bill, those sorts of things," Ogilvie said. We talked to the trustee who filed the foreclosure paperwork last week. She said the next step is to wait 90 days to set a foreclosure date, which will allow the building to go up for sale and get a new owner. "I love the old setting style. I hope they keep it like this," said a customer. "We want to make sure we're working with them to show them what we're doing with the hope that they'll continue operating this facility as we have. Because it's an asset to this community and the sacramento region," Ogilvie said. The tenants group wants to get word out that business is running as usual. They're honoring agreements made with the previous owner, even weddings. "This is the shining jewel of the region for agritourism. It brings in many people every weekend, keeps economic viability to our town and with that, what I love to do is spread the love of farming and agriculture by having people come and enjoy a glass of wine right in the middle of Clarksburg," Ogilvie said. The Old Sugar Mill is hosting an event this weekend called "Summer of Love." There will be music and wine.
