The Daily Brief
The Daily Brief — October 12, 2026
| Your briefing on the global wine trade, with a U.S. perspective. |
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SFGATE • Oct 8, 2026 California wineries face falling exports, weak demand and vineyard salesCalifornia wine businesses are confronting lower demand, export losses and pressure to sell vineyards and winery assets. SFGATE reports that McManis Family Vineyards is listed for $77.95 million, while its exports to Canada fell sharply between July 2025 and July 2026. Industry experts cited in the report point to changing consumer habits and oversupply, even as some buyers see opportunities in lower-priced properties. Source: SFGATE |
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Oduu • Oct 8, 2026 McManis Sale Highlights Pressure on California Wine SectorCalifornia winery McManis Family Vineyards has put its winery and associated vineyards on the market amid weaker conditions. The report says the company’s exports to Canada fell sharply between July 2025 and July 2026, while industry figures and analysts point to trade losses and changing consumption patterns as pressures on wineries and growers. Source: Oduu |
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New York Post • Oct 8, 2026 Moët Hennessy develops AI to detect grape-fungus emissions earlyMoët Hennessy has worked with Analog Devices and University of California, Davis researchers on an AI model intended to detect emissions from a grape-growing fungus at an early stage. The New York Post reports that the approach uses sensing technology on grape samples to identify signals that winemakers previously could not detect so early. Source: New York Post |
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winemag • Oct 7, 2026 Cape Winemakers Guild Auction sales rise 5.9% as volume growsThe 2026 auction recorded R18.22 million in sales and 2,220 cases sold, up 5.9% and 16% respectively from 2025. Average bottle prices fell, while whites and Cap Classique achieved a higher average price than reds for the first time in the Guild’s history. Trade buyers accounted for 44% of purchase value. Source: winemag |
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Wine Industry Advisor • Oct 6, 2026 • Press release Rack & Riddle names Laura Webb chief marketing officerRack & Riddle has appointed Laura Webb as chief marketing officer. Webb most recently served as vice president of sales, marketing and DTC at Cakebread Cellars, and previously held roles at Brown-Forman and E. & J. Gallo Winery. The company says she will lead strategy, innovation, commercialization and marketing as it expands production capacity and its Sonoma County footprint. Source: Wine Industry Advisor |
Editor: Sara J. Arnett.