Dr. Liz Thach, MW

Napa Valley ‘Inspire” Event Raises Over $1.5 Million to Support the Alzheimer’s Association

Inspire Napa Valley Auction to Raise Money to Support Alzheimer's Association. PC: Inspire-Main The 3rd annual Inspire Napa Valley Spring Wine Weekend, presented by Rolex Watch USA, raised more than $1.5 million to support the Alzheimer’s Association. The event has quickly become a staple in the Napa Valley community, bringing together wine industry leaders and enthusiasts to raise awareness and funds to support Alzheimer’s Association research, care and support programs for families affected by the disease in Northern California and across the country. “This event reaches new goals year after year with more guests, more support, and more motivation to continue reinforcing the [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-05-03T14:07:30-07:00May 3, 2022|

The Roots Fund & Zachys Raise Over $400,000 At First Annual Charity Auction Benefiting Diversity In The Wine Industry

The Roots Fund Charity Auction - Tahiirah Habibi, Carlton McCo…n PC: KYLE HUEY KHueyMedia The Roots Fund and Zachys wrapped up their first annual charity auction in support of The Roots Fund’s mission to address the lack of diversity in the wine industry. The gala raised over $400,000 from auction lots both available in-person and online and will help to create more education, mentorship and job placement opportunities for communities of color in the wine industry. As the first charity auction of this magnitude, the evening unveiled a large sommelier team of color, showcasing the essence of leading with change [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-05-03T13:49:50-07:00May 3, 2022|

Crafting High-Elevation Wine at Jackson Hole Winery

The Grand Teton Mountains Near Jackson Hole Wyoming. Photo Credit: GETTY This past summer my husband and I had a chance to visit Jackson Hole Winery, just a few minutes drive from the downtown elk-horn plaza in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. My former wine business student, Anthony Schroth, started the winery, and I was so pleased to see how successful it has become over the years. Following is the story of how Anthony established the first winery in Jackson Hole, and one of only a handful of wineries in Wyoming. Anthony Schroth grew up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, spending his free [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-04-13T10:15:43-07:00April 13, 2022|

Champagne Telmont Decreases Weight of Its Bottle to Reduce Their Carbon Footprint

Champagne Telmont Bottles. Photo Credit: Telmont Champagne bottles need to be remarkably strong in order to contain the 6 atmospheres of pressure that is built up from the bubbles. This is around 2 times more pressure than a car tire! However, the weight of the glass bottle and transport of bottles is one of the largest components of the wine industry's carbon footprint. Now Champagne Telmont has found a safe way to decrease the weight of their bottle from the current weight of 835 grams to an even lighter bottle, weighing 800 grams. Though the carbon footprint of each wine [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-04-08T11:37:25-07:00April 8, 2022|

How Two Oakland Women Created A Million Dollar Wine Business During The Pandemic

When TheSipSociety.com co-founder and CEO, Erica Davis, realized that many wine marketing firms were targeting women of color as only drinking sweet wines, she became concerned. As an avid wine lover, especially of dry high-end Champagne, she wanted other women to be able to explore different sparkling wine styles in order to discover what they liked. The Sip Society Co-Founders: Erica Davis, CEO and Catherine Carter, COO, THE SIP SOCIETY & ROB WILLIAMSON “The way the wine industry was marketing didn’t work for us,” Davis reported in an online interview. “So we decided to create a space where people could [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-04-01T11:30:22-07:00April 1, 2022|

Ceja Winery – Celebrating Mexican-American Wine Heritage and Strong Female Leaders

At the age of five, Dalia Ceja remembers walking behind her father, uncles and other vineyard workers, picking up fallen grape clusters and putting them back in the harvest bins. As a second generation leader in one of the first Mexican-American wineries in Napa Valley, Ceja Vineyards, Ceja is currently the SVP of Marketing & Sales, and is looking forward to taking the family winery to the next level. In honor of International Women’s History Month, the story of Dalia Ceja and the other strong female leaders in her family, lends inspiration to other women trying to build new companies [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-14T13:19:50-07:00April 1, 2022|

Silicon Valley Bank Report Warns U.S. Wineries Still Not Doing Enough To Attract Younger, Multi-Cultural Consumers

(First Published in Forbes.) Though more than 50% of the premium wineries surveyed in Silicon Valley Bank’s 2022 State of the Wine Industry Report, stated they had a very good financial year in 2021, report author, Rob McMillan, warns that the industry is still not doing enough to engage with new consumer segments. Group Of Friends Enjoying Night Out At Rooftop Bar. GETTY “The U.S. wine industry isn’t doing a good enough job of marketing and selling its product,” reports McMillan, EVP & Founder of the Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division,…. “often remaining wedded to successful strategies from the past while [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-02-18T14:38:11-08:00February 18, 2022|

How Bonterra Winery Leapfrogged Ahead Of Other Businesses To Achieve Climate Neutral Certification

Recently I had the chance to drive the 2-hour drive from Southern Sonoma County to Bonterra Winery in Mendocino County. It was my first time to visit the organic vineyards and taste Bonterra wines in the original old barn that serves as a by-appointment-only tasting room. It was very inspiring to see the cows and sheep in the vineyards, an owl flying through the trees, and the biodynamic free flow fountain to create the biodynamic preps. While there, I interviewed most of the people quoted in this article. What prompted my visit was Bonterra's Climate Neutral Certification that they received [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-02-02T16:22:47-08:00January 31, 2022|

Trentodoc Wine Region in Northern Italy Gaining More Recognition for Its Sparkling Wines

When I first visited this wine region in the Fall of 2016, I was astounded with its stunning beauty. Nestled high in the Italian alps with snow-capped mountains overlooking hillside vineyards, I discovered that due to the cooler climate, Trentodoc specializes in sparkling wine. After five days of visiting wineries and tasting excellent food with refreshing bubbles, I was in love. I wondered why it wasn't that well-known in America, except by wine experts and somms. Fast forward to 2022, and this hidden wine region of Italy is gaining more and more recognition for fresh and exciting mountain bubbles! Trentodoc [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-14T13:16:21-07:00January 12, 2022|

Nine Wine Technologies That Will Transform the Global Wine Industry

Robots in the vineyards, AI wine critics, and block chain 4x4QR codes to track wine and provide transparency to consumers. These are just a few of the topics that were presented by a panel of wine technology experts as part of a recent 2021 OIV study. Entitled ‘Digital Trends in the Vine & Wine Sector’, the study included a comprehensive survey of wineries in 18 OIV member countries along with in-depth interviews with 21 wine technology experts. The results reveal 9 major technology trends that will shape the future of wine. Robots in the Vineyard. Photo Credit: Getty Images According [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-01-12T11:22:36-08:00January 12, 2022|

Sweet White Bordeaux Wine Gaining Attention From Younger Consumers And Gourmets

Young wine consumers toasting with Sweet White Bordeaux Wines. Photo Credit: Fotolia: 118526264 When most people think of Bordeaux, a big hearty red wine comes to mind. Yet semi-sweet and sweet white wines have been made in Bordeaux since the 16th century. Long considered to be only a beverage to sip after dinner, such as a sweet Sauternes or Barsac, there is another section of Bordeaux that is beginning to gain more attention for their sweet wines – especially from young consumers and gourmets. Created in 2009 by the Union des Grands Vins de Bordeaux Sweet, the 8 appellations that [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2023-03-07T16:09:26-08:00December 30, 2021|

A Conversation with a Champagne CEO – Mathieu Roland-Billecart

Mathieu Roland-Billecart never planned to be CEO of a Champagne House. His life was in London where he worked as a financial analyst. But after 14 years of doing mergers and acquisitions for Ernst & Young and other firms, his family requested he return to Epernay, France. “I wasn’t groomed from birth to take over the family Champagne business, like other wine families,” he says. “Instead, I was encouraged to pursue my career goals. Then several years ago, I was invited to come back and work with my family. For me, it is a great honor. We are one of [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-12-30T17:47:15-08:00December 30, 2021|

Coravin Ramps Up Innovation During Covid With Increased Sales And 4 New Products

Now that we are 18 months into the Covid crisis, with new variants no doubt extending its length, it is helpful to recognize some of the positive innovation that has occurred. As John F. Kennedy said, “In a crisis, be aware of the danger – but recognize the opportunity.” Coravin - To Safely Taste Wine While Preserving the Cork. Photo Credit: Getty One wine company that has made astounding progress in sales and innovation during Covid is Coravin. With a mission to change the way the world experiences wine, Coravin technology allows wine lovers to extract a glass of wine [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-02-18T14:39:29-08:00December 6, 2021|

Organic Wine and Pairing Menu for Thanksgiving

Whether you are dining on turkey, ham, or a vegan feast for the Thanksgiving holiday, there is always room for several bottles of wine at the table. And given the current trends for wellness and transparency, organic and other “green-label” wines may be the best choice. But how do you track down wines produced organically? Thanksgiving dinner with organic wine. GETTY Some Organic Wine Brands for Thanksgiving According to a recent OIV report, only 6% of certified organic wine is produced globally Given that organic vineyard certifications require at least 3 years of documentation, proving that no chemicals were used [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-02-18T14:39:59-08:00November 23, 2021|

A Brief History of Wine in America

According to historical sources, the first wine in the US was made by French Huguenot immigrants in Florida in 1565 using the native American grape, Muscadine (Bates et al, 1989). Though successive European immigrants brought cuttings of vitus vinifera winegrapes from their homeland to the East Coast of the US, the majority did not survive due to phylloxera and other native pests. Greystone Cellars in Napa Valley, CA (now the Culinary Institute of America) - Established 1889. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons It wasn’t until the 1620’s that Spanish explorers successfully made wine from vitus vinifera grapes in what is now [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-02-17T13:26:36-08:00November 19, 2021|

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