Jeff Quackenbush
sonoma news
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Past articles by Jeff:
Fed seizure of bank with ties to wine industry leaves some worried
It marked the largest bank failure since Washington Mutual during the height of the 2008 financial crisis. → Read More
Petaluma musical equipment maker goes all-in on remote work, social media content at new HQ
New Foundry Wharf headquarters designed for ‘creative collaboration’ rather than ‘daily congregation’ → Read More
Why these California North Coast vintners are green-lighting projects despite economic uncertainty
Some vintners say the time is right to build and expand production and visitor facilities such as tasting rooms, while others are awaiting more of a rebound in tourism. → Read More
Santa Rosa’s Vintage Wine Estates to go public in $690M deal
The agreement announced Thursday would join the Santa Rosa-based group of wine and spirits brands from Napa and Sonoma counties and the Pacific Northwest with an already public company. → Read More
Tough times for bowling centers
With 75 on staff, Stars Recreation Center had been one of the larger employers among the roughly 200 California bowling centers. That was before the state rolled out rules 10 months ago for which businesses could operate during the coronavirus pandemic. And now only five work at the Vacaville facility as it waits for permission to reopen. “We in Solano had a three-week period in June when we… → Read More
California Wine Country bowling centers seek speedier reopening
California this week returned to its economic reopening plan, but bowling venues are among entertainment businesses that must stay shuttered, a restriction they say isn’t warranted or feasible. → Read More
Wildfires add to Sonoma, Napa, North Bay homebuilding opportunities in coming years
On top of property owners who are securing fire insurance payments from past years’ wildfires, builders plan to construct hundreds of homes in Sonoma, Napa, Solano and surrounding counties. → Read More
North Bay retailers seek second-generation real estate to survive, thrive
E-commerce, pandemic, power outages and wildfires have stressed shop finances, making existing spaces more attractive for reduced or new operations, say North Bay real estate experts. → Read More
Construction begins on big Amazon fulfillment center in Vacaville
Construction has begun on the Vacaville warehouse, the Seattle-based e-commerce giant’s second in the city, and it joins two delivery hubs the company has underway in Napa and Sonoma counties. → Read More
Heat helps bring many wine grapes in before the fires
Time will tell the fire impact on the size of the 2020 crop, which already was trending smaller because of the weather → Read More
Miyoko’s Creamery plans to expand staff 25% at larger Sonoma County plant
The producer of plant-based “cheese” and “butter” products adds 19,000 square feet to its Sonoma County headquarters and plans to increase staff by 25%. → Read More
Wineries scramble for digital marketing tools in pandemic
Amid uncertainty about the return of restaurant dining, North Coast vintners turn to software that can help them reach existing and new customers → Read More
Amazon plans Napa Valley ’last mile’ delivery station
The Seattle-based e-commerce giant recently won approval for a 202,000-square-foot “last-mile” base in a south Napa business park for up to 1,100 delivery vans. It’s similar to a facility planned near Sonoma. → Read More
US wine sales in stores up 14% in 5th week of coronavirus lockdown but tripled via e-commerce
For the seven weeks of noticeable impact from the coronavirus, U.S. wine off-premises sales grew 30% by value from a year before, but growth decreased slightly in the latest figures. But direct-to-consumer sales continue to be strong. → Read More
Defending 'Butter' wines: Napa's JaM Cellars goes back to court to defend trademarked brand
JaM Cellars has filed dozens of regulatory and legal actions for several years to defend the wine brands. → Read More
Busy time of California wine grape season under social-distance rules
Workers are gearing up for the critical bloom phase of the vineyard season, which determines the size of the fall harvest. But farming amid the coronavirus pandemic requires adapting social-distance guidelines for life in the fields and bunkhouses. → Read More
Wildfire rebuilds allowed to continue during coronavirus shutdown, but Wine Country contractors not clear on what else is
Certain types of construction projects and trades were specifically called out as "essential" and "critical" in shelter in place orders to slow the new coronavirus, but details on those rules evolve daily. → Read More
Wine tasting room sales drop 22% in February, says Napa Valley-based transaction software provider
As Wine Country tourism venues report cancellations of rooms and events, a Napa Valley company that handles point-of-sale systems for hundreds North American vintners says it has seen a double-digit drop in on-site transactions. → Read More
Falling prices for North Coast excess grapes and wine may lead to write-downs
Here's why accountants see a potential impact on winery gross margins if vintners have to write down inventory because of reduced market value for excess grapes and wine. → Read More
California export boosters aim for 37% more wine abroad by 2030
A trade group that has lobbied for relaxing impediments to exports of U.S. wine abroad unveiled in Napa on Tuesday a plan to boost exports by more than one-third by the end of the decade. Here's what world wine markets are looking for. → Read More