Viticulture briefs

<p class="bold allcaps">Sunset magazine invites entries for wine competition</p> <p>Winemakers from around the globe are invited to the enter the Sunset International Wine Competition, Sunset magazine's first full-medal competition. </p><p>The competition was designed by Sunset to help its print and online audience of over 5.6 million consumers discover the best wines from around the world.</p><p>“We are excited to help winemakers from around the world introduce their wines to our millions of readers, who are undisputedly some of the most influential and enthusiastic wine drinkers in the country,” said Barb Newton, president of Sunset Publishing. </p><p>Winemakers can enter now and find details and rules at sunset.com/siwc.</p><h3>Wine.com opens virtual tasting room</h3> <p>Wine.com, the online wine retailer based in San Francisco, launched an educational resource to help wine lovers learn about new wines. </p><p>The virtual Tasting Room provides custom wine recommendations and guides.</p><p>“The mission of the Wine.com Tasting Room is to offer personalized service and recommendations, similar to the experience one receives at a winery's 'live' tasting room,” said Gwendolyn Osborn, director of content and education at Wine.com.</p><p>The site will include content for three groups: novice, enthusiast and collector. Every month, Wine.com experts will select a theme for each, from discovering a new variety or region to food and wine pairing. The content will include videos, educational facts and guidance on each selection of wines.</p><h3>Italian wine exports rise 12 percent to $5.75 billion</h3> <p>Italian wine exports reached a record $5.75 billion last year, with the biggest markets in the United States, Germany and Britain.</p><p>The national statistics agency ISTAT on Wednesday said exports by value grew 12 percent last year compared with 2010, while exports by volume grew 9 percent to 634 million gallons.</p><p>Italy's share of the global wine market was 22 percent.</p><p>Giovanni Mantovani, general director of the annual Italian wine exposition Vinitaly, said that increasingly smaller producers are finding an export market alongside bigger winemakers. More than 4,200 winemakers will display their wares during Vinitaly next week in Verona.</p><p>— Press Democrat staff and wire report. Submit items to cathy.bussewitz@pressdemocrat.com</p>