Viticulture briefs: Sonoma winery introduces cannabis-infused wine

Sonoma winery introduces cannabis-infused wine

Rebel Coast Winery of Sonoma has introduced a nonalcoholic wine infused with THC, the principal psychoactive chemical in cannabis.

The winery’s sauvignon blanc is infused with 20 milligrams of THC, which equals 5 mg per glass. It also will be touted as a low-calorie drink at 35 calories per glass.

Licensed dispensaries in California will be the only retail outlets that will sell the wine, priced at $60 per bottle.

The grapes for the wine were sourced in Sonoma County and the alcohol was removed from the wine. Ebbu, a Colorado-based cannabis company, then added a cannabinoid solution to the drink.

“Rebel Coast Winery wanted to make sure consumers could enjoy themselves and have confidence that they wouldn’t overdo it with THC,” said Chip Forsythe, Rebel Coast co-founder and winemaker, in a statement.

Viticulture group selects ?a new president

The American Society for Enology and Viticulture has selected John Thorngate, vice president of operations and technical services at Constellation Brands Inc., as its president for the next year.

Thorngate succeeds James Harbertson of Washington State University to lead the group’s 12-member board.

“I am honored that I get to serve alongside some of our industry’s leaders who constantly strive to find that balance between high-quality science and the fast-paced need for information and change,” Thorngate said in a statement.

Thorngate is based in the Bay Area.

Constellation Brands of Victor, New York owns local wineries, including Clos du Bois in Geyserville, Simi Winery in Healdsburg and Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa.

Crimson Wine Group reports profit increase

Crimson Wine Group of Napa on Wednesday reported second-quarter earnings of $1.17 million, which was a 30 percent increase from the same quarter in 2017.

The company, which owns Seghesio Family Vineyards in Healdsburg and Pine Ridge Vineyards in the Stags Leap region of Napa Valley, said its sales were $17.3 million for the quarter, which is a 15 percent increase from the same period a year ago.

The company experienced growth primarily in its wholesale business, where its net sales increased by $2.1 million for the quarter. The increase was triggered by domestic volume increases of 19 percent and 48 percent from exports during the three-month period.

Compiled by Bill Swindell. Submit items to bill.swindell@pressdemocrat.com.