Minutes it took for Taco Bell to sell out of the 33 cases produced of “Jalapeño Noir,” its first exclusive house wine. Priced at C$25 (U.S.$19) and released only in Canada, the wine isn’t actually jalapeño-infused. The limited-edition bottling was created in partnership with Queenston Mile Vineyard, in Canada’s Niagara-on-the-Lake region, to pair with the fast food chain’s Toasted Cheesy Chalupa menu item.
Percentage of all wine production in California attributable to E & J Gallo Winery. The Modesto-based company owns 24,000 acres of land, its own glass manufacturing plant, and 80 different wine brands worldwide, including Orin Swift, Louis M. Martini, and Barefoot Cellars. Brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo founded the winery in 1933. Gallo has been the largest winery in the U.S. since 1966 and is currently the largest family-owned winery in the world.
Number of U.S. restaurants (1 in 6) that have closed either permanently or long-term, according to a new survey by the National Restaurant Association. Prior to the pandemic shutdown, the foodservice industry was the nation’s second largest private sector employer. It generated more than $2 trillion and employed 15.6 million people—three million of whom are still without jobs six months into the Covid crisis. Currently the industry is on track to lose $240 billion in sales by the end of the year.
Number of meals served in two weeks across Northern California by World Central Kitchen (WCK), the nonprofit founded by chef José Andrés after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. To prepare fresh meals for first responders and evacuated families across northern California, WCK established a kitchen in Vacaville and partnered with restaurants from San Francisco to Santa Cruz.
Number of acres (in millions) across California, Oregon, and Washington that have already been destroyed during the current wildfires. In California, 6 of the 20 largest wildfires in the state’s history continue to burn. In Oregon, officials estimate that more than 10% of the population have been forced to evacuate their homes. Severe air pollution caused by the fires in Washington temporarily broke the data systems that monitor air quality. To donate to the wildfire relief funds, click CA, OR, or WA.
Percentage rate by which U.K. wine exports rose from 2018 to 2019. According to trade body WineGB, around 550,000 bottles—mostly of English sparkling wine—were sold internationally in 2019. Norway, the U.S., Canada, and Australia top the list of importers. Vineyard land in the U.K. has expanded by 150% over the last decade thanks to the warming effects of climate change (the country’s average temperature during the same period rose by almost 2°F (1°C)).
Amount in U.S.$ (AU$103k) paid for a bottle of 1951 Penfolds Bin 1 Grange—the most ever paid for a bottle of Australian wine—during Langton’s Penfolds: Rewards of Patience auction in June, 2020. In 1951, Penfolds winemaker Max Schubert believed he could make a wine comparable to Bordeaux in structure, complexity, and ageability, but using shiraz grapes and American oak. Schubert’s bosses disagreed and told him to abandon the project. He carried on anyway, and two vintages later, Penfolds released Grange to the public.
Number of weeks it takes to complete a new course that teaches English to restaurant and hospitality workers. Called 86 the Barrier, the online course was created by beverage industry professionals Joanna Carpenter and Cameron Shaw after the pandemic shut down restaurants. Traditional language classes are usually expensive and lengthy. With six bilingual volunteers who focus on relevant vocabulary, 86 the Barrier (a non-profit) offers peer-to-peer training over Zoom or WhatsApp.
Number of the California Senate Bill approved by the state Legislature in August, allowing the University of California, Davis, to sell up to 20,000 gallons of wine per year made by its viticulture and enology students. Historically, the university was legally forced to dispose of the wine “crafted by these promising young vintners,” said bill sponsor Bill Dodd, Democrat-Napa. Proceeds from the sales will generate funds for the University’s viticulture and enology program, established in 1935.
Number of places that Russia has risen in the annual Global Compass report, to 10th most attractive wine market. Conducted by research and consulting firm Wine Intelligence, the 2020 report notes that Russia’s younger Gen Z / Millennials, the most well-travelled generation in the country´s recent history, are swapping their parents’ vodka for wine. Since 2015, Russia’s per capital consumption has doubled, and consumers are paying significantly more for each bottle.
Number of wineries currently operating in California. The state accounts for 43% of all the wineries in the U.S. but 80% of the wine produced. Admittedly, the California wine industry is the most mature in the country—the number of wineries in the state has grown by only 27% since 2015. By comparison, Texas and Michigan, in the Top 10 most wineries per state, have grown their numbers by 84% and 80% respectively. California’s dominance of the U.S. market makes it the fourth largest wine producer in the world.
Percentage of wine professionals who identify as Black or African. In response to a wine industry survey of more than 3,100 professionals published last October by SevenFiftyDaily.com, an overwhelming majority (84%) of respondents indicated they were white (8% identified as Hispanic and 4% as Asian). Julia Coney, a Washington, D.C. writer who launched the online resource Black Wine Professionals in June, says that once it is posted, “People won’t be able to say they can’t find us.”
