Southern Ontario wine grapes on the vine. (Dave Bedard photo)

World wine output falls to 60-year low

Paris | Reuters — Global wine output fell to its lowest level in 60 years in 2017 due to poor weather conditions in the European Union that slashed production in the bloc, international wine organization OIV said. Wine production totalled 250 million hectolitres last year, down 8.6 per cent from 2016, data from the Paris-based […] Read more

The Canada 150 emblem in a durum field. (Agr.gc.ca)

Steady to lower durum market expected

CNS Canada — Larger-than-expected production, a seasonal slowdown in demand and looming Italian country-of-origin-labeling regulations all loom over the Canadian durum market, with steady to lower prices anticipated over the next few months. Italian COOL regulations are set to come into effect in mid-February and require pasta makers in the country to segregate foreign durum, […] Read more

Italian pastas. (RussoTiesi.com)

Italy demands origin labels for pasta, rice

Rome | Reuters — All packets of pasta and rice sold in Italy will have to include labels of origin showing where the produce was grown, the government ruled on Thursday, a move aimed at protecting local farmers. The agriculture and industry ministers signed a decree ordering the new labelling policy, saying it would run […] Read more



Italian pastas. (RussoTiesi.com)

Italy’s pasta labeling plan raises Canadian concerns

Winnipeg/Rome | Reuters — Canada has raised concerns with Rome about Italy’s plan to require country-of-origin labels on pasta sold there, Canada’s agriculture minister said on Wednesday about a move that is alarming Canadian wheat exporters just as a free trade deal gained European approval. Rome sent a draft decree to the European Commission in […] Read more

Former Montreal Alouettes quarterback Vince Ferragamo and wife Jodi converted a horse corral to a vineyard on their property in California’s Orange County to start their winery in 2010. (FerragamoWinery.com)

Italy’s Ferragamo suing ex-Als QB over same-name winery

Reuters — Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, the Italian luxury goods maker, on Wednesday sued former Montreal Alouettes and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo, saying he infringed its trademarks by operating his namesake winery in southern California. Consumers are likely to be confused into thinking the Ferragamo Winery and Ferragamo SpA are related, the Italian company […] Read more