• A new survey suggests that people are becoming more reluctant to buy wines that are over $20, and this “luxury drought” may last until 2020. [North Bay Biz Journal]
• The beverage industry is freaking out over the possibility of having to list nutritional information and calorie counts on labels, and winemakers want an exception that will keep them from having to put one of those ugly white boxes on their labels. [San Mateo Journal]
• The ZAP Zin tasting event is coming in S.F., and Jay McInerney used the occasion to explore some of the latest Zinfandel vintages, as well as discuss his love for the recently reviled grape. [WSJ]
• Robert Mondavi Jr. has started a wine-consulting business, but some ask whether he has the “happy juice” to make it work. Yes, that’s what they’re asking. [SF Biz Times]
• À la carte tickets for Pigs & Pinot went on sale this morning at 11 a.m., and by 11:03 a.m. tickets for the Friday tasting event appeared sold out — but many ticket buyers likely freaked out because you had to have a Visa card to complete the purchase. [Grub Street]
• Scientists say the only way to get away from grape-killing pathogens is to keep hybridizing new grape varieties. Good luck selling wine snobs on anything other than Pinot, Cab, or Riesling. [BBC]
