US groundwater mapped, Microsoft pausing carbon removal purchases

Researchers from Princeton University and the University of Arizona used data from ~800,000 wells and machine learning to create the most comprehensive estimate yet of U.S. groundwater depth. The 2026 Slow Wine Guide USA has launched, analyzing Avaline’s success as an organic brand at scale. Paper bottle company Frugalpac releases the Frugal Bottle Assembly Machine 2 (FBAM-2), which increases the speed of its bottle production. Microsoft to pause future purchases of carbon removal, which is responsible for 80-90% of purchases historically. Ted Hall, a former Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company on Napa’s current oversaturation of a segment of luxury wine brands and the unique factors that shape those businesses. Subscribe US: Researchers at Princeton University and the University of Arizona took data from about 800,000 wells and applied a machine-learning model to estimate the depth of the water table nationwide . Los Angeles Times They’ve produced the most extensive estimate of the country’s groundwater to date. They incorporated data on aquifer geology and estimated down to nearly 1,300 feet, far deeper than most wells. The scientists say their detailed map and data could help local decision-makers address overpumping from stressed aquifers, and help researchers estimate how much water has been depleted. Napa, CA: Revida Water has converted winery wastewater into drinking water – verified by an independent lab against US EPA standards – claiming it is one of the first commercial companies to achieve this result with independent third-party verification. Press release via Wine Business Revida’s installation at the Teaching and Research Winery operated by the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis began just before the 2025 grape harvest and continues to operate, treating up to 600 gallons per day of winery process water — the water used to clean the crushpad, hoses, tanks, and equipment. The unit runs on solar power. California: The 2026 California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards have been announced . Press release via Wine Business The Leader Award – St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery. Given to the vineyard or winery that excels in the three “Es” of sustainability — Environmentally sound, socially Equitable and Economically viable practices. The Environment Award – Clif Family Winery & Farm. Given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates Environmental Stewardship through maximized environmental benefits from implementing sustainable practices. The Community Award – Ironstone Vineyards. Given to the vineyard or winery that is a Good Neighbor and Employer using the most innovative practices that enhance relations with employees, neighbors and/or communities. US: The 2026 Slow Wine Guide USA has launched. Organic Wines Uncorked Wineries are up – 409 from 380 in 2025. Slow Wine USA follows the format of showing the fertilizer, weed control, plant protection, and other wine-farming facts. In addition, it lists pertinent winemaking–what types of yeast, as well as the type of aging vessel, case production, purchased versus estate-grown grapes, and more for more than 1,200 wines (three per winery). To be a Snail, a wine cannot use synthetics, whether they are fungicides or herbicides, insecticides, or conventional fertilizer. Slow Wine USA also lists certifications where they are used, and also includes the uncertified, recognizing that good farming requires a clean Pesticide Use Report. [ Organic Wines Uncorked Your Next Dose of “An Ethos of Sanity in What is an Insane World”| Slow Wine USA Debuts 2026 Guide As the 2026 Slow Wine Guide USA launches this week, the creation of a dedicated team of wine writers, wine judges and other wine professionals, the book has reached its biggest numbers ever with a record 409 wineries… Read more 5 days ago · 3 likes · 1 comment · Pam Strayer ]( https://organicwineuncorked.substack.com/p/your-next-dose-of-an-ethos-of-sanity?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web ) Walla Walla, WA: The fourth U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit will take place in Walla Walla May 6-7 . Northwest Wine Report The U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit is targeted toward growers, vintners, regional winery and vineyard associations, trade, media. Previous summits have taken place in Napa Valley, California (2019), virtually (2021), and Lodi, California (2024). China: A team from Hiroshima University looked at how green skepticism shapes buying behavior. Earth.com Instead of pushing people to investigate more, it may quietly push them away. It can reduce the effort people put into learning about products. It can also weaken the emotional pull that often drives better choices. An online survey conducted in September 2025 collected 575 responses from Chinese consumers. Of those participants, 43.1% were male, and 56.9% were female, 26-35 years old. People who felt skeptical were less likely to look for information about green products. They also felt less guilt about choosing less sustainable options. The full study was published in the journal Sustainability . US: Pam Strayer analyzes Avaline’s success as an organic brand largely through the lens of a May 2025 Business of Drinks podcast, where Erica Deucy interviewed Avaline CEO Purcell about the company’s success. Organic Wines Uncorked Per Shanken News Daily, Avaline hit 213,000 cases in 2024 and 300,000 cases in 2025. Avaline is well-financed, celebrity-backed, and organic – sourced from European vineyards. Its branding is upscale and fashion forward, but it also lists ingredients (transparency), messages “no added sugar” (often 0 grams total), displays nutrition facts, and emphasizes “no unnecessary additives”. It has a clear target audience – “Tech savvy, health-conscious women between 35 and 54” and a clear strategy – “It’s about simple and transparent labeling, the use of organic grapes, and messaging that is wellness-forward and frictionless.” [ Organic Wines Uncorked Business of Organic: Avaline Surpasses Josh and Bonterra in Sales at Sprouts Founded by actress Cameron Diaz, a Hollywood star, and Katherine Power, an entrepreneur with several hit brands in beauty and fashion, in 2019, Av… Read more 6 days ago · 2 likes · Pam Strayer ]( https://organicwineuncorked.substack.com/p/business-of-organic-avaline-surpasses?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web ) Global: Author of ‘Pressing Matters’ and Californian vintner Alan Ramey’s excerpt in Club Oenologique asks what the term ‘naturalness’ means in wine . He points out that the argument has been going on since at least Pliny the Elder’s time, who alludes to the use of pigments to color wine, pitch and resin to flavor wine, and lye-ash, pounded marble, salt, and sulfur to ‘adjust’ the wine. He notes that innovation has accelerated the development of tools, while also attracting a strong backlash. There is no agreed-upon definition of what ‘natural’ means in wine, and few legal requirements. He points to three prominent organizations with definitions for naturalness RAW defines the term as referring only to organic or biodynamic grapes. The Vin Méthode Nature rules, which were recognized in France by INAO in 2020, include a ‘Charter of Commitment’ that requires the grapes to be organic but says nothing about biodynamics. Based in Italy, VinNatur has its own farming standards and additional requirements, such as the requirement that at least 90% of the grapes be grown by the vigneron rather than purchased from other growers. US: An interview with Cristina Mariani-May, Banfi’s CEO, on their portfolio strategy centered on sustainability . The Drinks Business Rather than applying a rigid checklist, Banfi looks for intent, transparency, and measurable progress across its partners. Both the company’s Montalcino and Piemonte estates are certified by Equalitas, while Alexander Valley Vineyards holds Sonoma Sustainable certification. Emiliana Organic Vineyards is highlighted as “a global leader in organic and regenerative viticulture — a B Corp and the first Chilean company to achieve Regenerative Organic Certified® status”. Brother’s Bond Bourbon is described as “a pioneer of regenerative agriculture with the first regenerative expression on the market”, while Boatyard Double Gin is certified organic and a B Corp. They publish an ESG report annually: “While not a consumer-facing credential, our improved ESG rating confirms that sustainability at Banfi is not an aspiration — it’s a structured, measurable part of how we operate and plan for the long term.” US: A look at organic and sustainable whiskey producer Journeyman Distilleries . Unicorn Located in Twin Oaks, Michigan, and Valparaiso, Indiana, founders Johanna and Bill Welter knew from the start that they wanted to create organic spirits. Terroir and sense of place were important concepts to the couple, and they felt they could express this by using local ingredients. “We wanted to tell the story of the region,” she said. “Cherries and apples are king here in Michigan, so we decided to source [local] cherries and apple cider. The sources that we get it from are not certified organic, so while those items are not organic, all of our [other] spirits that we produce are.” They also incorporated practices like using glass bottles instead of plastic, trading spent grains for beef from local farmers, and using spent gin botanicals to make pickles. Today, the spent grains from both Journeyman locations are sent to a biodigester, where they generate clean energy for the local power grid. Organic grain is difficult to source; farming it is a challenge due to high costs and challenges with disease and pest management, so organic distillers must be agile about where their grain comes from in any given growing season. Journeyman started with a MOSA organic certification, which led to its current USDA organic certification. Global: British paper bottle company Frugalpac has announced the release of the Frugal Bottle Assembly Machine 2 (FBAM-2), which significantly increases the speed of its bottle production . Harpers The new machine can produce 14 million paper bottles a year –over five times the 2.5 million that its predecessor (the FBAM-1). The new FBAM has also cut the cost of producing one of the company’s (plastic-lined) paper Frugal Bottles down by around 30%, making them the same price or cheaper than a glass bottle. Rioja, Spain: In a Rioja study (125 consumers), identical red and white wines were presented as either “bottled” or “canned” . IVES Consumer involvement was a key driver of preference: only highly involved consumers showed a strong liking penalty for canned white wine, while bottled red wine was consistently preferred. Canned wines were also described as being more metallic and less fruity, confirming expectation-driven sensory bias. These findings highlight the importance of considering consumer involvement when introducing alternative wine packaging in traditional markets. Global: Microsoft has begun telling suppliers and partners that it is pausing future purchases of carbon removal, according to two people who have been informed of its plans. HeatMap The news deals a potentially major setback to the fledgling carbon removal industry, which has relied on Microsoft’s voluntary corporate buying as an anchor source of early demand. The technology giant has made most carbon removal purchases in recent years. In a statement, a Microsoft spokesperson denied that the company was indefinitely pausing all of its purchases. “We continually review and assess our carbon removal portfolio along with market conditions for the optimal balance on our path to carbon negative,” she said. Industry data suggests that Microsoft has done more than any other private company — and arguably any organization on Earth — to support early-stage technologies that could remove or eliminate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The company is generally cited as making somewhere between 79% to 90% of all historic carbon removal purchases. Napa Valley, CA: This excellent economic analysis by Ted Hall, a former Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and a founder of the McKinsey Global Institute, as well as a winemaker for more than 50 years, on Napa’s current oversaturation of a segment of luxury wine brands and the unique factors that shape those businesses, is well worth a read. Hall diagnoses the issue as a structural problem in a region that spent decades behaving as though premium demand would continue to widen enough to absorb every serious entrant. It did not. Or, more precisely, it did for long enough to encourage overbuilding, and now it no longer does. He breaks down the owners persona’s of luxury Napa brands in peril as the ‘conqueror’, having mastered success elsewhere, now seeks a more beautiful stage; ‘the patron’, who sees the winery as a more cultivated expression of wealth, ‘the restorationist’, who wants to be rooted in something more grounded and cyclical, and ‘the collector-owner’ for whom the winery behaves less like an enterprise than like a private object at architectural scale. He describes each owner-persona’s business challenges and explains why exiting may be much harder for them than it is for a traditional business. He believes what ultimately forces movement is rarely a single financial calculation. It is a convergence of smaller recognitions, each one manageable on its own, but difficult to ignore in combination. He also touches on remedies, including replanting different varieties, perhaps better suited to the land and to a changing climate and consumer. And family growers who transitioned to producers, to return to their original business. He outlines his argument for why, of the approximately 424 Napa Valley Vintners members producing fewer than 10,000 cases, within the broader premium wine sector, roughly 25% to 40% —approximately 100 to 170 wineries—are under significant economic pressure and are unlikely to meet a standard of long-term viability without material change. “Tell the Truth and Do the Right Thing” [ “Tell the Truth and Do the Right Thing” Napa’s Luxury Squeeze This essay offers an overall perspective on Napa Valley’s current predicament. It draws on a broader body of work—some already published, some still to come—on the valley’s sea of sameness, its overbuilt tasting economy, and the evolution of Napa Cabernet in the score era. It is longer than usual because the full shape of the problem… Read more 7 days ago · 49 likes · 18 comments · Ted Hall ]( https://ted241.substack.com/p/napas-luxury-squeeze?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web ) US: An Inside Climate News analysis found the USDA lost 21% of its workforce in 2025 . During the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, many climate and conservation programs were slashed or altered in ways that either disadvantage small-scale farmers in favor of large operators or sideline conservation efforts. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the agency’s primary department overseeing climate-related efforts, took one of the biggest blows, losing more than 23% of its staff. Most of the staff who left the agency served or lived in rural areas and were not based in or near Washington, D.C., even though the administration had said Washington-based employees were its primary target for termination. Many of the highly trained soil scientists and engineers who consult with farmers on implementing and assessing conservation practices are now gone, and those still serving these areas are often stretched thin. Beyond staff shuffling and cuts, USDA has slashed individual conservation and diversity-focused grants. US: The 2026 Menus of Change Leadership Summit Repurposed Solutions Competition invites organizations to submit their best beverage repurposing solution (utilizing repurposed ingredients for a beverage, or beverage surplus into a repurposed recipe) for a competition culminating at the Menus of Change Leadership Summit, June 2nd-4th, at the CIA’s Hyde Park campus. More details Press Release Champagne, France: Caroline Henry dives into the data and argues that an innovative approach to complying with ANSES restrictions on copper use may be more effective than contesting the decision in the long run. Terroir Champagne As has been widely covered in industry news, the French Agency for Sanitary Security (ANSES) evaluated 22 copper-based fungicides used in viticulture and only reapproved 2 of them – Heliocuivre and Champ Flo Ampli – adding several restrictions to their use. The European Union (EU) extended the 2019 copper regulations till 2029, knocking France out of alignment with the rest of the bloc. On March 31st, the administrative court of Melun ruled in favor of Cosaco GmbH, temporarily restoring access to the company’s 4 banned products for wine makers. The judges gave ANSES 2 months to review their evaluation of Funguran Oh, Funguran-Oh 300 SC (that were completely banned), Kocide Opti and Kocide 2000 (banned in viticulture, but allowed for other crops), stating that “removal of these products for use in viticulture may not be legal since there is not enough data to state that these products are harmful to vineyard workers.” Copper is the only authorized fungicide against downy mildew available to organic growers. There is no denying that copper is a heavy metal that can be highly toxic to its environment (soil, air, water, animals, and humans in the vineyard). Copper is a contact fungicide that requires repeated applications to be effective. She notes that because of its toxic nature, copper has long been the Achilles’ heel of organic viticulture, and it is regularly used to discredit its ecological ideals and principles. It may therefore not be so bad to be forced by ANSES to comply with stricter regulations and further reduce the use of cupric fungicides in organic vineyards. [ Terroir Champagne The Copper Quandary Last year, on July 15th, the French Agency for Sanitary Security (ANSES) evaluated 22 copper-based fungicides used in viticulture and only reapproved 2 of them – Heliocuivre and Champ Flo Ampli – adding several restrictions to their use. While some restrictions – e.g. the maximum amount allowed per hectare per year – are aligned with European restrictions set in 2019, there are others – e.g. a usage ban during flowering, and restrictions on treatment intervals -that will significantly complicate downy mildew protection for organic growers if they will also be applied to the remaining cupric products up for reevaluation (17 according to the Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin (IFV)) later this year… Read more 4 days ago · 4 likes · Caroline Henry ]( https://terroirchampagne.substack.com/p/the-copper-quandary?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web ) Global: Inside Winemaking podcast has an episode with viticulturist Patrick Riggs of Jack Neal & Sons Vineyard Management, who dives deep into the realities of organic farming in Napa Valley . Livermore Valley, CA: Wente Family Estates announced the launch of a major new solar energy initiative across its California operations . Press release via Wine Industry Advisor The project, in partnership with Regatta Solutions, features a 4.3 MWdc solar system.