Quick: Which sector employs more people: Oil & gas extraction, coal, or solar?  Surprise: It's solar, despite the fact that the US government provides about $700 billion annually in subsidies for fossils.

                 As in many other areas, New York State is a leader and a trend-setter that other states watch.  We're already 7th in total installed solar capacity (despite a non-Arizona-like climate), with the NY Sun Initiative making a big push for more, and Governor Andrew Cuomo's directive to the Public Services Commission to make New York 50% renewable energy by 2030 target a mandatory goal.

                 The wine industry is ripe for the development of solar and other renewable energy sources, as shown by wineries that have already taken initiatives and many more that came to a recent conference organized by Suzanne Hunt, owner of HuntGreen LLC and a nationally known expert on renewable energy.  She brought together some renewable energy providers, lending institutions, and representatives from wineries which have already converted in order to give others a total picture.  We were happy to co-sponsor the event, and continue to support her efforts.

                  As a follow-up, she created a 9-page primer on renewable energy including international, national and state trends; solar basics and major steps in going solar; finance options; geothermal basics; contact information of renewable energy installers and financial institutions, and more.  It's a great way to get started, and we're circulating it to all New York wineries.

                  Obviously, it's a good feeling when a business takes steps to improve the earth's environment, but the real attraction is just old-fashioned money.  If you do it right, going solar can save big bucks starting in a reasonably short time, and then forever.  Not a bad payback.

                  Oh, and by the way, the cost of solar panels has dropped by 95% since 2008.

                  Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the huge arena that is home to the Brooklyn Nets and New York Islanders as well as a major concert venue, will soon include a first-ever Taste NY Bar featuring New York wines and other craft beverages.

                   This is just the latest initiative of Governor Andrew Cuomo's Taste NY program, and will expose about two million visitors annually to New York wines, beers, and spirits while raising the profile of craft beverage producers and stimulating economic growth across the state.  This partnership grew out of the third Governor's Wine, Beer, Spirits & Cider Summit last October as part of his ongoing commitment to support the State's fast-growing craft beverage industry.

                    The Taste NY Bar is right next to the main entrance on the main concourse, a prime location.  It will be promoted by Taste NY branded messaging on more than 700 HDTVs and LED displays in concession areas and throughout the venue, including the arena bowl and on the Oculus--a 3,000 square foot LED marquee outside the main entrance.  The Taste NY Bar will also be featured on BCTV, a custom in-arena video network featuring original content about the arena's events and the Brooklyn community.

                       Beverage producers will also have opportunities to host hospitality and networking seminars with distributors.  Barclays Center can seat up to 19,000, has 101 luxury suites, four bars/lounges, and four clubs.  In short, the Taste NY partnership with Barclays Center will help increase sales and promotion of New York wines. 

                  International Eastern Wine Competition, Riesling Champion, and East v. West form a competition conglomerate where I judged last week in Santa Rosa, and while they have not yet released the results (maybe later this week), I know that New York wines did well, as they have consistently done in the past.

                   Decades ago, Bill and Hope Moffett created the IEWC in upstate New York, and then added a special Riesling competition within the competition.  When the judging was moved to the west coast several years ago, it was combined with a new, concurrent Western Wine Competition (with different judges). At the end, the best of the east and best of the west in various varietal categories are tasted off by all the judges.  It's very interesting, lots of fun, and extremely well run.

                   "Sip & Shop" is something that a Michigan grocery store chain, Busch's Fresh Food Market, wants to add to its selection of wines, beers and foods in the shopping aisles.  Basically, it will mean that customers can buy a glass of wine or beer and either enjoy it at the wine bar or take it with them as they shop.  What a great idea!

                    Actually, it's not new.  Grocery stores across the US have added by-the-glass wine and beer, including at least 70 Whole Foods stores (nearly 20% of its locations).  In addition, Kroger, Target and other chains have added this new pleasant convenience for their shoppers; and Starbucks Evenings features wine, making for happy customers.

                    Innovative marketing concepts like these are a "win" for everyone: the businesses increase their profits, the consumers have more options, the wine industry sells more wine, and (let us not forget) the government gets more taxes.

                     Agri-tourism has been a buzz word and concept for at least a decade, and John Martini of Anthony Road Winery was part of panel at the recent Unified Symposium in California.  As he described, New York wineries have been doing agri-tourism in many forms for many years, probably before the phrase was even coined.

                      Examples: Wine sales at not-for-profit farmers' markets; the "Winery Garden" at their facility; wine trails whose events typically feature other local food products; cheese, maple, and beer trails which have followed the wine example; "locavore"-focused winery restaurants; the New York Wine & Culinary Center; our NY Drinks NY program featuring local foods with our wines; and New York Farm Day in Washington, which includes lots of foods and beverages from throughout the State.

                      Tourism is the lifeblood of the New York wine industry, which in turn generates lots of "wine country" visits (over 5.3 million annually), which is another win-win situation.

                       Wine: the economic engine.