Citing safety violations that lead to a worker’s death in August, Trinchero Family Estates has been fined $44,575 by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), according to the Napa Valley Register.
On Aug. 31, 2016, Jose Alberto Avina, a 43-year-old cellar worker, was crushed while unloading metal barrel racks from a truck at Joel Gott Wines, 2055 Hoffman Lane in Napa. Trinchero Family Estates owns and operates Joel Gott Wines.
According to his obituary, Avina was married and had four children. He was laid to rest in Mexico.
Trinchero Family Estates did not return requests for a comment to the newspaper. Calls and emails from Wine Enthusiast also were unanswered.
Avina was unable to jump out of the path of the falling stack of racks and was struck and pinned under the racks on the asphalt parking surface, the newspaper said citing the OSHA report. Avina’s torso was crushed when the racks fell on him, the OSHA report added.
Napa Farmworker Support Bill Passes Senate Committee
A bill that would secure the first state funding for Napa’s farmworker housing program while allowing the county’s grape growers to assess themselves at a higher rate than current legislation permits, was voted out of a Senate committee early Thursday. The legislation sponsored by State Sen. Bill Dodd (D) passed by a vote of 6-2.
The added funding would support the county’s three farmworker housing centers, which host a total 180 workers and are operated now with an annual deficit that the county erases with funds from other sources, a spokesman for Dodd said.
A similar measure was introduced in the lower chamber by Assembly Member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D).
SIP On This
Chamisal Vineyards in Edna Valley, California has achieved the Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified seal for their entire winery. Chamisal Vineyards, located about 190 miles north of Los Angeles, is the second California winery to be recognized through this third-party sustainability program. The first, Niner Wine Estates in San Luis Obispo, was certified last year, according to SIP’s website.
SIP Certified has certified vineyards since 2008, and expanded its independent, third-party verification scope to include wineries in 2015.
Constellation Brands Dividend Expected To Rise
Constellation Brands Inc., the company behind Corona and Modelo beer, is expected to lift its dividend next week by 17.5 percent to $0.47 a quarter, according to research firm IHS Markit. The forecasted boost would bring the company’s dividend yield to 1.15 percent, from just under 1 percent.
“Since initiating its dividend in 2015, Constellation Brands has distributed 25 percent of net income to its shareholders. Management explicitly mentioned in the last investor meeting that they expect for dividends to grow at a rate greater than 10 percent on average over the next three fiscal years,” IHS analyst Roberto Soares wrote in a research note earlier this week.
Shares of Constellation Brands continued their slide on Thursday even as the broader markets gained. Constellation Brands’ shares closed at $162.43, down $1.26 or 0.77 percent.
The stock has been under pressure since the presidential election as investors worry about the impact of Trump Administration trade proposals.
Dark ‘N Stormy News Sends Shares of Castle Brands Higher
Castle Brands Inc. a developer and international marketer of premium and super-premium branded spirits, said Thursday that it acquired an additional 20.1% stake in Gosling-Castle Partners Inc. (“GCP”), its strategic global export venture with the Gosling family.
The news sent Castle’s shares up nearly 20 percent, before they dropped to end the day on the New York Stock Exchange at $1.50, up 0.14 or 10.29 percent.
GCP holds the exclusive, long-term export and distribution rights for Goslings Rum and Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer for all countries other than Bermuda. The transaction increases Castle Brands ownership of GCP to 80.1% and will enable consolidation for tax purposes.
A ‘Dark ‘n Stormy’ cocktail, a US Trademark of Goslings, is a highball made with dark rum and ginger beer over ice.
Published: March 31, 2017
