No final numbers yet but estimates reveal about 20,000 people came to the Wine Road Barrel Tasting, an event that had people sipping two weekends running in March, the ritual that still conjures up images of mustard fields, swanky limos and yes, big honkin’ buses.

Keller, arguably the number one chef in America, is fond of Vinnie Cilurzo’s brews. So fond, in fact, that he hired the brewmaster and co-owner of Santa Rosa’s Russian River Brewing Company, to brew a pilsner called the White Apron exclusively for Keller.

Michael Sebastiani and Paul Giusto were running a half marathon, a race snaking through the Sonoma Square with stations set up with water, energy drinks and yes, wine. Giusto said, “Hey man, there’s some wine. I’m going to have some.” In Wine Country, even the finish line can wait for a good sip.

Ernie Weir(CQ) was six-years old when he first tasted his grandfather’s special Passover blend – one half seltzer water, one half Manischewitz. Did he like the concoction?

Bubbly goes green. The environmentally-devout sipper will appreciate this eco newsflash: The organization that represents the Champagne houses and Champagne growers is officially launching a new standard bottle to cut the region’s carbon emissions.

Barrel tasting today? Get camera ready. Promoters of the Wine Road Barrel Tasting will be tooling around in a small plane, circling overhead between 2 and 3:30 p.m. today, to do an aerial photo shoot of the wineries and crowds.

After six years of uncorking wine for visitors, with Gina Gallo occasionally popping in, the winery has decided not to renew its lease to pour wines on the Healdsburg Plaza.

With another round of barrel tasting this weekend, I thought I’d check in with head poobah Beth Costa to see if there were any surprises at last weekend’s event -- or any headaches -- behind the scenes. But before we chat it up with Costa, check out the Wine Road’s video. While it’s clearly a promotional tool, it captures the event. http://bit.ly/aV0kwo

The Wine Road Barrel Tasting resumes this Friday, Saturday and Sunday so I thought I’d check in to see in with head poobah Beth Costa to see if there were any surprises at last weekend’s event -- or any headaches. But before we chat it up with Costa, check out the Wine Road’s video. While it’s clearly a promotional tool, it captures the event. http://bit.ly/aV0kwo

Sonoma Valley wines are in the limelight and they have a savvy stage.