As the Rocky fire rages, vintner Ryan Zepaltas is tracking its every move; he wants to make sure the Lake County vineyard he sources fruit from is not in its path. So far the 20-acre vineyard of sauvignon blanc grapes hasn’t gone up in flames. But the vines could still [...]

If there were really a God, wouldn’t the Almighty tell us to chase our dreams and then cut a check to cover the costs? Well that divine check hasn’t come yet for many of us, including some vintners. With Wine Country’s recent flurry of buyouts from the cash strapped, it [...]

The cadre of America’s wealthiest men gathered at the Bohemian Grove are fans of local. “Typically if it’s not local, they don’t want it,” said John Haggard, the owner and wine buyer of Sophie’s Cellars in Duncan Mills. Haggard knows the whims of these highbrow campers because this year he [...]

The inaugural Wind to Wine Festival Grand Tasting is Aug. 8, and it will give people a chance to sniff and sip the wind, if they’re so inclined. Before we delve into the particulars about how wind can shape a terroir, here are the details about the upcoming event: The [...]

Do you have rosé-colored glasses? It appears Americans – across the board – do. Rosé is one of the hottest bottlings, experiencing unprecedented growth. According to Nielsen, rosé increased sales nationally by 40.5% in the last 4 weeks, and 34.7% over this time last year. With this rosé mania in mind, enthusiasts won’t want [...]

Surprise was the hot commodity at this year’s Auction Napa Valley, with John Legend taking the stage and performing “All of Me.” Expressions on people’s faces shifted from shock to delight. To capture the color of the auction weekend – the hijinks, the humor, the bidding mentality – here’s this [...]

Word just in … the new Real Reality T.V. Show "Best Bottle" is looking for winemakers – established and aspiring -- who can show their mettle and make the tastiest wine. First season is California vs. Oregon where two teams compete against each other to find America's new Rock-Star Winemaker. [...]

If you didn’t snag a ticket to Auction Napa Valley, there’s still a way to experience it from the comfort of your own home. The E-Auction is open for bidding at auctionnapavalley.org for good deed wine-lovers across the globe. Bidding will last nearly a week, with the E-Auction closing in waves starting [...]

Check out the Historic Tool Museum at Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma. It's open this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Here's a Q&A with vintner Jean-Charles Boisset for a deeper look at this unusual museum. Q: What's the most significant aspect of this tool museum? A: [...]

David Ramey is the vintner behind our wine-of-the-week winner – Sidebar, 2014 High Valley Sauvignon Blanc at $25. In this Q&A Ramey gives us a closer look at Ramey Wine Cellars’ new brand that kicked off with the 2014 vintage. Aside from the sauvignon blanc, there’s also a 2014 Kerner, [...]