Last night was President Barack Obama’s first State Dinner and amid the pomp and circumstance the most pressing question for Wine Country – naturally -- is what were the dignitaries sipping.

A bottle of wine in a blind tasting is protected from bias. But a bottle on a shelf is vulnerable to our preconceived notions. I confess. I used to be a biased wine drinker.

A latke bar? You bet. At Judd’s Hill in Napa there will be a lake bar, award winning wines and Jewish surf music as part of the winery’s Hanukkah Hootenanny celebration Dec. 13.

With a couple of weeks to spare before dressing the bird, it’s a great time to acquaint (or reacquaint) yourself with gewürztraminer, the rock star of Thanksgiving wines. What gives it rock star status? It’s the most versatile, pairing with turkey, dressing, yams and yes, even pumpkin pie.

Sip wine in a cave? There’s nothing quite like uncorking a bottle of wine in a cave, a colossal wine cellar. The hot new book – “Into The Earth: A Wine Cave Renaissance” – gives you a peek at some of the most striking caves in Napa Valley, some of which are not open to the public.

Is your palate politically-minded? If so, you’ll be interested to knowing there’s now a Feminist Wine Club for those who want to support women winemakers and causes in one fell swoop – make that one fell sip.

John Cleese, who has made the world laugh with his friends in Monty Python, said having lunch with the Queen of England was a palate-changing experience. The Queen served two refreshing German whites and Cleese had to question his preference for luscious wines. Did that put Cleese in a quandary? A confusing moment for the man behind the “Wine for the Confused” videos? You bet.

If you’re short on cash, luckily your palate doesn’t have to suffer. In a new book out called Wine Secrets I found some great advice for the budget-conscious. It’s simple enough. Just keep an eye on what the top restaurants are pouring by the glass because wine buyers are searching for the best values here.

Corked is a 90-minute mockumentary that pokes fun at Wine Country, the pomp and circumstance of living among the vines. The irreverent flick will be screened at the at the Rome Film Fest, which begins this Thursday. Take a peek at the trailer at the website: www.corkedthemovie.com.

The million-dollar question right now in Wine Country is why the judges of the Sonoma County Harvest Fair wine competition haven’t named a runner up to replace the sweepstakes red after the Adler Fels’ pinot was disqualified.