Wine Livermore Valley Named Wine Enthusiast’s ‘Wine Region of the Year’ Chris Lehoux, October 22, 2026 Livermore Valley has been named Wine Enthusiast’s “Wine Region of the Year,” recognizing a region whose influence includes the spread of Concannon cabernet sauvignon clones and the Wente chardonnay clone across the Western United States. The news came as the Tri-Valley celebrated its wine and food scene at the 24th… Continue Reading
California Cult Bubbles and More: The Latest from Ultramarine and Cruse Wine Co. Chris Lehoux, October 22, 2026 Michael Cruse’s winemaking is guided by a rare mix of scientific curiosity and a practical goal: making bottles people want to open. Trained in molecular biology at UC Berkeley, he worked in academic labs before moving into wine. After gaining experience in Napa, he set up his own custom-crush facility… Continue Reading
Wine NBA Star CJ McCollum and His Wife Take Wine Seriously—Their Family Vineyard Proves It Chris Lehoux, October 21, 2026 C.J. McCollum’s life as an NBA player may seem far removed from running a vineyard, but the Atlanta Hawks guard sees a lot in common between the two. Both demand patience, hard work and attention to detail—and both require adapting to factors beyond your control. McCollum and his wife, Elise,… Continue Reading
Wine Good Wine, No Bottle Required Chris Lehoux, October 20, 2026 For generations, boxed and bagged wine has been associated with inexpensive, mass-market bottles. Now, producers are trying to change that reputation by putting carefully made, distinctive wines into flexible pouches with built-in taps. Chicago beverage consultant Dylan Melvin, co-founder of My Dear Friends, sells small-production wines from family-owned growers in… Continue Reading
Happenings Wine News: What I’m Reading the Week of October 18, 2026 Chris Lehoux, October 20, 2026 Welcome to this week’s roundup of wine stories worth your time, gathered from around the web. Wine: It’s the People’s Drink — A reflection on wine’s role in bringing people together. Pedro Parra: We need to replant Burgundy, the system isn’t working — Burgundy faces a rootstock crisis as drought… Continue Reading
Burgundy Burgundy Comes to San Francisco: Notes from La Paulée Chris Lehoux, October 19, 2026 San Francisco rarely offers the chance to taste top Burgundy wines. Many are scarce, expensive, and snapped up by collectors, restaurants, and retailers without needing promotion. When they do appear at public tastings, the winemakers themselves are often absent. That made the Grand Tasting at La Paulée de San Francisco… Continue Reading
Wine Move Over, Champagne: Ultra-Aged American Sparkling Wine Is Here Chris Lehoux, October 19, 2026 American wineries are increasingly releasing sparkling wines aged for years on their lees—the yeast cells left behind after fermentation. This extended aging can give the wines greater complexity and a creamy texture, with flavors such as brioche, shortbread, and toasted nuts. Some bottles spend five to seven years aging this… Continue Reading
Wine 6 Clever Ways to Reuse Wine Corks You Probably Haven’t Thought Of Chris Lehoux, October 18, 2026 Wine corks can pile up in a drawer, but they’re also handy materials for simple crafts and household fixes. Here are six ways to put them to use: Place-card holders Cut a shallow slit lengthwise into a cork and slide in a place card. For a more polished look, add… Continue Reading
Wine From Wine Grapes to Raisins: A Former Winemaker’s New Venture Puts Them to the Taste Test Chris Lehoux, October 17, 2026 As wine becomes less profitable, a former Napa farmer is finding a new use for wine grapes: turning them into raisins. The raisins are sold under the label The Wine RayZyn Co. Wine grapes aren’t typically used to make raisins, so The Sacramento Bee’s food team sampled the product in… Continue Reading
Alder Yarrow Vinography Images: The Altar Chris Lehoux, October 16, 2026 A mysterious artifact stands behind the winery at Mateus Nicolau de Almeida in Portugal’s Douro Superior. Nearby, old vines cover a hillside, while the rooftops of Vila Nova de Foz Côa appear just beyond it. Douro Superior is the highest-elevation part of the Douro wine region, which follows the Douro… Continue Reading