Wine and Wineries

For a wine to be called Zinfandel or any other varietal name, it must contain at least 75% wine from that grape. Historic vineyards that planted Zin with a mix of other grapes for balance can’t use the varietal on their labels.

He became a sensation among young baby boomers as the ‘King of the Wild Frontier.’ He then went on to become a Santa Barbara hotel developer and Santa Ynez winery owner.

A proposal would allow weddings to be held at wineries in Napa Valley.

Garretson Wines, Sauvignon Republic and Havens Winery were begun with high hopes. Now they’re sour-grape memories.

About 40 wineries will be pouring at the event, which will be held April 18 at the Palm Garden at the Island Hotel.

The Golden State is home to nearly 3,000 wineries. Here are some starting points for sifting through them.

Long-isolated vintners who specialize in Albariño are finally sharing the grape’s success with the world.

Author Vivienne Sosnowski now has different images of the 1920s.

Wineries, importers and wholesalers are embracing direct-sale sites that can make inventories vanish in a matter of hours.

His focus on quality in growing wine grapes helped lead to one of California’s first vineyard-designated wines.

Let’s agree to set aside the grim recessionary landscape for the moment: The time has come for bubbles.

The Washington region, once dotted with a few vintners, has exploded with wineries making Syrahs, Cabernets and Bordeaux-style blends bursting with intriguing flavors, including Pepper Bridge, Abeja,

San Diego’s Ballast Point is among a handful of breweries crafting whiskey, rum and other concoctions. ‘It’s really a form of advanced brewing,’ says one enthusiast.

These distinctive modern wines made from ancient grape varieties are now more widely available in the U.S.

The academic publisher takes a risk with William Ausmus’ ‘Wines & Wineries of California’s Central Coast,’ as commercial publishers scale back on the book category.

Does boccie improve wine tasting, or maybe wine improves boccie? Northern California wineries give you the chance to find out.

The label produces wines made with the white grape from the Russian River, New Zealand, South Africa and Mendocino, with more on the way.

Decades after the pioneer winemaker made his mark, success in the region has become tricky.

Alice Feiring, Neal I. Rosenthal and Sergio Esposito affirm the importance of the grape.

Acreage is scarce, the climate’s tricky and water is an issue. So — why not make wine?

Cabernet Franc has long been a blending wine in France. West Coast producers are exploring it now too.

If the TTB’s John Manfreda has his way, the name on your bottle might mean something totally different, and the label will pack nutritional info, allergen warnings and a list of ingredients. Grapes? We hope.

They’d rather Google ‘Rhone’ than read Wine Spectator. And they’re more excited about a racy Argentine Malbec than a tried-and-true California Cab. The industry has noticed.

A conference in Barcelona looks at the effects of global climate change on the world of wine.

Perfect conditions in 2006 mean now is the time to discover the yin and yang of this vibrant white wine.

Finicky grapes? ‘Nutty’ winery practices? Winemakers with a mission make some great value-priced Pinots.

CALIFORNIA Winter Passport Program and Wine & Crab Taste-Off On passport day, Jan. 19, more than 40 wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains -- including some smaller establishments normally closed to visitors -- open their doors for tours and tastes.

Cheese, chocolates and massages at a luxury hotel. Who needs to hit the grape trail?

Nervous about a future without immigrant workers to pick the grapes, vintners flirt with mechanical harvesters.

The purchase of Firestone Vineyards is more about the distribution than the wine.

If you’re looking for the region’s terroir, seek out wines made from grapes from these exciting up-and-comers.

Behold the prettiest wineries, and unpack a September spread that benefits from the drive.

Why Zin lovers are flocking to this grape-growing hub

The ups and downs of an eight-hour tour around Santa Cruz

Like B&Bs, only better.

Time Stands Still. Or seems to.

A fanciful castle-winery appears in Northern California, a dozen years and multimillions of dollars in the making. And it comes with history.

A self-guided winery tour around the scenic island leads to adventure and some cool discoveries.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fans can explore the relatively undiscovered delights of Santa Cruz Mountain wineries.

Wine grapes thrive in the warmth and sun -- a vintner’s dream climate. It’s a lovely place to sniff, sip, swish, savor and swallow.

A Washington farm town with a funny name is becoming a destination spot, thanks to its bustling wine industry, upscale new restaurants and historic inns.

Nothing brings men together like the chance to share one another’s company — and wine cellar. On this night, director Jefery Levy and his pals taste their way through world-famous Australian wines.