"Liking a wine has nothing to do with whether it is good. Liking a wine has to do with liking that wine, period."

     MacNeil goes on to suggest that wine requires two assessments, one subjective and...

     "It's thin-skinned, cranky and pretty much needs more care."

     Located 30 minutes north of...

     And now, thanks to a new Web site developed by Adam Lee of Siduri Wines and Brian Loring of Loring Wine Company, Pinot Noir lovers everywhere will have front row seats to the wine industry's annual grape picking marathon.

     PinotHarvest.com, the first-ever Pinot Noir-focused grower and winemaker group blog, went live on August 20 with harvest reports from...

     A 22nd-generation Prosecco producer, he is hoping Prosecco's growing international renown will help his fizz gain ground over pricier Champagne. Prosecco production has grown to 150 million bottles from 5 million a year in 40 years, mainly driven by demand for exports to Germany and the United States.

     Now, its makers aim to increase production to 250 million bottles, moving it closer to the world's leading bubbly. France last year produced a...

     In a circular letter posted on the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau Web site, the agency now is requiring that all importers of Brunello submit "a statement from the Italian government attesting that Brunello di Montalcino meets the requirements of the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and...

     For the recent dinner honoring Pope Benedict XVI's first visit to the United States as pope, the dinner wine was a Sonoma County Chardonnay.

     According to the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery's rich, oak-aged 2005 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay was the wine of choice. It also was a...

     Or a football player with Brett Favre as your dad.

     Talk about high expectations...

     (No, we're not talking about some dude named Zinfandel with a dark tan, Moss Lipow sunglasses and a rad sports car; we're referring to the winegrape known as Zinfandel.)

     Obviously, ampelographers knew the variety - a member of the vitus vinifera species - had to have originated in Europe. But with its heritage shrouded in mystery, Californians promoted the grape as an...

       Especially for one raised on Welch's grape juice, the first sip of wine can be a daunting experience. There's no grape flavor, even the small amount of alcohol can seem harsh at first, and there's little, if any, sweetness. That last factor can...

     The association also welcomed its first members from Massachusetts (Red Oak Winery in Middleton) and Arizona (Jerome Winery in Jerome) in 2007.

     "I think it's fitting that our 200th member is Revolution Winery," said Julie Weinstock, Meritage Association chairman, "because when we...