The most memorable wine-related event of 2008 also was the most forgettable -- not to mention embarrassing.

     It involved Wine Spectator magazine presenting an award of excellence to Osteria L'Intrepido, a restaurant in Milan, Italy.

     Only one problem:...

     Look, even though he works only one night per year, Santa has a tough gig. Not only is he tasked with delivering toys to good little boys and girls all around the world within a single 24-hour period, but he also is compelled to consume literally tons of cookies and tens of thousands of gallons of milk.

     Truth be told, by the time Santa gets around to the ever so humble Johnson abode, he's ready for anything but...

     1. Resolve to venture outside your vinous comfort zone.

     If you're as Chardonnay drinker, try Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc or Pinot Grigio or some other white variety. If you're a Merlot drinker, give Cabernet Sauvignon or...    

     A few of our favorite Ella songs...

     Within just a few months, that country's entire appellation system could be overhauled, the result of a joint effort involving the government and winegrowers.

     In a nutshell, the intention is to get much more precise about the origins of any particular bottle of wine. Right now, a vast... 

     He's also a runner.

     And he's proposing that a 22-mile hiking and biking trail be developed in America's most...

     If you'd care to put a positive spin on that news, the average cost per person will be up a mere 23-and-a-half cents.

     Here's how the costs stack up...

     The time of year when "time" seems to take over our lives. There simply isn't enough of it.

     The holiday decorations are up in all of the department stores, which are hoping for a...

     I didn't have a ticket to the main gathering area of the park, so I headed for the non-ticketed area where Jumbotrons were set up for all to watch. Regardless of one's politics - and I have no intention of revealing mine here - it was an unforgettable evening.

     It was history...

     Buying a holiday gift for a wine lover can be daunting, since personal taste plays such a prominent role in wine enjoyment. With that mind, we offer a few gift ideas that should please anyone who is "into" wine... or getting into wine...