We reported a few days ago that a former Australian wine broker was busted for selling Chardonnay juice that was really only about 20 percent Chardonnay, watered down with a much less expensive and lower quality grape variety.

Now comes word that Chinese counterfeiters are bottling "knock-offs" of well-known Australian wine brands, putting who-knows-what in the bottle and then adding a label claiming the wine is from a known Aussie wine estate...

If you're Andrew Hashin of Rivers Wine in Australia, you do it by selling Chardonnay juice, but diluting it with juice from Sultana grapes - which cost about a fourth as much as Chardonnay grapes...

"Larry's rich background and experience make him uniquely suited to lead our enterprise and pursue our vision that terroir is all about the vineyard, winery and table," said Mark Tarlov, CEO and founder of Evening Land Vineyard. "We know Larry will take us to new levels in the industry."

Stone's appointment signals a major strategic step forward for Evening Land...

Now, Chalk Hill has a new owner: Bill Foley, who over the past 15 years has founded one winery and acquired 10 others.

Foley made his money in insurance, but these days he's making his mark in the wine business...

The sale includes brands, inventory and land, including Chateau Magnol. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed...

Next, several companies developed alternative bottle closures. Over time, the screwcap became the preferred alternative.

Then, seeing their market share and livelihoods threatened, growers of cork trees began to fight back....

Beckstoffer serves as the 19th President of the NVG, an organization that began in 1975 and today boasts more than 550 members.

Beckstoffer noted the important role that he, as President, will play in the continued growth of the NVG...

So-named because of the imposing lightning-struck redwood tree that guards the hillside vineyard, Monument Tree is the main source of the Twomey Cellars Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, as well as critically-acclaimed wines from producers such as Copain Wines, Drew and Couloir Wines.

As key component of Twomey's portfolio, the vineyard is featured on a new Google Earth video...

     That assertion extends to the world of wine, and some just-released statistics lend some credence.

     For most of the 20th century, the United States was the leading importer of Bordeaux wines outside of Europe...

     Constellation Brands, believed to be the largest wine company by volume, has sold New York's Widmer Winery.

     Widmer was a big name in New York wine during the early 1900s. But its star descended in the 1970s as California wines caught on...