Says our editor: Hey, it's always important to have a nice, strong base coat.

* Said Paul Leary of Napa Valley's Blackbird Vineyards: "Mother Nature gives us something new each year...

ZD makes a small but always dependable line of wines, most of which are absolutely wonderful with food upon release.

So it would make perfect sense for ZD to host a series of cooking classes. And that's exactly what the winery is doing this fall...

Why?

Because the area's marginal climate can turn cold at anytime, and in the past, that has necessitated picking grapes earlier than would be desired. Grapes that are not fully ripened produce wines that are not as flavorful...

"We are very pleased with this year's results," said Auction of Washington Wines Executive Director Carol Munro. "Our donors and patrons are committed to supporting Seattle Children's, and continue to demonstrate their loyalty through our events."

A Barrel Auction and Picnic with the Winemakers raised...

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...

The couple produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from single-vineyard sites in the Napa Valley, Carneros and the Sonoma Coast appellations. The Auberts will start moving into the 8,000-square-foot winery in January.

"Teresa and I have dreamed of establishing a permanent home for our winery...

"California has long been known for our production of superior, award-winning wines," said Gov. Schwarzenegger in his proclamation. "The Judgment of Paris in 1976 brought California wine to the world stage and established our wine producers as respected masters of their craft...

It's the Plaza Wine Bar, which has opened in the back of the Plaza Bistro restaurant.

Restaurateur Martin Chavez is the man behind the project, and he knows a thing or two about wine...

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...

But no matter how you spell it, a new wine resort is coming to the U.S./Canadian border.

It's a joint effort involving...