Here's your chance to learn what it's like to judge wines on the competition circuit. Martha and I will be replicating the steps involved in judging wine on the competition circuit. Saturday's event is free, but reservations are required: wineshop.cgdiarie.com/become-a-win...

DIY first-aid station, at Friday's Auction Napa Valley barrel tasting.

The wine culture in California's Sierra foothills long has struggled to establish its credentials for fine wine, a challenge complicated by the many issues facing the industry today around the globe: www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/ar...

Just offering a helping hand to the languishing wine trade: signaturewines.us/stop-frettin...

Floating a few suggestions here about how the wine trade can revive interest among consumers: signaturewines.us/stop-frettin...

For perspective, consider Wislawa Szymborska...

No one is saying that wine competitions account for the current doldrums of the wine trade, but if competition directors and vintners worked on an upgrade the judgings could have a positive impact on a rebound: signaturewines.us/vintage-2025...

I hadn't seen El Dorado County grape grower and winemaker for years, but his newly published memoir, "Confessions of a Winemaker," gave us an opportunity to catch up: signaturewines.us/brian-fitzpa...

What you really don't want to see while motoring through Amador County's Shenandoah Valley on a December day - grapes still on the vine, abandoned this vintage, a sign of soft demand and overproduction. And not one isolated vine, but an entire vineyard.

Time to rethink Sacramento's contributions to the California wine scene: signaturewines.us/sacramento-c...

Is this allowable on Bluesky? Guess I soon will find out: signaturewines.us/houston-rode...