CABs of Distinction Serves 1,000 Attendees its Inaugural Year

At least 9,000 fans came out for the first day of the inaugural four-day festival taking over the 26-acre Napa Expo, said Groves-Tracy. The single-day capacity is around 35,000.

In addition to a trendy focus on direct sales to consumers, his company has an unusual financing model and disdain for many practices held almost sacred in Napa Valley. That includes a focus on brands, pretentiousness, expensive packaging - and high prices.

Boisset Family Estates says its California wineries, Raymond Vineyards and DeLoach Vineyards, will be 100 percent solar powered with the completion of solar installations this summer; and Raymond Vineyard's Napa Valley estate vineyards in Rutherford and St. Helena became certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers and certified biodynamic by Demeter USA.

ONEHOPE, a California-based social enterprise with products like ONEHOPE Wine, ONEHOPE Coffee & Tea, Hope at Home, and ONEHOPE Weddings, is to expand its portfolio of wines with the addition of Pinot Noir.

Here are five women from Santa Barbara wine country simultaneously raising babes and barrels.

Lodi is looking to brand itself as a tourist destination, and now it has rolled out a new campaign with a slogan and logo.

The United States Department of Agriculture has declared San Luis Obispo County an agricultural disaster area due to a recent drought.

Group hopes Assembly resolution sways growers to maintain old vineyards

Lodi tourism experts revealed its new brand at its annual luncheon Tuesday, displaying a marketing campaign they hope will let people from out of town know that, yes, Lodi is a burgeoning wine region but also much more.

Privately owned Mueller Winery has announced the sale of their Starr Road winery facility in Windsor, California. The sale, which was finalized last week, does not include the Mueller brand, wine inventory or grape contracts.

In honor of its 40th anniversary the winery recognizes the importance of its long-time workforce.

Mumm and the SF Giants have now teamed up to create two new Napa Valley sparkling wines. The new wines are licensed by Wine by Design, the official wine licensee for Major League Baseball Properties.

Ridge Vineyards, one of California's premier wineries, recently announced that beginning with the 2011 vintage, its labels will list ingredients and "actions" taken in producing the wines. This move by such a high-profile winery could encourage others to list ingredients and heighten consumer awareness of the use of additives and modern techniques in winemaking.

"It's a really great, everyday bottle of wine."

Almost every grower or winemaker wants a piece.

The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (www.svgreatschools.org) has welcomed the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors. Ed Lowe, Les Vadasz and Tim Wallace bring a wealth of experience in education to the foundation.

Family Winemakers of California (FWC) and Stonebridge Research Group LLC have been awarded an Emerging Market Program grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a roadmap on how to sell California fine wines in the Chinese market.

Two Upvalley wineries have attracted the wrath of Napa County officials who allege the companies do not have the proper permits, according to separate complaints filed in Napa County Superior Court.

When not making Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot at Wrath, archaeologist Michael Thomas leads a team that discovered a wine "négociant" outside Pompeii.