Off-premise wine sales data increased 4.8 percent from the same period of the previous year in the 4 weeks ending March 31, 2012, according to The Nielsen Company-tracked data.

"We're seeing more new faces in our tasting room," said LCWA vice-chair Gregory Graham, owner and winemaker of Gregory Graham Wines, "and they're making the trip to be here," noting that many new visitors are from the surrounding regions - but also from out of state.

The auction was for the rights to sell liquor at each of the 167 locations. The winners still must get liquor licenses, arrange lease agreements and buy inventory.

Bud break occurring throughout California wine regions

The question many growers and consultants were asking is which materials they should be using for powdery mildew control.

Businessman and avid wine enthusiast established one of Napa's leading sparkling wine houses

Global Package LLC announced the recent addition of a new burgundy bottle-the Claire-to its Elegant Light line of bottles.

Shirley brings a wealth of both academic and practical winery experience to JUSTIN, with prior posts at The Hess Collection and Opus One.

Leading French bank takes a sizable stake in seven châteaus, helping secure future of the properties

Liv-ex's trade survey has revealed that its members predict little demand for the new vintage and rated Lafite as the major disappointment.

Wine Australia is ditching its annual trade tasting in 2013, and will now hold the event once every two years.

An online public auction of Washington's state-run liquor stores ends Friday, but the winners won't be announced until Monday.

Since California is similarly enjoying a Chardonnay revival ( sfg.ly/vxCOuI) why not check out progress from a New World counterpart?

"We know how to enjoy life really, really well, probably better than most."

The provincial liquor monopoly is abandoning its decades-old system of describing the dryness of a wine by a numerical system of "0," "1," "2" and so on

In a move which flies in the face of the way fine Bordeaux wine has been sold for decades, Château Latour has declared that it will only sell its wine when it is mature and ready to drink

Also: Sonoma County eases frost rules; Kenwood, Martinelli Road Vineyard sold

By Brian Clements, There will be two kinds of mega-winners: Growers who have used this time strategically to build relationships with the best long term homes for their grapes and Brand Owners who have forged relationships with key growers that will allow them to respond to growing consumer demand

"We're extremely busy - we've been doing things all over the capital structure."

Wineries in California are scrambling for grapes and wine, entering into long term contracts so they are assured of supply for the next several years.