Preliminary report puts total above record haul in 2005.

Prior to this release, Allied Grape Growers had estimated the size of the 2012 winegrape crop to be 3,885,000 tons - the most aggressive estimate in the industry. The actual winegrape tonnage crushed was 4,013,903- a slight 3 percent difference from the large estimate.

The Preliminary California Grape Crush Report released today shows the 2012 winegrape crop reached an all-time high of 4.014 million tons, which was surprising given the limited amount of new planting in the state.

North Coast up 47 percent, Central Coast up 41 percent, Northern Interior up 33 percent and Southern Interior up 4 percent.

New committee members look to grow Arizona's wine industry.

Winegrape tonnage totaled 552,874 tons in the North Coast last year, including 266,101 tons in Sonoma County, 181,183 in Napa County, 70,859 in Mendocino County and 34,731 in Lake County, according to the preliminary figures in the 2012 California Grape Crush Report.

Merrill, a seventh-generation Californian whose roots in the Central Coast date back to the days of the missions, has been an integral member of the Paso Robles wine community.

In celebration of these significant viticultural and oenological achievements, both wines will be featured for tasting at this month's open house at the winery and vineyards, located at the southern tip of the Santa Cruz Mountains wine appellation near Gilroy.

People will say "wow" when they first set foot in John Burtka's new big, yet cozy, winery and brewery in downtown Jackson, he said Thursday.

While approving a winery application for an Acampo project and another in the Tracy area on Thursday, San Joaquin County planning commissioners were looking at the bigger picture - whether wineries were trying to beat the clock before a potentially more restrictive ordinance is adopted by the county.

Beginning this summer, qualified wineries will be able to submit up to 10 of their wines to be sold at state Wine & Spirits Stores in the program. Of the state's 621 stores, 80 are targeted for the program.

Nine wineries participate in Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail.

While the nation's economy continues to slowly recover, one industry with local ties is enjoying some impressive growth or at least that's what we're hearing from those in the wine industry.

The winery and Cyril Chappellet received the Green Sash, marking their induction in the category of Food/Wine Producer.

MaryAnn Worobiec and Nathan Wesley, both experienced members of Wine Spectator's tasting department, have joined the ranks of the magazine's senior editors.

Pop sensation Lady Gaga's favourite wines have been revealed during a court case with her former personal assistant Jennifer O'Neill.

English Wine Producers (EWP) will be exhibiting outside of the UK for the first time at this year's ProWein.

Wine critic James Suckling has awarded 11 100 pointers in his review of the 2010 Bordeaux vintage as its release date nears.

The release of tasting notes from the UK government's cellar reveal that US President, Barack Obama, was served a "soapy" white Burgundy on his 2011 state visit.

Laithwaite's Wine has launched its first iPad app after seeing the number of orders its customers place using a tablet device soar.

The Wine Investment Association has teamed up with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to provide better protection for the wine industry and increase consumer confidence.

To help mark its 30 year anniversary the International Wine Challenge is looking to recognise the person who the trade thinks has been the biggest influence in wine over the last three decades.

Gina Gallo and Jean-Charles Boisset will serve as honorary chairs for "Speakeasy," the 20th annual Red & White Affair, benefiting Yountville Elementary School.

Few would expect the grape to succeed in warm Napa Valley, but Trefethen in coolish Oak Knoll and mountain Stony Hill and Smith-Madrone make excellent rieslings, too

For those who didn't know Shirley, she earned her stripes as a home economist and food writer at Sunset Magazine from 1957 until 1962 and then freelancing as both writer and consultant for more than four decades.

Over the past two years, irrigation pumping near the river has caused a two-foot dip in the landscape across many square miles on the Valley's west side, federal engineers say.

Same-store sales rose 0.4 percent in January, an improvement over a decline of 1.1 percent in December.

After reviewing 1,100 suggestions from people all over the world, Cornell University Professor of Horticulture Bruce Reisch announced the winners at Viticulture 2013 in Rochester Thursday.

To get started, check out the Wineries of Indiana website. It's a good primer on what is available in Indiana.

Sen. Jim Ferlo, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Law and Justice Committee, said at least 10,000 retailers would qualify for the new licenses, twice as many as Corbett estimates, and warned that it would compound social problems and crime.

Bottling the unique essence that is Michigan is such a passion for Macomb Township residents Shannon and Cortney Casey, they created a business around it.

A statewide poll taken by Middle Tennessee State University shows nearly 70 percent of Tennesseans favor allowing the sale of wine in grocery stores.

Winegrape growers Patrick Dana Flannery and Paula Campbell Brown are feeling on top of the world right now. They have just opened a tasting room perched on their Ashland property, where they are debuting two wines under their label, Dana Campbell Vineyards, a combination of their middle names.

"We are sending a big message to the community that the CEDC supports great economic development initiatives such as the Southwest Wine Center. This is a big deal for us, the wine industry and Yavapai College," notes Casey Rooney, economic development director for the City of Cottonwood.

The provincial government has unveiled some major changes to liquor laws that should make it easier for small- and medium-sized B.C. breweries, wineries and distilleries to get their products to market.

Morocco and Algeria are significant wine producers - and if you buy a nondescript house carafe during a visit to Paris or Marseilles, chances are good that what you're drinking came from one of those two countries.

However, restaurant consumers indicated a slight pullback from December.

The Wine Investment Association has teamed up with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to provide better protection for the wine industry and increase consumer confidence

In follow-up to their May 2012 announcement--combined with the recent conclusion of their JV with Frederick P. Winner, Ltd. (Winner) and the current opening of the new, dedicated facility in Baltimore--Southern will now exclusively manage their wine and spirits Sales, Marketing and Administrative functions

According to the United States Department of Agriculture's preliminary numbers, the 2012 grape crush in California totaled 4,383,100 tons, a record amount that marks a 13 percent increase over 2011's crush.

Officially launched in November, Amazon Wine features shopping tools to help customers in 15 states and Washington, D.C., buy wine online.

"The crop was needed, and hopefully we'll be balanced going forward," said Glenn Proctor, partner with San Rafael-based wine and grape brokerage Ciatti Co.

The reason area growers have been all smiles since last fall came to light Friday with the release of state-gathered statistics for the 2012 grape crop.

Single-digit temperatures were recorded during a two-week stretch in Idaho's key growing area for wine grapes. However, a variety of factors worked in the industry's favor, particularly at Skyline Vineyard - the state's largest planting and controlled Seattle-based Precept Wine.

"It is impossible to compare California with Washington wine (or any other state) because California's overall business model for wine is so different. As former Gov. Chris Gregoire so famously pointed out last year, Washington doesn't make jug wine."

The acquisition of Modelo's 50 percent interest in Crown is a transformational transaction for Constellation's beer business.