Pinot Gris is Oregon's signature white wine grape - but Washington Pinot Gris has quickly gotten into the game.

Riesling and white Rhone varieties thrive in the high-elevation, long-season viticulture of Idaho's Snake River Valley, but two of the state's largest wineries have proven Pinot Gris can succeed at 2,800 feet.

Success extends beyond wine competitions and vineyards and into the market place as Pinot Gris is on the verge of becoming the most popular white grape in the province.

The governor also said he will nominate Pennsylvania Superior Court President Judge Correale F. Stevens to fill the vacancy on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Sean Logan to the Turnpike Commission and Gladys M. Brown to the Public Utility Commission.

The unveiling this week of a new style of cork raises the question of why the traditional kind continues to dominate much of the wine world.

VineaLove, which was founded by a French former wine journalist, may help you find your vino-sipping soulmate.

Scientists investigating mechanical thinning of grape crops to cut costs and improve profitability stumbled across an unexpected benefit, wine industry representatives learnt at a Grape Days seminar in Blenheim last week.

Los Angeles couple Brian Chield and Bryan Hollingshead sat around a patio table Saturday sipping Rosso di Sonoma, a red blend from their host Petroni Vineyards, perched high over Sonoma Valley.

"I believe that taste-wise it is exactly the same wine," Hallden told the Livets Goda wine magazine. "Systembolaget, on the other hand, believes that the wine that has been delivered to the stores is much better than that which won the tender in the beginning of the year."

All industry metrics remain positive through May, flash offers down

"We will continue supporting Wine Institute's work with policymakers and regulators in communicating our industry's significant contributions to the economic vitality of California and U.S., and keep our members informed of the changing regulatory landscape."

Guests to sample Jordan wines, olive oil and chef's cuisine at remote locations, paired with breathtaking views of vineyards, mountains, lakes, gardens and more.

Two-fold increase for Chile

They contend patents for Scarlet Royal and Autumn King grapes should be rescinded because the grapes were in the public domain for more than a year at the point USDA requested patents in 2004.

A statewide group of fishing, environmental and farming groups says it plans to sue to stop the Delta Plan, which lays the groundwork for Gov. Jerry Brown's twin tunnels to shunt Sacramento River water away from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

A wine appraisal and management firm in San Francisco concluded that the bottle was indeed fake and, therefore, worthless.

Christina Grdovic was recognized at Friday's Aspen Chamber Resort Association luncheon for her 16 years of contributions to the festival, and for her promotion in April to vice president of Food & Wine magazine.

They call this the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, but personally I like to reverse that and begin with the wines. So, today, my agenda begins with the wine seminars and then turns to the myriad bottles in the Grand Tasting Tent.

Domaine Chandon will release its 40th anniversary cuvée at the winery on Bastille Day, Sunday, July 14.

Our U.S. business started out very strong in January and into the middle of February. Then it bounced around in late February, March and into April. May turned out to be the record shipment month in the history of our company