by Kate Jones and Darryl Beeson

The bold wine growers of Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley hosted the sixth annual "Insider's Exploration of Dry Creek Valley" in early August, featuring a powerful panel discussion asking if Bigger is Better? A cool, foggy morning greeted the visitors, not unusual for the valley with a name that says heat, an afternoon temperature of 96+ degrees was forecast. This has been Zinfandel's home since 1870.

Chef Ken Frank is moving his celebrated Napa Valley restaurant to the new Westin Verasa in September. While staying true to the touches for which the restaurant has become known--such as offering one of the few truffle menus in the world--La Toque's new home will provide a larger culinary playground for Chef Frank.

GREENWICH, Conn., /PRNewswire/ -- The search for the next big culinary star is underway, with more than 60 culinary students sharpening their knives in hopes of making it to the finals competition in Napa Valley. The 2008 S.Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef Competition has kicked off its 6th year by partnering with more than 30 of the top culinary schools in the United States and Canada. Participating students have the rare opportunity to compete against one another in 10 regional competitions and the chance to prepare their respective winning signature dishes for an esteemed panel of chef and media judges.

Restaurant consultants Joseph Baum and Michael Whiteman Co. have forecast 11 major dining trends that will impact how Americans will eat in the year ahead.

Sacramento, CA – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared September 2007 California
 
The Governor toasts California Wine Month

Wine Month in a proclamation praising California’s wine community for its contributions to the state’s economy, lifestyle, tourism and environment. This is the third consecutive year that the governor has honored the California wine industry.

“We are pleased that the contributions of California’s wine community are recognized by the Governor as an important part of California’s economic and social landscape,” said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, Wine Institute’s President and CEO. “Wine Institute initiated the California Wine Month campaign for September during the annual harvest to showcase the state’s diverse wine regions, beautiful and sustainable vineyards, welcoming wineries and tasting rooms and, of course, outstanding wines.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif.,/PRNewswire/ -- Building on California's allure as America's "Capital of Culinary Travel," the California Wine Institute and the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) have entered into an historic partnership to promote the state's wine and cuisine offerings to the fast-growing travel segment of culinary connoisseurs -- and those who aspire to be.

In honor of September's designation by Governor Schwarzenegger as California Wine Month, thetwo organizations announced the partnership at a media luncheon today in Sacramento. The cornerstone of the five-year partnership is a national TV campaign featuring Governor Schwarzenegger and wine and culinary celebrities promoting California's rich bounty of wine and food, scheduled for launch this winter....

By Randy Dunn

It is time for the average wine consumers, as opposed to tasters, to speak up. The current fad of higher and higher alcohol wines should stop. Most wine drinkers do not really appreciate wines that are 15 -16. +% alcohol. They are, in fact, hot and very difficult to enjoy with a meal. About the only dish that seems to put them in their place is a good hot, spicy dish....

SAN FRANCISCO – California wines sales in the U.S. reached another all-time high of 449 million gallons (188.9 million nine-liter cases) in 2006 with a retail value of $17.8 billion, according to wine industry consultant Jon Fredrikson, publisher of the Gomberg-Fredrikson Report.  On volume growth of 2 percent, the retail value of California wine sales increased by nearly 8 percent in a highly competitive U.S. market driven by the upward trend in the sales of premium wines, priced $7 and up, where California dominates.  Total California winery shipments to all markets in both the U.S. and abroad increased 2 percent to 541 million gallons (227.6 million nine-liter cases) last year...

The first M.B.A. program for Wine Business in the nation is being launched at Sonoma State University in the heart of Northern California’s wine country. Development of the M.B.A. program coincides with unprecedented growth and increasingly global competition within the wine industry and was stimulated by the wine advisory board that guidesthe...

SAN LUIS OBISPO – San Luis Obispo’s Tolosa Winery will be the backdrop for a unique gathering in support of Cal Poly’s Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium on Sunday, June 3...