The owners of the new Bleaux Magnolia restaurant in Napa happily report that they now have their liquor license so they will begin serving dinners tonight.

One might think that with a last name like Baker, one would take this rather broad hint from fate as a direction in life, but actually Mustard’s Grill pastry chef Annie Baker spent 10 years as an accountant before giving up bean counting to pursue a passion for mixing flour, sugar and butter.

A few years ago sangiovese was being hailed as the next great red wine in America. But a funny thing happened on the way to the marketplace — people weren’t buying it.

Judd’s Hill Winery begins a festive and philanthropic tradition with the Judd’s Hill Musical Bonanza April 14, noon until 4 p.m. at the winery’s new location, 2332 Silverado Trail (between Hardman & Trancas). Tickets are $85 per person for the public and $70 for Judd’s Hill Wine Club members (and you can join at www.juddshill.com).

If the rush for tickets for its relatively new community event is any indication, Auction Napa Valley 2007 should be a wall-to-wall sell-out.