Love was in the air Friday night at Festival del Sole.

If you’ve ever wanted to hear all 17 of Beethoven’s string quartets performed in Napa Valley wineries, the 13th season of Music in the Vineyards offers the perfect opportunity.

Festival del Sole featured more than music, art and food in its second season.

The Wine Country Film Festival continues this week in Napa opening with a culinary doubleheader at Frazier Winery Thursday night.

The 27th Napa Valley Writers’ Conference begins this weekend and continues through Aug. 2.

The art of song became part of the rich musical mix at this year’s Festival del Sole, and never more so than at Saturday afternoon’s concert at the Napa Valley Opera House starring soprano Danielle de Niese.

Ashley Wheater, ballet master and assistant to the artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet, will be on hand into introduce this week’s Friday Night Flick at Copia.

As if audiences hadn’t been thoroughly challenged and dazzled a-plenty by a week of exceptional concerts, Festival del Sole served up a double-barreled musical blast at Yountville’s Lincoln Theater Sunday night.

The Napa Valley College Glade was transformed this weekend into the Forest of Ardenne. That is, the Forest of Ardenne complete with lawn chairs and the crinkling of baguette wrappers.

Artists from around the valley gathered last Friday to celebrate the opening of the new Artists of the Valley gallery on First Street in Napa.

It’s not so much what they do, it’s how they do it. That’s the mantra for a Los Lobos concert.

From Register staff

Unity Church in Napa Valley presents a series on “Living The Secret,” focusing on practical ways to use “The Secret” in daily living. July 29, Dr. Richard Southern and the Rev. Robert Norton jointly speak on “What Happens When I Click on an Icon?” about how “The Secret” helps us to go deeper, beyond appearances. Sunday service begins at 10 a.m., followed by a forum on “Creative Living.” Welcome Grange, 3275 Hagen Road, Napa. Info, 255-681 or www.unitychurchnapavalley.org. View “12 Powers and You” on Community Channel 28 Saturdays at 8 a.m.

More than many foods, fish really benefits from the hot and fast cooking of the grill.

You may have noticed, perusing the garden-fresh produce at the farmers markets, how much of it comes from the bountiful Yolo County, just over the hill from Napa.

STRASBURG, Va. — Janet Heishman spends a great deal of time in a steamy kitchen in midsummer, processing the harvest from her garden. She does it for the economy, the unmatched flavors it provides, a sense of accomplishment and because she feels driven by history.

When it gets blazing hot outside, besides going for a swim or taking in a movie, there are only a few ways to stay cool.

I recently received a phone call from a Napa resident asking me, “What do I do with all my greetings cards I receive?”

For many vegetable growers, the real fun begins in midsummer as they shift their focus from the garden to the kitchen.

Anyone who successfully cans knows it’s a matter of safety first and taking no shortcuts. The threat of deadly botulism lurks beneath every loose lid or improperly sealed jar cover.

Highly hyped kitchen products often disappoint. That’s the message in Consumer Reports’ 2007 August issue, in its annual kitchen package. The magazine’s tests found shortcomings in many highly promoted, costly items. Often an old standard proved the better choice.

There is something I love about autumn, a season that is compelling, golden and such a respite from the harsh glare of summer.

Nickname: Smokey Bear

Nickname: Toby T.

America’s most popular winery — at least by one measure — is not in the Napa Valley. Nor is it in Sonoma County or even Monterey. It is in Buncombe County, N.C.

I was eating dinner with several wine writers from around the country, and the unanimous choice for the first bottle of wine was a dry rosé from Spain.

Longtime wine drinkers remember what passed in the U.S. as rosé wines in the 1960s and 1970s — Mateus and Lancers, imports which were somewhat sweet and slightly sparkling pink wines.

Although Americans probably associate Italy more with red wines than any other — at least until pinot grigio became so popular — many regions of Italy produced mostly whites, and at least two traditionally made and drank a lot of rosé.

The silver anniversary edition of the Home Winemakers Classic was not only well attended, it also featured a number of outstanding wines from dedicated northern California garagistas.

The wine folks in Sonoma County sure know how to throw a party.

Gary Galleron has been appointed full-time winemaker for Bourassa Vineyards in Napa Valley. Galleron has been a consulting winemaker for Bourassa since 2004 and has worked in the past for such wineries as Grgich Hills, Whitehall Lane, Grace Family, Hartwell, Vineyard 29 and Seavey.

With twice the amount of property required by county regulations, Dr. Marc Cohen thought building a winery on Howell Mountain would be a snap.