As the wine business in California has grown, so have all the industries that supply the nearly 2,300 bonded wineries and the hundreds of virtual wineries in the state.

“No matter how you feel about the war (in Iraq), it’s about the kids.”

Sweltering temperatures have hastened the harvesting of the more sensitive varietals. Reds are still maturing, but should be ready for picking in the next few weeks. Overall, quality is excellent, but quantity is below average.

So, you hear that a winery whose zins are known and enjoyed the world over is having an open house — something tit only does once a year — and suddenly it makes sense to pencil a visit to the Storybook Mountain Vineyards onto your “to-do” list.

Cheese pro Janet Fletcher will be at Chimney Rock Winery Saturday, Sept. 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to sign copies of her newest book, “Cheese & Wine: A Guide to Selecting, Pairing and Enjoying”.