Stomp grapes at Bourassa Vineyard’s harvest celebration Saturday, Oct. 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. Wine tasting — barrel, library and futures — is part of the event along with a food and wine paing demonstration by Julie Logue-Riordan, of Cooking with Julie.

Master of Wine Tim Hanni will also be on hand for a presentation of Vignon, his invention to balance out flavors in food to make them compatible with a range of wines. There will also be commenorative T-shirts for grape stompers. Harvest Celebration 2007 takes place in the newly expanded tasting room and business center at Bourassa, 190 Comino Oruga, in Napa. The cost is $10 for wine club members and $15 for non-members. To reserve a spot call Dana at (800) 499-2366.

Taste petite sirah from 1997 and earlier at the inaugural Masters of Petite Sirah, an event celebrating the ageability of the varietal at Markham Vineyards Nov. 9  

Among the 13 participating wineries Markham Vineyards, Robert Biale Vineyards, Stags’ Leap Winery and Vincent Arroyo Winery. A walk-around tasting is from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by dinner with the vintners. Tickets are limited to 200, and cost $120 each. Further information is available at www.psiloveyou.org.

A $2,500 scholarship has been established in the name of Win Wilson, a co-founder of Wilson Daniels Ltd. in St. Helena, for a U.S. student preparing for the Masters of Wine examination. Interested candidates should contact Peter Csizmadia-Honigh, education manager at the Institute of Masters of Wine, at peter@mastersofwine.org.

Rocca Family Vineyards’ 2004 cabernet sauvignon was named “best of the best” in a blind tasting of 12 California wines sponsored by the Vintners Club, and Rocca’s 2002 cabernet sauvignon was chosen as one of 12 California cabernets to be evaluated in a blind tasting in Bordeaux,  Oct. 19. The wines come from Rocca’s 21-acre Grigsby Vineyard in Yountville and were made by Celia Masyczek.

David Perata has been named general manager of Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards in Windsor. He is a fourth generation winegrape grower on his mother’s side and a third generation grower on his father’s side, and his family has farmed the same property, Perata Vineyards in Yountville, since 1948. The family also produces cabernet sauvignon from the vineyard’s grapes.

He graduated from UC Davis with a degree in viticulture and serves on the board of directors of the Yountville Appellation Association and formerly was a member of the Napa County farm Bureau Board.

    

Dr. Linda Nowack has been named acting director of the wine business program at Sonoma State University, succeeding Mack Schwing, who has retired. Nowack was the first faculty member to teach wine marketing at Sonoma State.

    

Napa Valley Language Academy presents La Viña Wine Auction Saturday, Nov. 10, beginning at 6 p.m. Enjoy great food and wine while bidding on trips, sports memorabilia, dinners and rare wines in big bottles from wineries including Rubicon, Harlan, Shafer Vineyards, Lokoya, and Darioush. Vintner sponsor Dick Grace of Grace Family Vineyard will participate in the live auction.

 Tickets are $85 (adults over 21 only). Purchase by calling 415-987-0083 or mail auction2007@nvlacharter.org

La Vina also offers an online auction featuring Napa travel packages and fine wines. This auction takes place Nov. 2-9 and can be found at lavinaauction.maestroweb.com.

Napa Valley Language Academy is Napa’s only elementary school offering a complete Spanish/English dual immersion program.

Aaron Pott has been named winegrower at Blackbird Vineyards. Pott has domestic and international winemaking experience with producers including Château La Tour Figeac and Château Troplong Mondot in Bordeaux.

Pott worked for nearly six years making wine in France before returning to the U.S. to take a position as winemaker for Beringer Wine Estate’s international brands in France, Italy and South America.  Pott’s joined St. Clement as winemaker in 2001, and in 2004, he accepted the position as winemaker and general manager at Quintessa.

In 2007, Pott formed “Huis Clos Wines.” He consults for a limited quantity of producers and makes wines of his own.

Vintner Miljenko “Mike” Grgich was presented with a Diploma of Honor from the University of Zagreb in his home country of Croatia. The university presented the diploma to mark its 88th anniversary. The diploma was given to Grgich “in recognition of special merits and contributions to the promotion of scientific thought and reputation of the faculty of agriculture, University of Zagreb, in the world.” He was the only honoree living outside of Croatia to receive this recognition.

Long Meadow Ranch in Napa Valley has acquired an all-electric delivery truck produced by Modec Ltd. in England to take produce to the St. Helena Farmers Market and make deliveries of wine, beef and vegetables to local area restaurants and retail customers.

Long Meadow Ranch, which produces its wines and produce organically, uses solar energy, so even recharging the truck won’t use any fossil fuels. The van has a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge and can travel at 50 mph.