Today, pull out the wine cork or unscrew the cap, sip an ardent spirit or open up an ice-cold brewski — responsibly and in  moderation, of course — but celebrate by all means. Yes, tipplers,  sippers, imbibers and connoisseurs of all stripes, this is  your day. For on this day, in 1933 (75 years ago if you’re  counting) a terrible federal law was repealed and Prohibition ended. So, stand up and cheer, run around the room laughing, sit down again we will tell you how Prohibition began, ran its course and, mercifully, ended.

Here’s a word that can still send chills through wine country: Prohibition.

The Vintners Collective, which represents 15 Napa Valley wineries, will hold a bottle signing party on Dec. 13, with all vintners present.

The Culinary Institute of America has announced the roster of wine industry leaders to be inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame at a gala reception and dinner ceremony on March 14 at the CIA at Greystone in St. Helena.

Gundlach Bundschu Winery capped off its 150th anniversary this year by installing two solar arrays on its Sonoma estate, including the first Floatovoltaic installation in Sonoma County, which was completed this week.

Pam Starr, winemaker and co-proprietor of Crocker & Starr winery in St. Helena, will be the honorary wine chair for the 2009 Culinary Evening with California Winemasters on May 16 at the “Midwest Street” back lot at Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank.

ZD Wines honors its founder’s legacy during December with events to benefit lymphoma cancer research.

You may feel like celebrating. You may feel like drowning your sorrows. Your job is downsized or maybe non-exisitant; your 401k seriously compromised and your home upside-down in equity. You’re in between holidays and maybe just want to have a good time some how. What to do?

A Californian, writing recently to Decanter Magazine in London, took some of the magazine’s contributors to task for what he saw as disparaging remarks about American wines.