A last minute surge of wild bidding on a lot donated by Marchese Piero Antinori and the Antinori family — relative newcomers to the Napa Valley, although not to winemaking — had the effect of a grand slam in the ninth inning at Auction Napa Valley 2009 Saturday night.

Napa hotel guests could hold the future of Copia in their room keys.

American Canyon families worried about their water bills can relax for now, because the city decided to ease new water use restrictions.

Some were orphaned at a young age, placed in foster care or faced health problems, language barriers and teenage pregnancies. Others made wrong choices, getting involved in drugs and alcohol and dropping out of high school.

Federal surplus commodities, including grapefruit juice, rice, tuna, pinto beans, vegetable oil, spaghetti and tomato sauce will be distributed to low-income Napa County residents.

Three people suffered minor injuries Friday in a four-vehicle crash on Highway 12 east of Kirkland Ranch, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A hiking trip at Stanislaus National Forest ended on a cold but happy note for a group of seventh-grade students from Napa’s Stone Bridge Charter School on Friday. Tuolumne County emergency crews rescued the group of more than 30 students, teachers and chaperones after they got caught in a snowstorm early Friday morning.