On Veterans Day, people will gather at Grgich Hills Estate in tribute to a distinguished American Veteran, Deacon Bob Little of St. Helena Church, who passed away Aug. 28.

The Rutherford Appellation Wineries invite the public to take a wine tasting journey through the Rutherford appellation during their winter "Roll Out the Barrels" Passport Weekend on Dec 5 and 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event includes barrel tastings, wine and food pairings, sales of future wines and special Passport Weekend discounts.

Producer/Director Rudolf N. McClain, who has just released the DVD of his film "Merlove" will be on hand to sign copies in the tasting room at V. Sattui Winery on Nov. 14, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The winery is at 1111 White Lane off Highway 29 just south of St. Helen.

This year, I was fortunate to visit the Champagne region of France during harvest, and one of the biggest treats was eating lunch with the cellar workers.

One reason for the trip to Champagne was to reinforce the writers’ knowledge that Champagne comes only from Champagne.  Many wine makers in other places used to call their wines “champagne,” just as they called red wines “burgundy” and white “chablis” even though none had anything to do with those regions of France, and most didn’t even use any of the same grapes used in their homeland.

With harvest wrapped up, many winemakers are taking a well-earned break. As the 28th annual Ahwahnee Vintners’ Holidays got underway this week, a number of Napa Valley makers were on hand to take part in the popular wine event in Yosemite National Park.

The Champagne Bureau, the U.S. representative of the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), has awarded  Schramsberg Vineyards and Beringer Vineyards their first Truth-in-Labeling Award of Excellence.

Arnold Tudal was a row crop farmer in Alameda, when he decided to retire and sell his land that grew high-caliber fruits and vegetables that wound up on the tables of white tablecloth San Francisco restaurants.

To the tune of:  I Only Have Eyes for You