Diageo buys Rosenblum for £53m

Diageo signalled its intention to dominate the US market for expensive wine by acquiring Rosenblum Cellars, one of the country’s biggest producers of zinfandel, for $105m (£53m).

Rosenblum was founded by Kent Rosenblum, a vet from Minnesota who started his own vineyard specialising in zinfandel and Rhône varieties of wines after moving to California in 1970.

Plucking favorites on California wine tour

My trick to visiting California's wine country is the same as for tasting good wine: Don't gulp.

The temptation is there. So many wineries, so little time. But to try to stop at every winery in Napa and Sonoma counties would be silly, boring and, yes, unhealthy, even with a designated driver. Plus, you'll miss the hidden gems along the way.

Disney's California Food and Wine Festival to be held April 11

Now in its third year, Disney's California Food and Wine Festival will be held April 11 through May 5, 2008, with daily complimentary demonstrations and premiere ticketed events. The four-week festival will include the popular "Taste of California" Marketplace at Disney's California Adventure park, along with exclusive cooking courses at the Napa Rose restaurant and expert wine instruction from a master sommelier.

Film festival toasts Napa Valley wine history

A controversial film based on an infamous Paris wine-tasting event that embarrassed France's top experts was uncorked at the Sundance film festival this week.

But long before its premiere, a key character in the true story said to have spurred New World wines toppling France's wine supremacy has been severely critical of the film's historical accuracy.

"Bottle Shock" by director Randall Miller revisits a 1976 blind tasting in which French experts hailed California wines over some of France's finest vintages.