California merlot ripe for a comeback

There is no doubting that 2005 is a great vintage for Bordeaux's merlot-dominated wines - when all manner of wineries succeed from the fanciest such as Chateau Petrus, which sell upwards of $1,000 a bottle, to Chateau Franc Mayne, which sells in the $35 to $50 category. And wine drinkers are going to be flocking to those wines.

But, here is the rub. The 2005 vintage in Pomerol and St. Emilion, those parts of the prestigious Bordeaux region that lie across the river from the famous city, has produced very ripe wines whose California-like roundness and richness is atypical. Moreover, the popular cry that California wines are too ripe and sweet now applies to 2005 in Pomerol and St. Emilion.

California Wine Show headed to Metro

It's time to heighten your sense of smell and practice swirling glasses, the second annual California Wine Fair will soon be in Moncton April 22.

The wine tasting event in the afternoon provides invited guests from the liquor boards, wine retail trade, and the hospitality industry a chance to sample a variety of wines from over 50 different California vineyards.

The evening event, which is being presented by Taylor Ford Lincoln, welcomes the general public to enjoy the quality wines, as well as hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction.

Five Perfect Days in California Wine Country

There are some places you can't help but fall in love with at first sight and return to year after year. We've chosen some of the world's most beloved (and touristed) destinations and, with the help of the best travel specialists in the business, have ferreted out their secrets, their treasures, their unmissable experiences. The result is a series of step-by-step trips that will surprise and delight those who've never been to the destination before . . . or have been a dozen times. Each of our highly detailed itineraries has been vetted and perfected by a Condé Nast Traveler editor, and each can be bought as is with just one phone call. Let the romance begin.

California wine sales grow

Domestic sales of California wine grew 6 percent last year to a record $18.9 billion as consumers continued to buy more -- and more expensive -- offerings from the state's wineries, according to data released Tuesday by the Wine Institute, an industry group.

Despite the 2007 sales increase, analysts point to two causes for concern.

First, sales of California wines grew more slowly than import sales, meaning that the state's wineries lost market share.