The lanky, California maker of pinot noir, chardonnay, and syrah told me at his Sonoma winery that he had his conversion in 2005, after returning from a trip to Burgundy and the Rhone. He tasted the pinot noirs and syrahs he had been making since starting his own label, Copain Wines , in 1999. Search for Copain wines at retail. MORE >>

With the governor’s signature, which he has said he will provide, the state will become the 39th to allow the direct shipping from wineries to consumers. The most glaring shortcoming is that the bill only legalizes shipments from wineries, not wine stores, thus disallowing free trade in over a third of the wine consumed in the US. MORE >>

And there happens to be only one winery on that lake. So, it was a very short tour, but a very enjoyable day and I got to taste some very nice wines from one of the youngest wineries in the Finger Lakes. On this day, I tasted only a few whites. few were brought home for a future tasting and review. Lake Rd. MORE >>

It is a picture perfect snowy day and my host is Inniskillin winery, who has one of the most quality wines in the region. Today the winery, located in Niagra-on-the-Lake, is covered in fresh snow. Afterwards, we had an icewine tasting with Bruce Nicholson, who was responsible for the vintages during 2006 and afterwards. MORE >>

In this first posting, John discusses what would be in his cellar if he were starting collecting today, what he drinks at home on a Tuesday night, the most underrated wines for aging, where Lafite 2005 will be in five years, and what would be his “desert island wine.&# If its not a tasting night with samples, usually red Burgundy. MORE >>