Napa (California): 44,000 acres planted, or about three Manhattans. Languedoc-Rousillon (France): 528,000 acres or about 37 Manhattans. Recently, someone asked me, “so just how big is Burgundy, say, compared to Manhattan?&# Excellent question! all sources appear after the jump.). Romanee-Conti (DRC) vineyard: 4.4 1966: 305. MORE >>

Born in Cognac in the same house where his father was born, and raised in Bordeaux, it would have been easy for him to continue his family’s wine tradition in France. His family has owned vineyard property in France since the late 1600s. Due to the similarities of several of his favorite wine regions in France, it was California’s. MORE >>

James Conaway, who wrote Napa a couple of decades ago, now turns his eyes and palate to Virginia and its wines on the pages of Garden & Gun (really, who doesn’t get their wine news there?). SIPPED: snappy advice. GQ.com has a fun list of 25 wine tips that may run counter to expectations (cool photos too). SIPPED: Yeoman wine. MORE >>

Helena resident John Gillespie tweeted the other day: “Trade and consumer alert – bad harvest weather in CA meant lots of grapes (Napa Cabs included) went through “flash détente” machines.” ” Since I am a political science junkie, I thought SALT II had finally made it to Napa! winemaking MORE >>

Grapes from Napa, Sonoma and El Dorado make up this Claret (or English Bordeaux) blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Franc. very generous finish displays itself via a robust rich texture and silky tannins. 13% alcohol and in the $15-20 range. Very nice. MORE >>