One of the nation’s top wine destinations may be much closer to Los Angeles than many locals realize. Temecula Valley Wine Country, located about 90 minutes from LA, has been nominated for Best Wine Region in USA Today’s 2026 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, adding to a growing list of national accolades for the popular … Read more
Santa Clara County agricultural officials have launched an unusual door-to-door tactic to track down approximately 1,300 grapevine and desert willow plants sold at Costco locations in California that may be carrying a destructive invasive pest. The unusually aggressive effort zones in on customers who purchased these plants between April and early July 2026. Officials are … Read more
For less than $500 a night, visitors can check into a luxury hotel readers just crowned the best resort in America. Appellation Healdsburg, a retreat tucked among Sonoma County’s vineyards, has been named the No. 1 resort in the continental U.S. and the best resort in California in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards. … Read more
California drivers are facing yet another transit nightmare as a massive $29.8 million highway overhaul is set to choke traffic on a busy state route for almost a year. Caltrans officials announced that a heavily trafficked 10-mile stretch of Highway 101 along the Central Coast is being chopped down to just a single land in … Read more
A new study is challenging the conventional wisdom that a small, daily dose of alcohol might be good for your health. The research, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, suggests that the safest amount of alcohol to consume is actually none at all. If adults do choose to drink, the team of scientists … Read more
California’s battered wine industry is spiraling deeper into crisis as vineyard values across wine country plunge, buyers vanish, and experts warn the pain could drag on for years. At an AWG Wine Advisors conference in Santa Rosa on May 21, industry insiders called this downturn one of the toughest in decades. Vineyard owners are now … Read more
Think you know the wine world? It’s time to redraw the map. For centuries, Burgundy and Tuscany have set the standard, their names synonymous with quality and prestige. But a wave of smaller, surprising regions is producing award-winning bottles that rarely cross borders, making travel to high-altitude vineyards in Yunnan, China — and even a … Read more
People aren’t ordering a bottle of wine for the table the way they used to, according to a new report. But industry experts say restaurants are making up for the revenue shortfall in other ways. “We believe habits have shifted away from a group ordering a bottle of (typically red) wine to share with dinner in favor of … Read more
It’s a bitter sip. “Wine mom” culture celebrates alcohol as both a requirement and a reward for the maternal workload, with infinite cheeky memes and products boasting, “The most expensive part of having kids is all the wine you have to drink.” But for some, such lighthearted messages and merchandise — think “mommy juice” wine … Read more
Bordeaux-no! A Michigan woman was arrested and then rushed to the hospital after she stole a bottle of wine and hid it inside a “body cavity,” cops said. The 48-year-old was allegedly caught by shopkeepers drinking a bottle of alcohol in a Traverse City liquor store without paying for it, and returned the next day … Read more
If you’re looking for a charming European-style escape right here in California, head to Solvang in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. This picturesque village, known as the “Danish Capital of America,” was recently named No. 7 in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Small Towns in the West for 2026. It previously … Read more
Another business in California’s wine country is shuttering operations, one of many closures sweeping through the Napa Valley area as the wine industry faces pressure. Petaluma-based Barber Cellars announced recently that it’s closing its downtown tasting room and cheese shop on June 5, citing “the financial struggles and headwinds of the current wine and tourism … Read more
Turns out that guilty pleasure may be a virtuous vice. We tend to categorize food in black-and-white terms — “good” or “bad” for you, “naughty” or “nice.” There are “healthy” staples, like fruits, vegetables and fish that provide essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. A steady diet of these foods can lower the risk of chronic … Read more
Napa County officials have launched a $6.4 million overhaul of the region’s master plan, aiming to redefine the future of Wine Country through 2050 while bridging a long-standing divide between local government and residents. “We need people to tell us what they want that future of Napa to look like,” Supervisor Belia Ramos told the Napa … Read more
A Napa Valley wine giant has issued a dire warning about the direction of the industry, pointing to “ongoing category pressures.” Constellation Brands, the New York-based owner of California’s Robert Mondavi Winery, expects the high-end wine market to decline as its CEO Bill Newlands steps away from the company. Chief Financial Officer Garth Hankinson pointed to … Read more
Joey Bosa and fiancée Amanda Kassdikian are officially husband and wife. The free agent veteran defensive end and the model tied the knot at Stanly Ranch in Napa, Calif. on Saturday, as seen in social media posts. His mother, Cheryl Bosa, shared behind-the-scenes video on Instagram of the pair’s wine-filled wedding weekend. “Best day ever!” she … Read more
A powerful Napa Valley wine dynasty is over after the owner sold her sprawling vineyard to Chanel. The luxury retailer bought the Rudd Estate for an undisclosed amount as it expands its Rutherford’s St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery brand across the region. The estate, which was being run by Samantha Rudd after her winery … Read more
Cheers to that. A recent study published in the International Journal of Public Health found that moderate wine intake can be a boon for longevity and biological aging, or the age of our cells and organs. But before you open another bottle, there is a catch about overall wine consumption. A study recently found that … Read more
Your checked bag may cost you, but your wine will fly for free. Southwest Airlines is launching a new “Sip and Ship” program that will allow flyers to check one case of wine for free. The new checking policy starts April 24 and will apply to customers traveling from wine country. “Southwest’s new Sip and … Read more
Bubbles without the troubles? A new, dealcoholized champagne boasts the craft and taste of the elevated sparkler — without the harmful effects of alcohol. Oddbird, which exclusively produces non-alcoholic wines, recently released C, an alcohol-removed sparkling cuvée made in the tradition of champagne with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes — a blend that is … Read more