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Driving up to the Mitchell Katz Winery's sturdy stone building in Pleasanton, you feel transported back to the days when Livermore wine country, one of the oldest in the state, was young. Everything about the long, two-story brick structure speaks of 19th century sensibilities: utilitarian, yet possessed of a sense of proportion that blends gracefully into the undulating green landscape. You would think you're about to enter a historical building.

Vintners no longer need to leave the comforts of San Francisco to make wines. Established winemakers like Ed Kurtzman of August West are trucking grapes in from Wine Country to produce quality vintages within the city limits.

Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz, known for their swaggeringly beefy Australian Shiraz under the Two Hands label, have long reached beyond their Barossa Valley roots to use fruit from farther afield - even trucking fruit some 700 km from Heathcote for their Max's Garden Shiraz.

Pinot Noir is happiest when grown in cool climes. The northern portion of California's huge Central Coast appellation has regions with cooling ocean winds, which can drop hot daytime temperatures 30 degrees in some locations.

For the second consecutive year, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi is proud to join forces with America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network, during the holiday season to help raise funds for and awareness of hunger in America through the Give Hope Campaign.

Lion Nathan has highlighted the magnitude of the turnaround faced by its ailing rival Foster's, by declaring it is on track to deliver on its promise of a "step up" in earnings in the 2009 financial year.

The winemaker, who is a member of the young farmers' union but whose name has not been released, is currently being held by police for questioning in the south-western town of Limoux.