True confession time. I haven’t actually poured in the tasting room for the last month or so. Instead, I’ve been working on a few marketing related issues for the winery. As summer heats up and in preparation for the Harvest, we’ve been busy redesigning the winery’s Web site and editing the copy for the bi-annual newsletter, among other things.

Chateau Ste. Michelle is one of the largest and most revered wineries in America. Located in Washington's Columbia Valley, Chateau Ste. Michelle is often -and mistakenly- overlooked by oenophiles searching for fine American wine. It isn't often that one gets to "talk shop" with the winemaker from a winery of the caliber of Chateau Ste. Michelle -they tend to be awfully busy people after all- but IntoWine.com had the good fortune of being able to do just that. What follows is our chat with Chateau Ste. Michelle Winemaker Bob Bertheau.

Tasting notes are a great way to get a sense of a wine’s personality before investing in a bottle you’ve never before tried. But how meaningful are they to the Average Joe? On a recent trip to Napa, we decided to put tasting notes to the test by comparing them with our own impressions.

It’s the start of the Silly Season, typified by the populace uprooting en masse for vacation haunts, a slowdown of serious news, and the last hurrahs of the lazy days of summer before we all return to the grind of work and school. In my mind, the best drink for the Silly Season is Sangria. I know it’s blasphemy for serious wine lovers, but what’s wrong with taking a break from all that sniffing and swirling and just having some fun?

When talk turns to Napa Valley royalty, Robert Mondavi and the Mondavi family indisputably qualify as the ruling monarchy of the Napa Valley –and frankly the US- wine industry. With an almost biblical or Shakespearean flair, the Mondavi family story of the last 100 years is one of passion, pettiness, family squabbling, wild success, dramatic failure, and of course, wine. In her new book, The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty , author Julia Flynn delivers a masterful narrative on the Mondavi clan. IntoWine.com recently had the privilege of chatting with Julia about the book and the evolution of the Mondavi family story.

Some Sonoma wineries do a fantastic job of displaying art from both local and national artists. IntoWine.com has scoured Sonoma County to find the wineries that devote time and attention to displaying art. The list below is in no particular order. Imagery Estate Winery Glen Ellen - The vibe at Imagery is one of wine, art, and nature. Imagery is a biodynamic winery so a huge emphasis is placed on preserving and embracing nature. Nature lovers will love walking the grounds to discover and encounter the bio-diversity. The tasting room is as much art gallery as it is wine bar as dozens and dozens of paintings adorn the walls. Imagery is known for its unique artist-commissioned wine labels so it is a must visit for label collectors. As for the wine, Imagery is a biodynamic farm with an emphasis on rare grapes and diversity in their wine offerings. More...

Interested in the history behind Sonoma County and the evolution of the wines you are tasting? IntoWine.com has scoured Sonoma County to find the wineries that devote attention to the history of Sonoma wine country. The list below is in no particular order. Bartholomew Park Winery Sonoma (City) - Bartholomew Park Winery is -as its name implies- park like. Set in the rolling hills a few miles Northeast of Sonoma Plaza, Bartholomew is quaint, breezy, green, and soaking in Sonoma history. Picnic tables are strewn throughout the grounds making Bartholomew an ideal place for a cozy picnic. Word has it the Wall Street Journal named it Sonoma's best place to "pop the question". More...

Looking to enjoy the beautiful Northern California outdoors on your trip to Sonoma? IntoWine.com has scoured Sonoma County to find the wineries best suited for those seeking to soak up Mother Nature while they sip Chardonnay. The list below is in no particular order. Matanzas Creek Winery Santa Rosa - Scenic and beautiful with the ubiquitous smell of lavender permeating the grounds, Matanzas Creek Winery is a "must visit" for people looking for a great -off the beaten path- tasting experience. More...

Looking to host an event at a Sonoma winery? IntoWine.com has scoured Sonoma County to find the wineries best suited to accomodate events. The list below is in no particular order. Nicholson Ranch Sonoma (City) - Nicholson Ranch is on the elegant side. It rests on top of a hill close to the border of Napa and Sonoma with vineyards surrounding it for seemingly as far as the eye can see. Nicholson has a Southwestern look and feel to it. More...

Manhattan may be the bustling, hectic, cosmopolitan center of New York, but on a short drive east on the Long Island Expressway, you can see the pace of New York gradually ease from major metropolis to sprawling suburbs, and finally, as the island splits off into what are known as the North and South forks, to rural farmland. The South Fork is famous for the Hamptons, a chic vacationing resort popular with overworked Manhattanites, and though there are a handful of wineries in the south, it is in the heart of the North Fork of Long Island, once known primarily as a potato farming community, that you will find cozy bed and breakfasts, old fashioned diners boasting fresh berry pies, and best of all, the newest, and one could argue most exciting, wine region in New York State.