Shannon Family of Wines is rooted in Lake County, where mountain vineyards and volcanic soils define the character of every release. The OVIS brand pays tribute to the sheep that graze the land—an emblem of balance, stewardship, and connection to the environment. The packaging needed to reflect the rarity and value of this small-lot collection, expressing it with premium decoration. At the neck, a gold band is printed across the bottle lip—one of the most technically demanding areas to decorate—executed here with precision as an integrated part of the design. On the front, the OVIS name is rendered in precious-metal gold ink, delivering a reflective finish that contrasts cleanly against the glass. Supporting copy is scaled down, yet remains crisp and fully legible. At the lower half of the bottle, the artwork shifts. The photographic sheep are translated into a halftone, allowing continuous imagery to be achieved through screen printing while preserving texture and depth. What feels se

2026 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon — Grapes    Now available: Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon fruit for the 2026 harvest — an opportunity to source mountain-grown Cabernet from one of Napa Valley’s most distinctive vineyard regions. Howell Mountain fruit is prized for its concentration, structure, and age-worthy character, thanks to high-elevation vineyards and rocky volcanic soils that produce smaller, intensely flavored grapes. For wineries planning ahead and securing premium vineyard sources early, opportunities like this offer a rare chance to work with fruit from a highly respected Napa Valley AVA. View Listing The WIN Marketplace is built to connect buyers and sellers across the wine industry, and vineyard listings like this Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon fruit opportunity for the 2026 harvest highlight how the platform helps wineries secure premium vineyard sources directly from growers. Mountain-grown Cabernet from Howell Mountain is k

San Jose, CA — October 29, 2025 — Liberation Distribution (LibDib), the leading web-based wholesale alcohol distributor, today announced the availability of Alana-Tokaj’s acclaimed portfolio of Tokaji wines in California, Washington, D.C., Florida, and Pennsylvania, with New York coming online soon. Among the releases is the 2013 Essencia, recently awarded 99 points by Wine Enthusiast—the highest-scoring Tokaji of 2025. Only 60 bottles were imported to the United States, making this a rare opportunity for fine-wine Buyers and collectors. “Akin to drinking silk, this is next-level Tokaji,” wrote Wine Enthusiast’s Emily Saladino. “Ripe pineapple, caramel, clementine, and juicy mango flavors marry delicate bergamot on the palate. The seemingly endless finish manages to be simultaneously sweet, tart, and intoxicatingly rich.”  Library vintages from 2006 and 2007 are also available now on LibDib,

November 13, 2025 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Soper Reese Theater 275 S. Main St., Lakeport Join us for an engaging afternoon that brings together growers, winemakers, and industry professionals to explore what makes Lake County winegrapes truly distinctive. Through guided tastings, insightful discussions, and expert-led panels, this event will highlight the character, variety, and innovation that define our region. Register now to secure your seat for this special half-day tasting and learning experience. Program highlights: Aromatic Whites – Explore how Lake County’s high elevations and varied microclimates shape these fragrant, expressive wines. Sauvignon Blanc Comparison – Side-by-side tastings that reveal how Lake County terroir and grower–winemaker collaboration define the region’s signature variety. Alternative Reds – Discover lesser-known reds that thrive in Lake County’s volcanic soils and diverse vineyard sites. Cabernet Sauvignon Co

Gapstone is a winemaker’s dream vineyard.  This vineyard is ideal for those seeking a prime location to craft multiple prestige cuvees from one of Sonoma County’s most celebrated AVAs.   Thoughtfully developed in 2017 with the guidance of Garrett Buckland of Premier Viticulture, the volcanic soils, and the selection of varietals and clones is what separates this site. Moreover, this meticulously developed vineyard is just coming into its prime. Gapstone, located next door to prestigious neighbors Gap’s Crown and Sangiacomo Robert’s Road Vineyard, offers a unique opportunity to produce exceptional estate and single-vineyard designated wines. The vineyard benefits from rocky volcanic soils, a rarity in the area known for its predominantly clay soils, providing a distinct terroir uncommon in the area.   We can provide samples of wine produced from each block. Recent vintages have received many glorious accolades from national critics in spite of the

Obsidian Wine Co. and Brassfield Estate recently hosted a webinar with Somm Journal to discuss volcanic wines. Somm Journal VP of Education moderated the panel with Jonathan Walters, GM of Brassfield Estate; Arpad Molnar, co-founder of Obsidian Wine Co., Dr. Seth Burgess, renowned research geologist; and Katharine & David Desante, winemaking consultants at Brassfield.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Timothy Parker of Parker Groundwater Consulting in Sacramento, CA.  Loni Lyttle: So, I wanted to talk to you today about groundwater recharge. California, along with the rest of the western United States has been in a long drought and is facing serious issues with groundwater depletion not to mention subsidence, where the land is actually sinking due to overdrafting the aquifer. But then we get these two wet years in 2023 and 2024 (so far) with above average rainfall. I think this lulls people into a sense of security about California’s water situation and I’m not sure it’s that simple. I’m not a hydrogeologist so I wanted to get in touch with someone who knows more on the subject.  Tim Parker: You are right – the surface water reservoir drought is over but our groundwater reservoirs are still in drought conditions. So there’s a lot of recharge going on and we don’t always know how