Day 338 Drink: Afton Mountain 2005 Chardonnay

Afton Mountain Vineyards is one of Virginia's pioneer farm wineries, with its oldest vines dating back to the 1970s. The vineyard, located on the southeastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is run by Elizabeth and Tony Smith.

We visited a couple of years back and this bottle has been biding its time every since. The vineyard is in a beautiful part of Virginia with winding roads, mountain views and vineyard tasting rooms.

Afton Mountain 2005 Chardonnay is an estate bottled wine in the Monticello AVA. The wine is a light straw color and has a faint pear and citrus nose. The chardonnay has a nice balanced fruit flavor, hints of buttery goodness and a good level of acidity. Perfect for a seafood and pasta dish.

Day 306 Drink: Ledson 2009 Carneros Chardonnay

Steve Ledson is a fifth generation Sonoma farmer who founded Ledson Winery and Vineyards in 1993. Ledson Winery & Vineyards produces more than 70 wines annually.

Ledson 2009 Carneros Chardonnay has a buttery nose that has a touch of mango and tropical aromas. The flavor is full of fruit. Nice demure citrus notes, more mango and peach. Great food wine.

Day 224 Drink: Hirsch 2007 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

I am in Los Angeles working on a commercial shoot this week and had the chance to go to XIV by Michael Mina this evening. The bar offerings are top shelf, and the meal and restaurant staff were fantastic. Sommelier Christopher Lavin answered all of my questions and provided thoughtful recommendations.

We had one white and two reds. I'll start with the white wine tonight, which was a hit with the table, and cover the reds during the coming days. The wine list at XIV is breathtaking, including several cult Screaming Eagle vintages that top $5,000 a bottle. But you can drink reasonably priced bottles that have been selected with care.

Hirsch 2007 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay was a nice ripe fruit varietal to start our meal. The winery experimented with various forms of aging for the juice, including glass, oak, and stainless steel fermentation, plus aging on oak some of the wine fermented in stainless. The wine we enjoyed had a crisp apple start and a pretty clean finish. There was a slight hint of butter in the base of the wine. This is a very accessable wine that matches well with grilled fish and other seafood.

Day 9 Drink: Stubbs 2006 Chardonnay

Tom and Mary Stubbs originally planted chardonnay and pinot noir grapes in 1996 in Marin County, Calif., to sell to other winemakers. Before long the couple decided they should launch their own label of organic wines.

Stubbs 2006 Marin County Estate Grown Chardonnay opens with a citrus aroma and has a nice lemon and mango flavor profile. The wine has a good level of acidity. Oak shows itself, but does not over power the fruit.

A Big Gulp of Wine from 7-Eleven

There are 7,850 7-Eleven store in the U.S. and they sell $127 million in wine annually. Soon they will be marketing a private label wine -- Yosemite Road -- for $3.99 a bottle.

The convenience store chain plans to sell its exclusive chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, which is made in California. Stores in the United States and Japan will carry the wine. 7-Eleven has 36,000 company owned and franchised stores in 15 countries.

The company says the new wine follows the success of the 7-Select store brand launch and reflects consumer trends brought on by the economy.

The wines will be made by The Wine Group in California. That company is behind the budget priced Glen Ellen and Corbett Canyon brands.

Tuesday Tasting: Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we try some chardonnay from one of California's best growing regions.

Chardonnay is by far the most popular varietal produced in California. According to the Wine Institute, more than 26 percent of the 176 million cases of wine sold by California vineyards in 2007 were chardonnay. And when it comes to California chardonnay one of the regions that consistently ranks among the best is an area settled nearly 200 years ago by Russian trappers looking for furs.

Located about an hour north of San Francisco, the Russian River Valley carves a notch along the California coast that allows Pacific fog to roll deep into Sonoma County. The Russian River Valley appellation is home for more than 100 wineries. In the current issue of DRAFT magazine I wrote the Drinking Buddies column that takes a closer look at the 150 square mile area.

The Russian River Valley was not officially recognized as a distinct growing region until 1983. It has been expanded at least twice since then. According to the trade group Russian River Valley Winegrowers, 42 percent of the grapes grown in the region are chardonnay, with pinot noir the next most popular at 29 percent. Here are six of the wines tasted as part of the story were:

Balletto 2007 Russian River Chardonnay: You get a nice scent of vanilla and fruit in the nose. The immediate flavor offers an attractive firm level of ripe fruit, acidity and rounded edges.

Thomas George Estates 2007 Chardonnay: Nice tropical aroma, gives way to a wine that is buttery with hints of tart apple and lemon. Bright and attractive.

Hanna 2007 Proprietor Grown Chardonnay: Bright and inviting wine, with apple notes and a hint of pineapple. Good level of oak that is not overpowering.

Jordan 2006 Russian River Valley Chardonnay: Fermented in a mix of new and used French oak, this wine combines the creamy texture and acid balance of a California classic. Good touches of pear and apple throughout.

La Crema 2007 Russian River Valley Chardonnay: Nice floral nose, good amounts of crisp fruit and tropical notes along with a slight touch of spice from the oak. A very nice food wine.

Martinelli 2006 Lolita Ranch Chardonnay: A nice crisp chardonnay that matches well with a variety of foods. Lemon zest, crisp apple and fresh pear. Hint of light oak for balance. Nicely put together.

Napa Valley College Graduates Vintage

Napa Valley College has harvested grapes from its vineyard since 1987. Now students in the school's Viticulture and Winery Technology program have the federal and state licenses required to bottle and sell wine.

Napa Valley College 2008 Chardonnay will be the first wine from the school when it hits shelves sometime in early 2010. Up to this point the school has sold the grapes from its vineyards to commercial wineries in the region.

The school is developing a marketing plan for the winery and students in the art program are working on potential label designs. Profits from the sale will go back into the winery program.

In addition to chardonnay, the winery plans to produce sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, Syrah and cabernet sauvignon.

Hockey Greats Use Wine to Raise Charity Funds

The N.H.L. Alumni Signature Wine Series has been launched honoring eleven former players and raising money for a host of charities.

The National Hockey League Alumni Association endorsed program includes six chardonnay and six cabernet sauvignon wines made at Ironstone Vineyards in the Sierra Foothills area of California. Players featured include Detroit Red Wings Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay; Chicago Blackhawks Bobby Hull and Tony Esposito; Philadelphia Flyers Bobby Clarke and Dave Schultz; Buffalo Sabres Pat LaFontaine and Rob Ray; New York Islander
Clark Gillies and Pat LaFontaine; and New York Rangers Mike Richter and Rod Gilbert.

Every bottle of wine sold results in a donation to the charity of each player’s choice; a donation to the teams’ Alumni Association; and a donation to benefit the N.H.L. Alumni Association’s "Hockey’s Greatest Family Fund."

Charity Wines Rolling Out Wines Honoring Baseball Hall of Famers

Charity Wines is rolling out four new labels that recognize baseball heroes and help raise funds for charities.

Ernie Banks 512 Chardonnay, a 2006 California chardonnay, benefits the Ernie Banks Live Above & Beyond Foundation, which works to eliminate prejudice, support programs that enhance neighborhoods and relieve discrimination among various age groups and races.

Eddie Murray 504 Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2006 California cabernet sauvignon, raises funds to support the Baltimore Community Foundation, which makes grants to a number of charitable organizations including schools for at risk children.

Mike Schmidt 548 Zinfandel, a California zinfandel, benefits The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which is working to find a cure for cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease.

Brooks Robinson Chardonnay, a 2006 California chardonnay, supports the Baltimore Community Foundation, which makes grants to a number of charitable organizations.

You can get more information on these wines and other sports personality labels at http://www.charitywines.com.

Tuesday Tasting: California Wine Round Up

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we conclude the reports on our recent visit to California wine country with a round up of some of the wines we enjoyed.

Visiting San Francisco and California wine country was an eye opening and taste bud stretching experience. It was a celebratory trip marking our 25th wedding anniversary and served as a reminder to me of how blessed I am to have Sandy as my wife, partner in good times and bad, and constant source of encouragement. The blog entries for the last few days have documented some of the winery visits that we made, but we made many more stops and experienced more than just wine along the way.

Many people heading to Napa and Sonoma look forward to staying in one of the many inns or bed and breakfasts operating among the wineries. We tend to be more traditional hotel folks and found two excellent places that we would happily return to on future visits. The Meritage in Napa and Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn both sit at the southern ends of the two major wine regions.

Our dining during the trip tended to be more on the casual side and Taylor's Refreshers in St. Helena served up one of the best burgers I've had in sometime. The lunch and dinner served at the winery by the folks at Pietra Santa was wonderful. And we had a spectacular fresh seafood feast at Scoma's on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco (Pier 47 at the foot of Jones).

We got to see plenty of beautiful vistas driving around wine country and stumbles across some things that make it a unique place -- from the Napa Valley Wine Train to the ghost house on the grounds of the San Saba Vineyards to the walnut farmer in Sonoma selling grocery bags full of nuts for $15 just up a dirt lane from an old Studebaker pick up truck. The amazing size and scope of California agriculture is incredible and seeing workers in the fields reminded me of how many people we count on to get food on our tables.

Then there was the wine. Here are a few Tuesday Tasting recommendations:

B.R. Cohn 2004 Olive Hill Estate Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon: When Bruce Cohn isn’t busy booking the next Doobie Brothers gig he’s making wine. This red is a rich combination of plumb, cherry, oak and spice. Perfect for a great steak or a chocolate dessert.

B.R. Cohn 2006 Carneros Chardonnay: Oak and butter nose with nice vanilla and warm oak flavor notes.

Ty Caton 2004 Estate Tytanium: A full flavored Bordeaux style red from a young winery that is 33 percent cabernet sauvignon, 24 percent syrah, 29 percent petite sirah and 14 percent merlot. Plum, cocoa and oak.

Ty Caton 2004 Field Blend: At Opus One they sell a brand called Overture exclusively at the winery that is a great wine at a much lower price than the flagship brand. It is basically juice left over after the winemaker has built the signature blend. Caton's answer is his Field Blend, a mix of petite sirah, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and malbec grapes. This is an affordable luxury with great meritage blended quality that hits appealing flavor characteristics.

Conn Creek 2004 Anthology: This wine is 68 percent cabernet sauvignon, 19 percent cabernet franc, 6 percent merlot, 5 percent malbec and 2 percent petit verdot. The wine delivers a smooth blackberry base that will likely evolve over the next several years.

Duckhorn 2004 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Thick burgundy red color, with spice and ripe dark cherry flavors. A long finishing cabernet perfect for a great meal.

Duckhorn 2005 Decoy Napa Valley Red: One of the great values along the Silverado Trail, this Bordeaux blend is made from the juice that does not find its way into the other Duckhorn wines. It spends 16 months on French oak. Solid ripe fruit and oak nose, with a dry and spicy character.

Loxton 2004 Sonoma Syrah: This wine spends 20 months on oak and produces a bold, fruit forward red that delivers a long pleasant flavor profile.

Loxton 2006 Parmelee Hill Vineyard Chardonny: Barrel fermented in twice used oak, this wine has a nice green apple fruit presence in a creamy and mellow oak flavor profile.

Sapphire Hill 2006 VLH Late Harvest Zinfandel: Banana and pineapple nose, with a good sweet start that is balanced and not cloying.

V. Sattui 2005 Quaglia Vineyard Zinfandel: Deep purple color with tart cherry dominant flavor and a subtle background peppery spice.

San Saba 2005 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc: With 15.1 percent residual sugar you might expect this to taste like sugar water, but in reality a solid level of acidity makes this a fairly balanced dessert wine that has great honey and floral notes.

Trefethen 2004 Double T Red: A blend of classic Bordeaux grapes, this wine is lively and fruity. Perhaps not the red you would order for a Saturday night steak dinner, but a perfect mid-week wine to go with pasta or pizza.

Trefethen 2006 Dry Riesling: A good crisp dry riesling. The crack of acidity at the start opens to a nice grapefruit and honeysuckle flavor profile.

Wellington 2004 Victory Reserve: A thick red blend of 60 percent cabernet sauvignon, 25 percent Cabernet Franc and 15 percent merlot. Plenty of tannins and fruit. A good steak awaits.

Wellington The Duke V: A non-vintage blend of 60 percent merlot, 20 percent cabernet and 20 percent zinfandel sold only at the winery at an incredible price. A solid Sonoma red that is assertive, yet finishes with a smooth touch.

Hahn Counting on Pinot Noir

Hahn Estates is located inland from Monterey on a hillside looking down to the Salinas Valley. It's beautiful country that produces some very nice wines. We found ourselves at the winery late in the day recently and enjoyed the great view with a few of their wines.

Hahn Estates 2005 Pinot Noir: This Central Coast winery believes so strongly in its pinot noir that it has ripped out 400 acres of cabernet sauvignon to expand its pinot plantings. This is a lush pinot noir with nice deep cherry notes. A great value for a California red.

Hahn Estates 2005 Chardonnay: A hint of peach in the nose, with a nice citrus and apricot flavor profile.

Smith & Hook 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon: Named for the ranches that make up the vineyard, this red has good tannins and dark purple fruit flavors.

Whitehall Lane Makes the Most of Napa Whites and Reds

On the Napa Valley leg of our trip to California, Sandy and I made a stop at Whitehall Lane Winery, located just to the south of St. Helena.

We were given a tour of the wine making operation by Doug Fitzgibbon, tagging along with a VIP group. After seeing some grapes being crushed and workers topping off barrels, we made our way into the tasting room. There we had several very nice wines. Whitehall was founded in 1978 and produces 45,000 to 50,000 cases of wine annually. They have big plans on the horizon, with a new hospitality salon and a chef's kitchen that will allow 30-35 people to enjoy intimate dining. Part of the project will expand Whitehall's high-end wine portfolio.

Whitehall has 160 acres of vines on the Napa Valley floor and also buys from a select list of growers. Some of the wines being made at Whitehall use the Vino-Seal glass cork, which is the latest attempt at solving the industry problem of an average 6-8 percent failure rate of bottles using natural cork closures.

We found Whitehall produces some very nice whites and reds.

Whitehall Lane 2006 Proprietary White: A blend of 62 percent sauvignon blanc and 38 percent semillon, this wine has a grapefruit nose and a honey, citrus and grapefruit flavor profile. Refreshing for a hot day.

Whitehall Lane 2005 Carneros Chardonnay: An oak and honey nose with crisp, green apple flavor notes.

Whitehall Lane 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon: This Bordeaux-style wine is chuck full of fresh fruit notes. There are tart plum skin and dark cherry flavors. A solid Napa Valley value compared to prices from other nearby vineyards.

Whitehall Lane 2006 Belmuscato: This dessert wine is made from 100 percent orange muscat grapes. There is a forward apricot essence with an interesting caramelized creme brulee aftertaste.

Whitehall Lane may not have the name and reputation of some of its neighbors along Route 29, but it is worth a stop on your tasting itinerary.

Mike Grgich: The Judgment at Paris Legend

Every industry has people who have made innovations and through their skill and hard work changed how we look at products we use every day. One of the great things about writing about the drinks industry is that occasionally I will encounter one of these legends.

Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, is an 84-year-old native of Croatia, who is responsible for really annoying the French back in 1976. Grgich came to America after fleeing Communist Yugoslavia and settled in Napa Valley to make wine. He worked at a couple of wineries before becoming the winemaker at Chateau Montelena. That is when a bit of magic would take place that elevated Grgich to cult status.

To mark the American Bicentennial in 1976, English wine merchant Steven Spurrier came up with idea to organize a blind tasting matching California cabernet sauvignons and chardonnays against French Bordeaux blends and chardonnays. It was more of a publicity stunt for Spurrier's business than anything and a chance to show if the Americans had managed to close the gap when compared to the great wines of Europe.

The deck was stacked against the Americans. The judges for the event were French winemakers and journalists. The tasting was held at the InterContinental Hotel in Paris. No one involved really gave the American wines much of a chance. Most had little respect for California vineyards.

In what can only be described as the American Wine Revolution, the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was selected as the best white and the 1973 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon was selected as the best red in the tasting. The Americans had run the table. The event would become known the Judgment at Paris. The shock wave from that one tasting caused an instant leap in interest in California wines. Land values in Napa and Sonoma skyrocketed and the $100+ bottle of California wine has become almost common.

The event also propelled Grgich forward in his dream of having his own winery. In a partnership with Austin Hills, of Hills Brothers Coffee, and his sister Mary Lee Strebl, Grgich Hills Estate was born in Rutherford.

During our trip to California we stopped at Grgich Hills to have a glass of chardonnay and to try some of their other wines. Ken Morris, Communications and Marketing Manager for the winery, gave us a tour and ushered us into the tasting room. While we were going through the recent releases, Mike Grgich appeared to greet patrons arriving via the Napa Valley Wine Train. I managed to get a couple of moments with Grgich, get this photo snapped and ask him about what has made his wines consistently standout for 30 years.

Grgich talked about the importance of vineyard management and the hard work of his nephew, Ivo Jeramez, who manages the vineyards. Grgich sums it up when it comes to his prized vines: “We love the grapes.”

We tasted several of the Grgich Hills wines, including:

Grgich Hills 2005 Chardonnay: Smooth oak flavor base, solid acidity level. A very good wine by which to measure other California chardonnays.

Grgich Hills 2006 Fume Blanc: Fruit forward wine with hints of lemon and floral bouquets.

Grgich Hills 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: This wine, which spent 21 months on French oak, has an inviting nose and plenty of plump blackberry flavor notes.

Grgich Hills 2004 Merlot: With grapes from 4 out of 5 of the vineyards owned by the estate, this is a smooth and inviting red. Hints of plum and black cherry.

Paul Newman Launches California Wine

Paul Newman stars in one of my favorite movies of all-time. The Sting? No, but that is admittedly a good flick. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? Another nice movie, but no. The Hustler? Nope. The Color of Money? While he did win the best actor Oscar for this one (he was nominated for Oscars eight other times and received an Honorary Oscar the year before The Color of Money was eligible) it is not my favorite. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? Not a chance. The Verdict? Please, you have to do better than that guess. Cool Hand Luke? Great movie, but it looks like we are having a failure to communicate.

I'm talking about a role that went largely unrecognized by the award show pundits (it did win the Best Foreign Language Film award at the Hochi Eiga Shou competition in Japan), but still has a loyal following 30 years later: Slap Shot. Newman has played enough iconic roles to fill a barroom, but the character I'd most like to meet in real life and buy a drink is Charlestown Chiefs Coach Reggie Dunlop.

While Reg Dunlop would likely order a beer or a Crown Royal, the real life Newman now has his own wine label. Newman’s Own 2006 California Chardonnay and Newman’s Own 2006 California Cabernet Sauvignon are scheduled to hit stores in 2008.

To launch the wine, Newman worked with the Rebel Wine Co., a collaboration of Three Thieves and Trinchero Family Estates. The wines, made from grapes sourced in the Central Coast appellation, will be priced at $16.

Since being introduced 25 years Newman's Own products have raised more than $200 million and distributed the funds to hundreds of charities. Paul Newman and the Newman’s Own Foundation donate all profits and royalties after taxes to educational and charitable purposes.

Cleavage Creek Raising Funds for Breast Cancer Research

A new wine label from California's Napa Valley is dedicated to funding breast cancer research. Winemaker Budge Brown is introducing Cleavage Creek Winery with the pledge to donate 10 percent of gross sales to fight the disease.

The first Cleavage Creek wines will be released on Oct. 15. Brown lost his wife of 48 years, Arlene Brown, to breast cancer in 2005. He wants to use the label to focus efforts to find an end to the disease.

Cleavage Creek will release eight varietals, including a 2005 Reserve Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Reserve Napa Petite Sirah, 2005 Cabernet-Syrah, 2004 Merlot, 2004 Merlot-Syrah, and 2006 Reserve Chardonnay, all produced from grapes grown in Brown’s vineyards. A 2003 Secret Red and a 2006 Secret White complete the group. A total of 2,000 cases of wine to be available for sale in the first year. Each bottle of Cleavage Creek wine honors a breast cancer survivor with their picture on the label.

The wines will be priced in the $18 to $50 range and will initially be available for purchase via Internet and phone. You can get information on the wines at www.CleavageCreek.com.

Martha Stewart Teams With Gallo on Wine Launch

She has cooking and entertainment books, television and radio shows, craft and housewares lines, and even entire suburban neighborhoods under her brand, now Martha Stewart has a wine label.

Martha Stewart Vintage is being launched by E.&J. Gallo Winery, the giant California winery. The wine is expected to sell for $15 a bottle and will feature Sonoma County chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and merlot.

Starting early next year the limited release will be available in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Denver, Phoenix, and Portland, Ore. Depending on sales, the wine's distribution could expand to other markets.

Tuesday Tasting: Woodford Reserve Sonoma-Cutrer Finish

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we try a new whiskey release that combines some of the best that Kentucky and California have to offer.

The good folks at Brown-Forman are trying some interesting things with their Bourbon brands. I have previously written about their Old Forester Birthday Bourbon efforts and they have just released the second in the Woodford Reserve Master's Collection line up.

Last year it was Woodford Reserve Four Grain, a highly accalaimed product that was one of my favorite spirits products of 2006. This year they have rolled out Woodford Reserve Sonoma-Cutrer Finish. Happily, I was able to obtain a tasting sample of this limited bottling.

Only 900 cases of this $89.99 a bottle whiskey were made and, like the Four Grain, it should sell out fairly quickly. The distillery is shipping the product to just 17 states and Washington, D.C.

Bottled at 86.4 proof the Bourbon is first aged in new charred oak barrels, then finished in barrels that were previously used to age Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay. The result is a very smooth drink. There is a bit of honey and wood in the nose, that finishes with some smooth oak, a touch of butterscotch and even hints of roasted almond.

This offering in the Master's Collection is not as assertive as the Four Grain release, but it is attractively mellow. Brown-Forman is following the lead of several Scotch distilleries that have released special wood finishes. This wood finishing practice allows distillers to experiment and find niches to attract new customers. For consumers it offers a lesson in the importance of wood barrels of the finished spirit.

Disney Backs Off Ratatouille Chardonnay

Disney is a merchandising machine. The company also does not shy away from alcohol -- just visit Epcot Center and you will find you can drink your way from Germany to Canada and never get on board a jet.

However, Walt Disney Co. has decided not to mix the two when it somes to a popular kids film. Disney opted to back away from a promotion involving Costco just as the warehouse chain was set to sell Ratatouille Chardonnay, a white wine from Burgundy.

Ratatouille is the main character of the Disney-Pixar movie of the same name. The plot line involves a rat in Paris that loves fine cuisine. The promotion was drawing criticism from people who feared it would encourage underage drinking and some California winemakers.

Two Buck Chuck Crushes California Chardonnays

Back in 1976, California rocked the wine world when its wines beat out French wines in a blind tasting at what has become known as the Judgment of Paris. Now it is the California wine world that is being rocked with the expected announcement that a $1.99 bottle of Charles Shaw Chardonnay has been named the best in the state at the the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition.

A record number of 3,029 wines from 660 California vintners were sampled earlier this month by 16 panels of 64 wine judges. Winning wineries are just now starting to receive word of the results, but news has leaked out that Charles Shaw is the top chardonnay for 2007.

Shaw is nicknamed Two Buck Chuck because in California it sells for $1.99 at the Trader Joe's grocery chain. Elsewhere around the country you will find it for $2.99 at Trader Joe's. Made by Franzia's Bronco Winery, the Shaw label has been viewed by many as a good -- not great -- wine with a very democratic price. Now with the California State Fair victory, you can expect the label to get some much deserved respect.

Two Buck Chuck is benefiting from a recent glut of quality grapes in California. The volume of Bronco's production helps keep costs down. I have tried several Shaw varietals and have a couple of bottles of the Chardonnay in my wine refrigerator at the moment thanks to a purchase my wife made at a Trader Joe's in the Raleigh area. It will be interesting to see if consumers make a run on the wine when they learn that you don't have to spend upwards of $50 to get the highest rated chardonnay in all of California.

Goals to Grapes: Gretzky Wine

Wayne Gretzky, recognized as the greatest hockey player of all-time, is joining the celebrity rush to crush grapes. The Wayne Gretzky Estates is set to open in Ontario's Niagara region in 2009.

Labels for the new wines feature his iconic number 99.

Creekside Estate Winery in Jordan Station is partnering with Gretzky on the project. Gretzky is releasing three wines, a 2005 Meritage, 2006 Chardonnay and a 2005 Vidal icewine, which are already on sale. Part of the proceeds from the wine go to support the Wayne Gretzky Foundation, which funds youth hockey for needy kids.