PASO ROBLES —Winemakers around this central coast city can grow a mind-boggling variety of grapes thanks to a wide diversity of microclimates. Visitors can take a tasting tour of European varietals — from Italy and Spain as well as France’s Rhone and Bordeaux regions. The wine-growing area around Paso Robles...
Weakling or Bully? The Battle Over CEQA, California’s Iconic Environmental Law
In the rugged hills to the east of the Napa Valley, chainsaws and bulldozers converted a steep hillside of scrubby oak woodland and rockpiles into another vineyard. “That was an incredible rock-hopping wonderland, with frothing, amazing, waterfalling cascades every time it rained — I mean, it should have been a...
Gov.-elect Newsom Giving Up Control of His Businesses
SACRAMENTO — Incoming California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday he would give up control of his wine and hotel business and plans to issue an executive order barring state agencies from doing business with the company to avoid conflicts of interest. The PlumpJack Group, founded by Newsom in 1992, includes...
California Winery and Oregon Feud Over Pinot Labeling Rights
SALEM, Ore. — Pinot noir is one of the finickiest grapes, but with proper nurturing it produces an amazing wine. Officials in Oregon and at a U.S. government agency are similarly finicky, and are stomping on a California winery's claims that it makes an Oregon pinot. Copper Cane, a Napa...