Our continued call for a change to the CA Laws applied to wine producers

Subject: Our continued call for a change to the CA Laws applied to wine producers
Date: 9/28/2007 10:34:42 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
From: Thewinecntryclb2
Reply To:
To: assemblymember.Evans@assembly.ca.gov, pat@wiggins4senate.com, Laurie.Puzo@asm.ca.gov
CC: cust.serv@abc.ca.gov, reception2@napavintners.com, info@familywinemakers.org, edit@winesandvines.com, cyrilpenn@winebusiness.com, Pgolis@pressdemocrat.com, jkaufmann@mercurynews.com, greed@sacbee.com, JBonne@sfchronicle.com, jheeger@napanews.com, dernst@sthelenastar.com, jyadegaran@cctimes.com

(CC: sent to the Wine Institute under separate cover)

Many CABC Type 17/20 AND Type 2 operate illegally

My name is John Olney. I have sent you two previous e-mails on this subject (8/29 and 9/16). I have been contacting both wine producers and consumers (over 550 have read my on-line articles on this specific subject between 10 am, 9/24 and 5 pm, 9/26) and much to my surprise I am finding out that apparently quite a few CABC Type 17/20 license holders are completely ignoring the rules & regulations under which they are suppose to be operating. It is no wonder they do not surface in response to our call for change or will not let us use their names.

I received replies from consumers that they are indeed buying directly face-to-face from the Type 17/20 producer who talks about his/her wine while the representative of the Type 2 license holder who actually processed the grapes into wine completes the pouring at the site of the Type 2 holder. At the Assemblywoman Evans sponsored meeting in Napa in 2006, the CABC representative said that such a face-to-face discussion is not permitted and could result in suspension or even revocation of the Type 17/20 license. I guess this type of collusion could also represent the same problem for the Type 2 license holder.

I have found Type 17/20 Web sites making invitation to their readers of willingness to find a meeting place to taste and talk about the wine and even inviting them to dinners at their homes. There probably are not enough agents to monitor all the Internet Web sites of these Type 17/20’s to catch those breaking the rules.

Many of those making comment seem to be saying that it is a matter of calculated risk that CABC agents are too busy elsewhere to worry about this infraction and thus they aren't going to get caught. Why have unenforceable laws on the books? The last attempt at legislating the production, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages by the consumers -Prohibition - failed miserably.

We do not condone operating outside the CABC Rule & Regulations and the spirit of the Calif. Legislatives laws. We do not want to start up, do like other Type 17/20 licenses, with the cooperation of a Type 2 license, only to get caught and have our license suspended or worse, and revoked. Thus we must pursue every channel available to us to get the existing laws changed.

Economics

I heard from Type 2 license holders complaining once again that the problem with the Type 17/20 holders is that he/she doesn't have to buy land, equipment, pay taxes, etc as do the Type 2 so therefore the Type 17/20 shouldn't be allowed the right to the marketplace the same as the Type 2. This is simply economics!

If this is the reason to deny Type 17/20 marketing and sales opportunities on a level playing field, then it can be said that the CABC licensing structure must be changed to reflect the difference between the amounts of money that each production size increment represents from the giant 20 million cases per year CABC Type 2 producer manufactures and markets as compared to a 200 cases per year Type 17/20 wine producer who buys grapes and has them crushed and processed by a bonded custom crush house, and the levels in between. All have paid money for the use of bonded wine production facilities to create, in an environment protecting the safety, health and welfare of the people, a product that the consumer wants.

With the above in mind, we then looked at the licensing restrictions on the alcoholic beverage manufacturing of beer and distilled spirits. We did not find any evidence of restrictions being placed on how these beverage producers are allowed to market and sell their products based on the type of ownership of the beverage production facilities. SO WHY ONLY WINE?

Conclusions

The Governor recently signed changes to the wine laws which now allows both the Type 17/20 and Type 2 license holders to donate and pour wine at charity events. To me this is precedent setting.

1. How can one segment of the wine consumer be disallowed the opportunity to taste a legally produced wine just because that consumer did not or could not attend the charity function? That’s discrimination among wine consumers!

2. If it’s ok for the Type 17/20 to pour at charity why it isn't also true it should be allowed to pour at non-charity events. How can you call the two licenses alike for charity but not alike for non-charity? That's discrimination among wine producers!

Our objective is that we want to produce wine, but can't afford land and equipment yet, so Type 17/20 offers us a chance to be a start-up and grow into an Alternate Proprietorship-Type 2 and finally into a full fledged Type 2 license. Just like the CABC says on its Web site, and I quote, CABC “…is pleased to do our part to promote small business growth, expansion and productivity within the State. ….. We hope the following information will be helpful in developing a productive and profitable relationship with the ABC.” We hope this is true but it does not appear to be so.

The existing CABC licensing rules & regulations are unfair business and probably restraint of trade practices against differing wine consumer segments as well as the Type 17/20 wine producers.

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD IN WINE COUNTRY - CONSUMER RIGHTS"

"LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD IN WINE COUNTRY - CONSUMER RIGHTS"
Written by John Olney, September 11, 2007

Jon Bonné, Chronicle Wine Editor, with his article of September 7, 2007, titled: “Napa off the map Beyond the corporate players and cult hits is a side of the valley few people know,” brings forward the very interesting subject of the lesser known wine producers in California’s wine industry.

THE PROBLEM IN THE WINE INDUSTRY OF CALIFORNIA
What the vast majority of wine consumers and writer's do not know is that there are 100’s of wine producers dispersed throughout the 23 producing areas of the State, that fall into the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (CABC) Type 17/20 license. These are wine producers from whom they could be tasting and buying wine except these wine producers DO NOT own or SHARE their own grape-into-wine processing equipment. Thus, their CABC license 17/20 restrictions prevent them from direct face-to-face contact with the wine consumer, including their own wine club members! You CANNOT visit them at their site nor can they visit you at your home, favorite restaurant or elsewhere. They can ONLY sell their wine directly to the wine consumer via the Internet; not even by phone call or fax.

Meanwhile, the CABC also issues another license type (CABC 2) and it is for those wine producers that own and/or share ownership/use of grape-to-wine production equipment. Holders of this type of license allow the wine producer to market and sell his/her wine directly, face-to-face, to the wine consumer, and/or through the use of phone, fax and the Internet.

The underlying problem is that many wine producers with a CABC Type 2 license (own/share grape processing equipment) feel that the Type 17/20 (do not own/share grape processing equipment) would be allowed to sell its wine without having to expend sufficient sums of money, such as the Type 2 have spent, yet the Type 17/20 can sell its wine at the same price as the Type 2. Thus the Type 2 feels that the Type 17/20 makes more off its wines! This simply is not the case!

From the standpoint of the wine consumer, they could be tasting and buying from the CABC Type 17/20 license holder if they knew about them except it is too difficult for the consumer to search and find them in cyberspace - the Internet.

Because of the Type 17/20 marketing and sales restrictions imposed on this license type these wine producers do not generally know of each other on any significant scale, thus they do not have their own trade association to advocate for them or to collectively and mutually market their products like the Type 2 have.

ACTIONS TO DATE
We are trying to organize Napa/Sonoma Type 17/20 into a cohesive body with the power to sway public opinion and change unfair laws while also exposing the consumer to their fabulous products and thus them to the consumer. We selected these two counties because they represent the largest number in the 23 State wine producing regions.

Our intentions are to produce and sell wine to the consumer primarily through our own wine club membership but also to others. However, since we cannot yet afford to own our own processing equipment, we will have to utilize the “for hire” services of a custom crush house. We reviewed CABC rules & regulations and find we will be seriously hampered in our efforts to sell our wine product. Thus, we went out to other similarly desirous wine producers and asked them to join us in getting the existing laws changed and in forming our own trade association to advocate our interests and mutually market our products. We have also gone to select state lawmakers representing the wine country.

We received a response from one of the wine producers who recently received a citation for illegally donating and pouring at a charity event. We also heard from a major wine trade association to our call for change. Both responses warned us that we should expect to receive strong resistance to our efforts from two sources - the Wine Institute and the Napa Valley Vintners.

MARKETING & SALES
Type 2 buy their equipment individually or pay for it on a lease-rent basis and share its use. For example, Napa Wine Company in Oakville owns equipment and produces their own wines, and they have 25 other small wine producers who pay them to use that equipment to make and store their own wine. These 25 are labeled "Alternative Proprietorship Type 2."

CABC Type 17 license holders use “for hire” operations to make their product. They pay a per-case or per-barrel price. Unless the Type 17/20 know how to make wine, they hire consulting winemakers. Many hire artists and marketing/promotions consultants to design and produce their label and their sales & distribution plans.

Based on all of the above, it can be seen that all wine producers, whether Type 2 or Type 17/20, expend money to process their grapes into wine. Some own, some lease, some rent and some contract out to a bonded facility to produce a wine product. But, they all spend money to derive essentially the same end product - wine - for sale to the consumer: the only difference being the stylistic approaches applied to each varietal by each wine producer.

To distinguish between the types of title on the equipment is simply an economic issue. Some can afford it all by themselves, some can only produce on shared bases and others must simply use “for hire” services. But it is all still just an economic issue. This being the case, then it can be said that the CABC licensing structure (and therefore the legislative acts that create it) must be changed to reflect the difference between the amounts of money that:

(1.) A giant 20 million cases per year CABC Type 2 producer manufactures and markets as compared to,

(2) a mid- sized Type 2 wine producer at 2 million cases per year,

(3) versus a small sized Type 2 wine producer at 20,000 cases per year,

(4) then all the above compared to the capital outlay that is made by a small Alternative Proprietorship Type 2 operation at 2,000 cases per year, and finally,

(5) all of the preceding levels of CABC Type 2 License holders need to be compared to a 200 cases per year Type 17/20 wine producer who buys grapes and has them crushed and processed by a bonded custom crush house.

All produce a wine product designed for sale to the wine consumer, but one segment of the wine producers are disallowed marketing and sales opportunities to the favor of the other segment that has almost no limits on reaching the end user- the wine consumer. Yet all have paid money for the use of bonded wine production facilities to create, in an environment protecting the safety, health and welfare of the people, a product that the consumer wants.

With the above in mind, we then looked at the licensing restrictions on the alcoholic beverage manufacturing of beer and distilled spirits. We did not find any evidence of restrictions being placed on how these beverage producers are allowed to market and sell their products based on the type of ownership of the beverage production facilities.

SO WHY ONLY WINE?
Unknowingly or knowingly, state legislators have denied a segment of the wine producers to market and sell their product on a level playing field with another segment of the wine producers. This is at least a case of lassie-faire or at worst, clearly consists of unfair business practices and restraint of trade by one market segment over another, as supported by state laws, in the same end product industry.

We looked at the statement by the 2006 ABC Director which was published on their Web site as quoted here. CABC “…is pleased to do our part to promote small business growth, expansion and productivity within the State. ….. We hope the following information will be helpful in developing a productive and profitable relationship with the ABC.” Added to this statement is the following quoted from the CABC on its Web site: “OUR BASIC PRINCIPLE …… we will meet our licensing, enforcement and regulatory mandates with honesty, impartiality, and the highest degree of concern for the people of the State....."

In light of all of the above, we feel that CABC has missed its mark in assisting the small wine producer while also denying the consumer equitable access to all legally produced wines!

The California wine production laws and CABC Rules & Regulations require revision to create a level playing field among all wine producers.
UNQUOTE

If you would like to read a complete report on our extensive analysis of the CABC licensing differences please feel free to reach Internet Web site postings listed below:

Click here>> COMPARING CALIFORNIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL RULES & REGULATIONS FOR WINE PRODUCER OPERATIONS:

We have also prepared a possible structure for a CABC Type 17/20 Trade Association. Click here>> http://winecntryselect.blogspot.com/2008/01/wine-country-select-wineriesproposed.html

Finally, we have designed proposed initial funding events. Click here:>> http://winecntryselect.blogspot.com/2007/01/marketing-and-selling-of-concept-napa.html

A CALL TO CHG CABC RULES & REGULATIONS FOR WINE LICENSE TYPE 17 & 20 SALES

Subject: A CALL TO CHG CABC RULES & REGULATIONS FOR WINE LICENSE TYPE 17 & 20 SALES
Date: 8/29/2007 12:34:13 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time
From: Thewinecntryclb2
Reply To:
To: pat@wiggins4senate.com, noreenevans@sbcglobal.net, Laurie.Puzo@asm.ca.gov, info@familywinemakers.org

TO: California State Senator Pat Wiggins, California State Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, Ms Laurie Puzo, Napa Representative (for Evans) and Consultant To Assembly Select Committee On Wine, and Mr. Paul Kronenberg, President, Family Winemakers of California

Subject: A CALL TO CHANGE CALIFORNIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL RULES & REGULATIONS FOR CABC LICENSE TYPE 17/20 WINE PRODUCERS

My name is John Olney, founder of The Wine Country Club (www.thewinecntryclub.blogspot.com/ } which has been designing plans to eventually sell wine under its own label to its wine club members (in development) and the wine consumer in general.

I am writing to you to seek your opinion about, and possible support for, changing the California legislative acts that limit the marketing and sales opportunities of CABC Type 17/20 licenses holders to reaching the consumer by Internet only while allowing CABC Type 2 licenses holder’s almost unlimited access to the consumer.

We have written select Type 17/20 license holders and asked for their support to advocate for changes to the existing laws and subsequent rules & regulations. We received one response that suggested we contact you as it was mentioned that you might be in favor of seeing changes made to these laws, etc. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss our issues.

We have also asked these Type 17/20 license holders to consider joining with us in forming a trade association (TA) which will hopefully include all CABC Type 17/20 wine producers, customer crush houses and the general wine consumers. This trade association would advocate for a change to the existing legislation, and rules & regulations. Additionally this TA would represent a collective platform by which to market all CABC Type 17/20 license holder members in a fashion similar to other existing wine-related trade associations featuring the CABC Type 2 license holders.

You can review our research and conclusions by opening our blog site at www.thewinecntryclub.blogspot.com/ under the first narrative comments.

If you wish to read a summary overview of the issues and findings please click here>>> http://winecntryselect.blogspot.com/2007/08/dear-cabc-type-1720-license-holders-my_15.html, It is titled: “A CALL TO CHANGE CALIFORNIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL RULES & REGULATIONS FOR CABC TYPE 17/20 WINE PRODUCERS.”

If you would like to read a complete report on our extensive analysis of the CABC licensing differences please feel free to search through the postings listed below:
(This is a rather lengthy detailed examination of the issues as we see them)
COMPARING CALIFORNIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL RULES & REGULATIONS FOR WINE PRODUCER OPERATIONS: Click here>> http://winecntryselect.blogspot.com/2007/08/comparing-california-alcoholic-beverage.html

We have also prepared a possible structure for a CABC Type 17/20 Trade Association. Click here>> http://winecntryselect.blogspot.com/2008/01/wine-country-select-wineriesproposed.html

Finally, we have designed proposed initial funding events. Click here:>> http://winecntryselect.blogspot.com/2007/01/marketing-and-selling-of-concept-napa.html

Please let us know your thoughts. Communications channels are shown below. Thanks for your time and we hope that we will hear from you.

John M. Olney, Founder
E-Mail: jjolneytwcc1@aol.com or thewinecntryclb2@aol.com/
1325 Imola West, #409, Napa CA 94559 Phone: 707-299-9548

Maze of winery licensing & charity events

I attended the information meeting sponored by Assemblywaoman Evans and held at the Napa Librarary in February of 2007. At this meeting there was much discussion about the CA laws and subsequent CABC rules & regulations that limit donation and pouring of wine to Type 2 license holders only. As I disagree with this policy, I wrote the paper contained in the URL below:
http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2007/03/maze-of-winery-licensing-and-charity.html

Draft books, published articles and comments

Draft books by John Olney

ABOUT WINE
http://twccvines.blogspot.com/2007/01/chapter-one.html - Chapter 1: The Falling Leafs and Growing Seeds of Changing Times
“Entwined Vines” A novel about the changing wine production and politics of Napa Valley wine growers.

ABOUT SOSUS AND SOVIET SUBS IN THE PACIFIC
http://thesosusman.blogspot.com/2005/10/synopsis-and-chapter-1-to-sosus-man.html - Synopsis and Chapter 1

http://thesosusman.blogspot.com/2005/06/chapters-two-four-of-sosus-man.html - Chapters 2 through Four
“The SOSUS Man” A novel about Soviet submarine operations in the Pacific Ocean based on actual experience of Mr. Olney. Includes the detection and initial localization of the Soviet submarime that sank off of Hawaii and for which the USA used CIA funds to build the Glomar Explorer an the Howard Hughes Barge 1 which retrieved the submarine (or parts thereof) from over 16,000 feet depth. There are 16 chapters in draft form totaling 400 plus pages.

Articles and Comments written by

John Olney

GENERAL COMMENT

http://twcchistories.blogspot.com/2005/08/about-historical-sketches.html
Our Founder’s general comments about the Web sites of the pre-Prohibition Era wine producers. April 10, 2007

ARTICLES IN DATE-TIME-GROUP ORDER (most recent first)

http://jolney.blogspot.com/2007/09/our-continued-call-for-change-to-ca.html
Our continued call for a change to the CA Laws applied to wine producers, September 28, 2007

http://jolney.blogspot.com/2007/09/leveling-playing-field-in-wine-country.html
LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD IN WINE COUNTRY - CONSUMER RIGHTS, September 16, 2007

http://jolney.blogspot.com/2007/09/call-to-chg-cabc-rules-regulations-for.html
A CALL TO CHG CABC RULES & REGULATIONS FOR WINE LICENSE TYPE 17 & 20 SALES, August 29, 2007

http://thewinecntryclub.blogspot.com/2007/09/leveling-playing-field-in-wine-country.html
"LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD IN WINE COUNTRY - CONSUMER RIGHTS." September 11, 2007

http://thewinecntryclub.blogspot.com/2007/06/tasting-experience-with-bardessono.html
Wine Tasting With Bardessono Vineyards, June 17, 2007

http://twcchistories.blogspot.com/2007/04/general-erasmus-darwin-keyes-creator-of.html
General Erasmus Darwin Keyes - Creator of the Edge Hill Estate. April 30, 2007 [Now owned by Leslie Rudd] Historical Site

http://amerwine.blogspot.com/2007/03/here-is-sample-of-what-members-will-see.html
THE AMERICAN WINE INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME - Initialization and Migration - This period is defined as the time from the first arrival of foreigners to the new world up to year about 1825, with the start of America’s great period when it was declared that it “was our manifest destiny to make the United States, one country reaching from coast to coast.” This became part of what is known as "The Monroe Doctrine." Includes Thomas Jefferson - Third President of the United States [1801-1809] (American Wine Industry contributions: 1773-1826).

http://amerwine.blogspot.com/2007/04/nominations-for-year-2007-expansionism.html
THE AMERICAN WINE INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME - Expansionism & Refinement - The period starts from about 1825 and lasts through the enactment of Prohibition against the commercial production of alcoholic beverages in 1920 and up to Repeal of Prohibition in 1933. This is the period when grape wine moved from American varietals and their "foxy" taste to the palette on the East Coast to the pioneers moving to the West Coast and into production using European varietals with a much more refined after-taste.

http://amerwine.blogspot.com/2007/04/captain-paul-garrett-virgina-dare-wine.html
Captain Paul Garrett -Virginia Dare Wine & Vine-Glo. (American Wine Industry contributions: 1900-1940) April 27, 2007

http://amerwine.blogspot.com/2007/04/george-husmann-candidate-for-hall-of.html
George Husmann (1827-1902) - A Wine Writer, Vineyard Manager and Wine Producer Extraordinaire. Candidate for Hall of Fame Induction. April 27, 2007

http://amerwine.blogspot.com/2007/04/nominations-for-year-2007-resurrection.html THE AMERICAN WINE INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME - Resurrection & Perfection - This period commences with Repeal of Prohibition in 1933 and goes to the present. This period constitutes when winemaking retreated from sweet, fortified wines and moved back to premium varietals and excellent generic wines produced in mass quantities. (This period of time is in development)
http://amerwine.blogspot.com/2007/03/west-coasters-look-at-new-england.html
A West Coaster’s Look at New England Winegrowing Operations, March 28, 2007

http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2007/03/winegrower-dinner-at-restaurant-cuvee.html
Winegrower Dinner at Restaurant Cuvee Napa, March 25, 2007

http://thewinecntryclub.blogspot.com/2007/02/first-annual-rosso-bianco-theater-movie_25.html
A Francis Ford Coppola Movie Contest, February 27, 2007

http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2007/02/brass-sounds-at-uvas.html
Brass Sounds a at UVA’s, Februaray 23, 2007

http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2007/02/are-autotaste-and-autobarrel-wave-of.html
ARE “AUTOTASTE” AND “AUTOBARREL” THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE ? February 21, 2007
http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2007/03/maze-of-winery-licensing-and-charity.html
A maze of winery licensing and charity events . Published in "Your Turn," Napa Valley Register Newspaper, Sunday, February 18, 2007

http://thewinecntryclub.blogspot.com/2007/02/vintners-hall-of-fame.html
Voting for First Class of Vintner's Hall of Fame, February 12, 2007

http://thewinecntryclub.blogspot.com/2007/02/nite-of-blow-away-r-at-uvas-in-downtown.html
R&B at UVA's in Downtown Napa, February 6, 2007

http://twccvines.blogspot.com/2007/01/initial-draft-work-undergoing-creation.html
THE REZONING OF NAPA COUNTY - A Hypothetical Myth or could it Become a Reality? January 29, 2007

http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2007/01/my-12907-e-mail-to-matthew-levy-balzac.html
Collection of e-mails about voting for Vintner’s Hall of Fame, January 29, 2007

http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2007/01/1-st-annual-vintners-hall-of-fame.html
1st Annual Vintner's Hall of Fame Nominations - VINTNER’S HALL OF FAME - THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION, January 29, 2007

http://thewinecntryclub.blogspot.com/2007/02/trade-only-tasting-at-frazier-winery.html
A trade-Only Tasting at Frazier Winery - Napa , January 21, 2007

http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2007/01/jazz-in-napa.html
Jazz in Napa - OUT AND ABOUT NAPA, January 21, 2007

http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2006/11/tasting-of-vie-wines.html
Tasting of VIE Wines - A Wine and Food Tasting, November 15, 2006

http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2006/10/food-wine-tasting-with-cuve-napa-and.html
Tasting with Cuvée Napa and Modus Operandi, October 19, 2006

http://www.sthelenastar.com/articles/2006/08/03/features/community/iq_3542130.txt
Alfred Loving Tubbs and the birth of Chateau Montelena, Published inThe St. Helena Star Newspaper, Thursday, August 3, 2006

A series on Judd’s Hill Winery of Napa
http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2005/06/part-1-visit-to-judds-hill.html
A VISIT TO JUDD’S HILL VINEYARDS AND WINERY IN CONN VALLEY, Part 1 of 3, , May 13, 2005.

http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2005/06/part-2-of-visiting-judds-hill-winery.html
A VISIT TO JUDD’S HILL VINEYARDS AND WINERY IN CONN VALLEY, Part 2 of 3, “A Conversation with Holly -- The Mysterious Miss Mauna Loa -- of Judd’s Hill,” May 13, 2005.

http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2005/06/visit-to-judds-hill-vineyards-and.html
A VISIT TO JUDD’S HILL VINEYARDS AND WINERY IN CONN VALLEY, Tasting Judd’s Hill a 1,000 feet up,” Part 3 of 3, June 22005.

http://twcchistories.blogspot.com/2005/08/creation-of-niebaum-coppola-estate.html
The Stories Underlying The Niebaum-Coppola Estate - The Real Origins of Inglenook Vineyards, , June 20, 2005 [Now owned by Movie Mogul Francis Ford Coppola and renamed “Rubicon“] Historical Site

http://twcctastings.blogspot.com/2005/05/beer-or-wine-festival-in-clayton-ca.html
Festival in Clayton, CA - ART & WINE or ART & BEER ? May 3, 2005

http://twcchistories.blogspot.com/2005/04/part-one-krug-estate-charles-krug-era.html
Two-Part Article Historical Site - THE KRUG ESTATE - PART 1 -THE CHARLES KRUG ERA (Duration: 1860-1892) , April 5, 2005 [Now owned and operated by the Peter Mondavi Family]
http://twcchistories.blogspot.com/2005/04/part-two-of-krug-estate-james-k.html
Part 2 -- 2nd Krug Ranch Owner: James Kennedy Moffitt (Duration: 1892-1943), April 5, 2005 [Now owned and operated by the Peter Mondavi Family] Historical Site] Two-Part Article -

The following historical reviews was first published under the purview of Suite 101.com,
in its History Category under Elegant Old Wineries.

http://twcchistories.blogspot.com/2005/08/elegant-old-winery-by-silverado-resort.html
Morris M. Estee Creates Hedgeside Winery & Distillery - . May 9, 2005 [Now occupied by Del Dotto Vineyards] Historical Site

http://twcchistories.blogspot.com/2005/04/story-of-bouchaine-winery.html
Bouchaine Vineyards - Progression of ownership: Boone (a.k.a. Boon) Fly, Johnny Garetto, Beringer Brothers. March 11, 2005 [Now owned by Gerret & Tatiana Van S. Copeland, a du Pont heir] Historical Site

http://twcchistories.blogspot.com/2005/04/part-one-chateau-montelena-alfred-l.html
CHATEAU MONTELENA - Alfred Lovering Tubbs: (1827 - 1896). The Major Business Enterprises: Tubbs Cordage Company, San Francisco; Tubbs Hotel, Oakland; Hillcrest Estate & Chateau Montelena Winery. March 11, 2005. Historical Site