I've been follow the rise in charity wine projects lately so I love this story in Wines and Vines about Rivera Vineyards. Steve Rivera donates all the wine from Rivera Vineyards in the Atlas Peak area to Bay Area charities. Rivera pays all the expenses of growing the grapes and creating the wine and then donates the wine to charities which auction them off or use them at events. The wines are well-regarded Cabernet Sauvignons created by the master hands of winemaker Karen Culler and vineyard manager Pete Richmond of Silverado Farming Company.

Rivera, who has published several Bay Area magazines, had no plans to get into the wine business. When Rivera and his wife Marilyn bought 65 acres in the Atlas Peak area they planned to use the property as a getaway but his friends who saw the quality of the grapes encouraged him to make wine. So far they have planted 7.5 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and more recently added 3.5 acres more including some Petit Verdot. Rivera produced 100 cases of wine in 2003 and has now produced 250 cases of the current, 2004 release. He hopes to eventually reach 400 to 450 cases and has talked to Michael Mondavi about adding his brand to Mondavi's Folio Winemakers Partners portfolio as a charitable effort. Rivera hopes to create a wine that would probably sell for about $100 for a 750ml bottle and would let the buyer choose which charity they opted to support with their purchase.

Domaine Chandon is famous for the their sparkling wines but they also make fine still wines that are perfect for summer. Case in point, their 2006 Domaine Chandon Unoaked Pinot Noir Rosé. Not only is it a screw cap (like their unoaked Chardonnay) but it has a gorgeous pink hue and a a nose of cherry blossom and lime. The wine itself is light and fruity with a refreshing snap but still tastes like a serious wine despite the rather Arbor-Mist-like color. It sells for $20.

Cloud View doesn't make a whole roster of wines, just one simple and delicious estate red. The wine which is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes (the 2003 is 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot) grown in the Pritchard Hill area of Napa Valley, California. Winemaker Karen Bower Turjanis, formerly of Cardinale, Lokoya, and Paul Hobbs Winery and owners Leighton and Linda Taylor have created a rich and fruity wine that has an ardent fan club. The wine sells for around $65.

I've been on a Merlot kick lately, while Cabernet Sauvignon is a great winter wine, Merlot's fruitier feel makes it a great spring red. Another great Napa Merlot producer Duckhorn Vineyards has just released their 2003 Merlot offerings: the 2003 Duckhorn Estate reserve and the 2003 Duckhorn Three Palms reserve. The Three Palms Vineyard, which has been producing Merlot since 1978 is located on the northeast side of the Napa Valley in an area that has rocky and well-drained soil. The wine is 75% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 7% Cabernet Franc. It spent 20 months in French oak château-style barrels. The resulting wine is described as smooth and full-bodied with a palate of red fruit notes and cedar and oak. The wine costs $80 per bottle.

Fine wines usually feature exotic names, chateau this and domaine that. But in the tradition of less evocative names like Screaming Eagle, Don Sebastiani & Sons have announced a new luxury label with the quirky name of Used Automobile Parts. The Bordeaux-style wine, a blend of  Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec sourced solely from Napa Valley vineyards will cost $50 per bottle and also comes in three packs for $150. The three packs will feature three different closures: screw cap, Zork, or the new German Vino-Seal. The bottles have lettering in 22K gold screen printed and fired onto each bottle.

LifeTips has a great section dedicated to the storage of wine. Pretty much every topic is touched upon from building your own wine rack to wine cellar cooling tips. Some quick and important storing tips to keep in mind: keep bottles on their sides, store where there is little temperature fluctuation, high humidity is important for long term storage, and pay attention to the age worthiness of your wine before they go past their prime. Keep in mind wine cellars are not just meant to only be pleasing to the eye, but they must be just as functional as they are attractive. The need for a vapor barrier is commonly ignored when your designer doesn’t have the necessary knowledge of wine.