The Syrah (sear-ah) grape now accounts for about 194,000 acres worldwide. Of that total, about 55% is in France and another third in Australia where they call it "Shiraz". In California, where there are over 11,000 acres, Syrah has been an incredible success story. In the early '90s there were less than 500 acres of this premium varietal, so you can see what great strides Syrah has recently made in the Golden State!

What makes California such a great home for Syrah is the state's Mediterranean climate - a perfect environment for this French Rhône variety. California's winemakers have substantially shortened the learning curve with this grape. Many of the wines they are producing can stand up to the best that France has to offer. Grape vine age is the big factor here: obviously most of the Syrah vineyards are about 10 - 15 years old now and we are beginning to see great advances in quality for the wines.

Syrah shows many facets: look for black pepper and cassis aromas and sometimes a very rustic flavor overtone the French call "animale". California Syrahs go very well with fuller flavored dishes: stews, roasts, game dishes and rich, full-flavored cheeses.

Truchard Vineyards was established in 1974, when Tony and Jo Ann Truchard came to the Carneros region of the Napa Valley and purchased a 20 acre parcel of land. They transformed what was an abandoned prune orchard into a vineyard and began selling the fruit to a local winery. Through hard work and dedication they quickly developed a reputation as one of the outstanding vineyards in Carneros. Over the past 31 years the Truchard Estate Vineyard has grown to 400 acres, of which 270 acres are planted. The Truchards now sell grapes to more than 20 premiere Napa Valley wineries.

The Truchard Estate Vineyard is a series of hills and valleys, which contain a variety of soils: clay, shale, sandstone, volcanic rock and ash. The various combinations of terrain, geology, and marine-moderated temperatures provide unique winegrowing conditions. Currently the vineyard grows 10 different grape varieties, making it one of the most diverse estate vineyards in California.

In 1989, the Truchards began making wine for themselves using only their estate-grown fruit. An old barn on the property was converted into a winery; this barn became the symbol for Truchard Vineyards and adorns the top of the wine label. With the addition of a 10,500 square foot wine cave, the winery has become a beautiful, modern facility. The winery makes 11 different wines, producing a total of 16,000 cases per year.

Truchard wines are produced with the vineyard in mind. We always will consider ourselves "a big vineyard and a small winery". The wines are hand-crafted using traditional winemaking techniques and exemplify the high quality fruit of the Truchard Estate Vineyard. They are truly: "wines with a sense of place".

Truchard Vineyards is a small family owned winery. If you are planning on visiting Napa Valley and would like to arrange a winery tour and wine tasting please call us at 707.253.7153.

Marin County Area
Take CA-121 until you reach Old Sonoma Road. Turn left on Old Sonoma Road, go about 2.5 miles-you will see a sign for Congress Valley Road. Drive past Congress Valley Road we are the first driveway on the left.

Brent Shortridge has a chemistry with wine

Brent originally had his sights set on medical school. But a summer job at Sonoma's Buena Vista Winery changed his mind. After working with the legendary Andre Tchelistcheff, Brent decided that wine was his true calling. He stayed on at Buena Vista, using biochemistry background in his role as a chemist. Brent worked in other areas of the business as well, including exports and finance. Eventually he became the winery's vice president of marketing.

After leaving Buena Vista, Bernt served as marketing director for the Naps Valley Vintners Associaton. He is currently chairman of the international program at the Wine Institute in San Francisco.

There is still plenty of time to cook on the grill. This wonderful recipe is perfect for a lovely fall evening to enjoy with a bottle of Syrah/Shiraz. Some complementary sides would be a rosemary potato salad with olive oil and grilled veggies.

• 4 rib-eye steaks, 12 oz ea, 1-inch thick
• 1 cup Syrah or other red wine
• 1/3 cup beef stock
• 1 tbsp orange juice
• 2 medium cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary, or 11/2 tsp dried
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and freshly ground black pepperto taste

Trim excess fat from steaks and arrange in a shallow glass dish. Measure all marinade ingredients (except salt/pepper) in a quart glass measure or medium bowl; blend until well-combined. Pour over steaks, turning to coat both sides. Let stand about 20 minutes.

Remove steaks from marinade (reserve) and grill over medium-hot coals until medium-rare, 145°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 5-6 minutes per side, basting with reserved marinade. Sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper.

Makes 4 servings

Why is cork used to stop wine bottles?
Cork is used to stop wine bottles because its structure renders it light, elastic, and impermeable to most liquids and gases. Corks are produced using the bark of cork trees grown in the western Mediterranean. Many wineries are using Stelvin closure - also known as screw caps. Which method is better? This is a hot topic in the wine world and we will have more to come.

What are sulfites and should I be worried about them?
Sulfite is a term used to describe sulfur dioxide and other sulfur derivatives. Sulfites are found in all wines as they are a natural product of fermentation. Sulfur dioxide is used in wine making to prevent oxidation, kill bacteria and wild yeasts, and encourage quick and clean fermentation. The U.S. government requires wine labels to include "Contains Sulfites" to alert those who may be allergic to sulfites. Approximately 1% of the population is allergic to sulfites.

Is wine good for you?
There is growing scientific evidence that regular moderate consumption of wine is good for you. Red wine in particular is said to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. The cholesterol that blocks arteries is low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LPD). This is cleared from the blood by high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HPD). Both are carried in the blood.

What makes a wine "better quality" than another?
The way grapes are grown (viticulture) and how they are subsequently made into wine (vinification) are the two main factors that effect quality in wine.

September 28-November 11
Lake Buena Vista, FL-Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
It's a small world at the twelfth annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival held at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. A six-week extravaganza of wine seminars, cooking demonstrations and cultural experiences, To make reservations for any of the ticketed events, call 407-WDW-FEST. For details go to www.disneyworld.com.

October 12-14
Edgartown, MA-Martha's Vineyard Annual Harvest
The Martha's Vineyard Annual Harvest celebrates the fall harvest from the sea, farm and vine. Join celebrity chefs from Martha's Vineyard and beyond, artisanal food purveyors, and winemakers from around the world at a cornucopia of food and wine on the island of Martha's Vineyard. Events will take place at various venues in Edgartown, Mass. The festival's signature event, Saturday's Sumptuous Stroll, offers an afternoon of wine, artisanal food sampling and cooking demonstrations, all held under a tent at the Martha's Vineyard Museum. For a complete list of all events, attendees, lodging and ticket information, please call or call 508-939-0880 or visit www.seafarmvine.org.

October 19-21
Paso Robles, CA-Paso Robles Harvest Wine Tour
The Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association invites wine lovers to enjoy the 2007 harvest through a combination of special winemaker dinners, vineyard tours, seminars, cooking classes, concerts and arts. More than 75 wineries are taking part in this celebration. This is a great opportunity to meet winemakers and find great harvest discounts. For the latest information on participating wineries call the Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association at 805-239-8463 or 800-549-WINE, or visit www.pasowine.com.

October 26-28
Fredericksburg, TX-Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest
The seventeenth annual festival will feature the best of Texas' wines, food and entertainment. The weekend warms up with the Best of the Chefs dinner from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, the festival takes over the Marktplatz with fine wineries such as Sister Creek Vineyards offering samples of their vintages, food booths, cooking classes, live music and more. Cost is $20 for adults, $5 for anyone under 21 and kids under 12 get in for free. A Sunday brunch from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. will close off the weekend ($45). For more information, visit www.fbgfoodandwinefest.com.

Firstly, plan ahead and know which wineries are worth visiting. Much of the pleasure of wine comes from knowing their background: the vintners, the land, the history, the methods that create a wine.

There is extensive information about most wine regions available online. Some smaller wineries may only open their doors (and bottles) following an advance phone call. Be careful, also, not to over-schedule - even the most seasoned tasters find their palates dulled after too many wines. Three wineries make a reasonable day's excursion.

Some wineries will charge a tasting fee, and some also offer extended tours or classes. Now that you are ready to travel, here are a few key U.S. regions well worth exploring:

Napa Valley, California napavalley.com
The grand-daddy of all wine-country, It's all about golden California sun, and world-famous wines.

Sonoma County, California sonomagrapevine.org
It supports a broad range of wines and boasts a particular knack for spicy Zinfandels.

Willamette Valley, Oregon oregonwine.org, yamhillwine.com
The verdant Oregon wine country is home to some of America's most admired pinot noirs.

The Finger Lakes Region, NY fingerlakeswinecountry.com
Much of the wine is made in the tradition of German wines, with fine Rieslings and Gewürztraminers.