Anderson Valley

A volunteer firefighter who fell ill while battling a fire in Mendocino County apparently died of a heart attack, according to a preliminary coroner's report. Robert Roland, 63, had joined the Anderson Valley Fire Department two months ago, said Chief Colin Wilson. Roland was taken to Ukiah Valley Medical Center on Wednesday after having breathing problems on a fire line northwest of Philo. He died Thursday morning.

A volunteer firefighter has died after collapsing while battling a blaze in Mendocino County, authorities said. The Anderson Valley Fire Department says Robert Roland, 63, died Thursday at Ukiah Valley Medical Center. The cause of death has not yet been determined, but department volunteer Dawn Ballantine said Roland's death probably was heart-related. Ballantine said the all-volunteer squad of 41 firefighters is battling a 550-acre blaze, one of hundreds in the state started by recent lightning storms.

More than 75 esteemed vintners will offer tastings of more than 400 Pinot Noir vintages at 2010 Pinot Days, a celebration of the delicate but delicious wine made famous by the movie "Sideways." Pinot Noir regions that will be represented include the Russian River Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, Oregon, Carneros, the Anderson Valley and the Sonoma Coast. Barker Hangar, Santa Monica Airport, 2021 Airport Ave., Suite 203. Sun. 1-5 p.m. (415) 246-2967. $50. www.pinotdays.com.

Here's a wonderful Viognier from Copain Wines in Anderson Valley, Calif. The grapes come from Broken Leg Vineyard, which takes its name from the broken leg sustained by grape grower Steve Williams when he was planting vines on the steeply canted hillside. The 2003 has loads of varietal character. Close your eyes and you'd think you were drinking a Condrieu from the northern Rhone with its beguiling scent of flowers and ripe peaches and rich, mouth-filling texture.

WHEN IT COMES to wine making, Mendocino County's fine reputation continues to expand. John Parducci's stalwart pioneering of quality wine; the Fetzers; the newcomer, Jepson Vineyards; plus a few small wineries such as Husch, Navarro, Lazy Creek, Handley Cellars, Christine Woods and Greenwood Ridge all are contributing to the growing reputation of Mendocino County and the Anderson Valley in premier wine-making circles.

One of three girls accused of slipping gopher poison into the sandwich of a classmate who had been seen talking to a boy that one of the girls liked was allowed to return to school. The 7-year-old was allowed to resume her education at Anderson Valley Elementary School after a 4-1 vote of the school board. By the same margin, the board voted to let the other girls, ages 8 and 9, begin classes in an alternative education program. The girls still face misdemeanor charges in Juvenile Court.

Twenty years is a good chunk of time by any standard. All the more when it represents the kind of dedication and hard work it takes to make a small agriculture-based business successful. That's why the 20th vintage is considered a real milestone for a small wine producer. At this point few California wineries can claim 20 vintages. The number will swell rapidly in the next few years, reflecting the wine industry's explosive growth in the early 1980s.

Contrary to the view expressed by Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton (Oct. 27), not all of his constituents are making only glowing comments about the Ronald Reagan Library. Besides the project's name being an obvious contradiction of terms, I and many fellow residents of Simi Valley are concerned that our relatively quiet city will become significantly more congested. Already within the past year three new traffic lights have been added on Madera Road within one mile of the library's access road.