Wine Country

  2009 Chateau Graville-Lacoste Graves A friend brought this bottle of crisp, minerally Graves over for dinner and I immediately fell for it. Like most whites from Bordeaux, Chateau Graville-Lacoste's 2009 is a seamless blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. The Semillon fleshes out the Sauvignon, giving this blanc a touch of golden color and flavors of melon. I'm saving a bottle for my first chilled Dungeness crab of the season. It would be great with a seafood platter too, or a whole steamed red snapper, shrimp 'n' grits or crab cakes.

  H. Goutorbe Brut Premier Cru 'Cuvée Prestige,' Champagne Laherte Frères Rosé de Saignée 'Les Beaudiers,' Champagne Paul Bara Brut Grand Cru 'Grand Rosé,' Champagne Philipponnat Non Dosé 'Royale Réserve' Dry and delicately yeasty, Goutorbe "Cuvée Prestige" comes alive in the mouth and finishes long and lovely. This respected producer's Champagne has masses of tiny bubbles and beautiful balance. Importer Thierry Thiese knows how to pick 'em. Under $50. Available at Liquid Wine & Spirits in Chatsworth, (818)

The prices for these digestifs are for 750-milliliter bottles, unless indicated otherwise. Jägermeister (Germany) is widely available, about $25. Gammel Dansk (Denmark) is available at Wally's Wine & Spirits in Los Angeles, (310) 475-0606, http://www.wallywine.com ; and Hi-Time Wines in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463, http://www.hitimewine.net , about $30. Becherovka ( Czech Republic) is available at Wally's and at Hi-Time Wines, about $35. Zwack (Hungary)

It's springtime in South Africa. If you want to make the most of your visit to Cape Town, you could hire Shirley Stoltzman to show you the highlights of the city and the surrounding wine country. Shirley Stoltzman tours, 011-27-2143-92075, flytor@worldonline.co.za . Tours for up to three people, $288, including car. Gary Bowne, Santa Ana

OJAI VISITORS BUREAU 888.OJAI.NOW (888.652.4669) www.ojaibound.com Set apart like the mythical paradise of Shangri-La, Ojai offers a place to unplug, relax and connect with real life. It's a place where "one of a kind" takes on new meaning: No chain stores or malls can be found. Instead, you'll discover a picturesque village lined with boutiques, bistros, galleries and gift shops — a great place for holiday shopping. Escape to Ojai and discover a city renowned for its cozy B&Bs and pampering spas —  truly paradise!

Where to buy Piedmont reds Here are some of the places you can buy the wines mentioned in the story. 2007 Chateau Feuillet Valle d'Aosta "Torrette": Wine Expo in Santa Monica, (310) 828-4428, http://www.wineexpo.com, and the Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, http://www.winehouse.com , about $25. 2007 Didier Gerbelle Valle d'Aosta "Vigne Tsancognein Torrette Supérieur": Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818) 222-1111, http://www.

While most places devote a week or two to restaurants and dining out, Santa Barbara ratchets up the foodie factor with an entire month of events, collectively called Epicure.SB. Of course, October is also grape harvest time, perfect for celebrating with winemaker dinners, seasonal menus and more. For a complete list of events, go to the Epicure.SB website. Here are some highlights:   > Vineyards across Santa Barbara County open their doors and talk about their wines.

Here are some of the places you can buy the wines mentioned in the story. 2009 Bebame "Sierra Foothills Red Blend": Domaine LA, Los Angeles, (323) 932-0280, domaine547.com ; and at the Wine Country in Signal Hill, (562) 597-8303, http://www.thewinecountry.com . About $18. 2008 Barrel 27 Syrah "Right Hand Man": Colorado Wine Co. in Eagle Rock, (323) 478-1985, http://www.cowineco.com ; Silverlake Wine in Los Angeles, (323) 662-9024, http://www.silverlakewine.

SONOMA, CALIF. Sonoma Wine Country Weekend When, where: Sept. 3-5, various wineries Highlights: This oenophilic weekend is packed with luncheons, winemaker dinners, vineyard tours, tastings and a grand auction. Cost: Events range from $85 to $500 Info: (800) 939-7666, http://www.sonomawinecountryweekend.com SACRAMENTO Gold Rush Days When, where: Sept. 3-6, Old Sacramento Highlights: Be transported to the 1850s and walk dirt roads, watch historical reenactments, pan for gold, take in period music or a street drama or make crafts.

  2008 Moulin de Gassac Vin de Pays de l'Hérault "Guilhem" Blanc The wines from the Guibert family's Mas de Daumas Gassac were among the first to show what great wines could be made in the Languedoc region of France when that area began to come back into favor in the 1980s. The wines from the estate are haunting — and expensive. But the Guiberts also have a much less expensive wine called Moulin de Gassac made with the local cooperative in nearby Sète. The white, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc, comes from 25- to 50-year-old organically farmed vines, and its vinification is followed carefully by the family.