Weekly Wine News Around the Web

Wine Works: There's a new urban winery in San Francisco that is offering clients "custom barrel" programs with 80-barrel memberships. Situated in the Dogpatch District of SF, WineWorks is a 15,000-square-foot winery that is equipped with all the machinery to allow clients to crush, blend, bottle, and label their own wine. The facility will also offer blending sessions, private guided tastings and a sensory seminar. Hmmm, urban winery/custom barrel program in the Dogpatch... Sounds familiar.

Wine and Tunes: Summertime is outdoor concert time, and as our stalwart followers know, CORKZILLA loves it when outdoor music and wine come together. Here's a snapshot of some great winery concerts happening across the U.S., provided by The Wine Enthusiast. One of The 'Zilla's favs that is not mentioned on this list is The Mountain Winery, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's a beautiful setting to see a show and the calendar is always packed with great artists.

Air Cork: Here's an interesting read about a man with an idea for a new wine gadget that was featured on prime-time reality TV, courtesy of Wines & Vines.

Wine On The Cheap: We're always on the lookout for that great bottle that doesn't break the bank. Always searching for that elusive bargain that tastes great, is exciting, and is under $20. Finding one that is made here in The States can be somewhat of a challenge. This is mostly because the U.S. is a relatively new kid on the block in the wine-making-world. Unlike in the Old World, the wine industry in America did not evolve to make intriguing, inexpensive wines, as Eric Asimov points out in this article from The New York Times. Grapes in Napa were selected to compete with the world’s best and to sell to distant markets, which means they weren't cheap. These days however, more and more domestic wineries are making an effort create interesting wines at a low price point, as Mr. Asimov points out by providing a nice assortment of pleasurable American wines for under $20.