Apparently, these wines are the first sold in America that are officially Fair Trade Certified according to international (FLO) standards. They’re already doing well in Europe. The Fair Trade Certified label guarantees that vineyard workers will be paid fair wages, they will use sustainable agriculture practices, and premiums from sales of the wine will go toward education, child care, or anti-crime programs in their wine growing communities.

I had a friend working harvest in Stellenbosch and the stories he would tell about treatment of the native farm workers sent chills up my spine. So wrong.

The Fair Trade Certified guarantee is made by TransFair USA, an Oakland non-profit. So we have a local reason to uncork too. You numbers folks might be interested to know that In 2007, U.S. sales of Fair Trade Certified product surpassed $1 billion for the first time, according to estimates from TransFair USA and the Fairtrade Labelling Organization. These sales have helped TransFair USA deliver more than $100 million in additional revenue to farmers throughout the world in just over eight years.

Here are some of the labels to look for. They have a black and white Fair Trade logo and should be in stores this month:

Live-A-Little - South Africa’s Stellar Organics
Wandering Grape - Sourced from grapes in Argentina and South Africa.
Neu Direction - Argentina’s Bodega Furlotti Winery and the Viña de la Solidaridad Co-op

They profiled Brokenwood, a winery in the Hunter Valley that recycles and reuses its water to the best of its ability, but winemaker Iain Riggs says the 2009 vintage could make or break their bottom line. Scary stuff.

I’m assuming it was lead glass and not pure crystal. New meaning to the term wine headache, eh?

Too soon? Who cares. Have you tasted that juice? If anyone hears of other wine deals and ways to save, post them here!

According to the movies, all the protests and underground boozing of the 13 years of Prohibition took place in Chicago and New York, but little St. Helena had its fair share of speakeasies and bathtub gin.

Next month, beginning on Dec. 5, the wineries and businesses surrounding Appellation St. Helena will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Repeal (formerly known as the 21st Amendment) with free tastings, discounted dinners and giant parties.

Among the creative attractions at wineries is a tasting room converted to a speakeasy at Rutherford Grove Winery; waived tasting fee, hors d’oeuvre at Chase Cellars; and a group of boutique wineries gathering to pour at Ehlers Estate.

That’s hard to say. Wine is so subjective. One person’s oaky Chardonnay is another’s opulent masterpiece. I have a Napa friend who, in a trade, would most likely pick the Stonehenge Cabernet Sauvignon she can count on for consistency rather than take a chance on a French Bordeaux - even if it was twice the price.

If you drank a bottle of your roommate’s wine by mistake and couldn’t locate a bottle to replace it, what would you do? Give her a bottle of the same varietal from your rack? Search for a bottling from the same vintage but different region or appellation? Use it as an opportunity to introduce her to your favorite little Alicante, a wine that has nothing to do with her bottle that you consumed?

What would you do in a game of wine trade?

Money’s tight, and I stumbled upon a great web site for self-gifting or holiday gifting ideas. So thought I’d share.

The Massachusetts-based Bin Ends is an online retailer that sells overstock, inventory reduction and close-out fine wines at a major savings. This week’s markdowns includes a case of 2002 Masion Louis Latour Mersault 1er Cru “Perrieres” for $475 or $39 a bottle. That a savings of more than 30 percent.

They offer other packaged savings, like a hand-selected six bottle pack for $58 with free nationwide shipping. Search for a particular wine by vintage or region, check in with the insta-sommelier or follow their live tastings via Twitter.

The wine festival runs through Nov. 15, with a different event featuring unlimited complimentary pours every night for six nights. It’s like a wine Hanukkah. The point of each themed-event is to expose young wine drinkers to wines from around the globe and to mingle with like-minded millennials. The event tomorrow, Nov. 11 at the Solarium, for instance, is themed around imports.

Naturally, each night wouldn’t be a party without an after party. Admission to those are included in your admission price too.

Admission is $75 and gives you access to all six events including Saturday’s closing Red Gala. Purchase a ticket for a single event for $35.  For more information, including a list of participating wineries, visit San Francisco Wine Week.

The winery has grappled with problems in recent years. Bacterial funk and TCA taint in the cellar led to several less than desirable vintages. But Reybier was lulled by Montelena’s history and standing. Not only did the winery win the white portion of the Paris Tasting, but its Cabernets easily stand up to the best of the Valley. Reybier also owns Cos d’Estournel, the Bordeaux second growth in St.-Estephe, said he planned to move Montelena’s Cabernets into a more opulent, intense style, a la Shafer Hillside Select.

But, what now? In managing general partner Jim Barrett’s words: “The process did not result in the outcome we or Mr. Reybier desired. However, we find ourselves energized by the enthusiasm and vision expressed by all the parties who bid for ownership of Chateau Montelena. We now embark on a pursuit with which we are familiar and uniquely capable - to realize the full potential of this unique and special property.”

In other words, Barrett and managing director Greg Ralston will continue to lead; winemaker Cameron Parry and vineyard manager Dave Vella will continue to oversee production while Barrett’s son, Bo, master winemaker will continue on as a limited partner  and technical advisor.

My guess: some credit issues on Reybier’s part, perhaps a result of the devastated economy, unplugged the deal for everyone. Or perhaps the Barretts weren’t pleased with the direction he wanted to take the winery in. Who knows. But, if you like what Montelena does, particularly with their Cab, looks like nothing’s going to change for the time being. Wonder if Diageo’s looking…

Joy to the world. Nothing heals a stomach flu faster than watching your candidate slam-dunk the election and put perma-smiles on the faces of all your Oakland neighbors.

Kendall-Jackson is pretty stoked too. When the vintner got wind that the president-elect like its Chardonnay (a People magazine article mentioned a bottle of it sitting on the Obama’s counter top) they sent two cases of the Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay to him. The wine has been the top selling Chardonnay in America for the past 18 years. Who knows what other goodies will fill the Pennyslvania Avenue cellar beyond the requisite sparkling goodies such as Iron Horse and Schramsberg.

According to Mark Osmun of Kendall-Jackson, the Reserve Chardonnay was a favorite in the Reagan White House, too.

Talk about reaching across party lines. YES WE CAN!