For the first time ever, a Pinot Noir from California has been named Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year. The Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2009 was chosen from among the more than 16,000 wines reviewed by Wine Spectator in blind tastings in 2011, for its classic score, its reasonable price and the role the winery has played in the rapid rise of Pinot Noir among California wines.

The Eyrie Vineyards  of Oregon is a pioneer in American winemaking, a small business whose work has placed the United States among the most respected and top ranking wine producers in the world. They were the first winemaker to grow pinot noir in Oregon's Willamette Valley, and in 1975, they produced the first American pinot noir to compete successfully in France with the renowned pinot noirs of Burgundy. In 1979, they placed in the top ten pinot noirs at the Olympiades des Vins in Paris.

Now Eyrie is commemortating that event through timeless pieces of functional art. The 35-year-old wood from their original grapevines will live on in a limited edition writing instrument by William Henry Studios.

Bob Cabral, Director of Winemaking for Williams Selyem, a California winery known for its distinctive Pinot Noir, has been named Winemaker of the Year for 2011 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The publication will honor Bob and other international wine industry luminaries at a black-tie gala in New York City on January 30, 2012.

Constellation Wines U.S. are introducing The Dreaming Tree brand, an affordable collection of wines developed by Award-winning Sonoma County winemaker Steve Reeder and musician Dave Matthews. Founded and harvested in California's wine country, the collection is named after the Dave Matthews Band track, "The Dreaming Tree," from the 1998 album, "Before These Crowded Streets."