In the San Francisco Chronicle, Esther Mobley profiles winemaker Paul Draper, who retired from making wines at Ridge in 2016, and who she credits with helping to inspire California’s natural wine movement, despite rarely getting credit. “Draper has always referred to his philosophy as “pre-industrial winemaking.” It’s not far from the “minimal intervention” moniker that gets bandied about a lot these days…Ridge was never the only California winery making wine in this way, of course. But Draper became its most visible champion, thanks in large part to the messages he wrote on his wine’s back labels. He took pains to explain to customers, in these notes, how the grapes were grown and how the wines were made, initialing and dating each one.”

“E. & J. Gallo has purchased Denner Vineyards,” reports Wine Spectator, “in a deal that includes the brand, tasting room and gravity-flow winery, plus 130 acres of vineyards in two of the most hailed subregions of Paso Robles: Willow Creek and Adelaida. The winery has been a leader in the region for its complex red Rhône- and Bordeaux-style wines. No purchase price was disclosed.”

In Club Oenologique, Philippe Guittard explores what has made white Burgundy such a hot commodity.

“After years of contentious Napa County hearings and court sessions, the controversial proposal to build the Mountain Peak winery in the mountains northeast of the city of Napa appears to be dead,” reports Barry Eberling in the Napa Valley Register.

Mandy Ellis looks at why restaurant wine clubs are rising in popularity.

On JancisRobinson.com, Tamlyn Currin reviews two new wine books.

And some thoughts on what could be next for Columbia Winery’s Woodinville property.