Vineyards in Sonoma. (Flickr: torbakhopper)

In Wine-Searcher, Liza B. Zimmerman explores the debate over rural character vs. growing tourism in Sonoma County, and talks to Neighbors to Preserve Rural Sonoma County, an organization that aims to protect the rural character of the area.

In the New York Times, Eric Asimov pays tribute to “Raymond Trollat, a storied grape grower and winemaker who embodied the spirit and history of France’s Northern Rhône Valley and its area known as the St.-Joseph appellation.” He died in Lyon, France. He was 91.

Where did all the Merlot go? In the Wall Street Journal, Lettie Teague rediscovers the misunderstood, maligned grape.

In VinePair, Sam Eifling explores cringeworthy wine advice. “Not every piece of wine lore is false, but between insecure snobs and skittish wine drinkers, much of the most common advice about how to drink, choose, and treat wine should be taken with a cork-sized grain of salt.”

In Wine Spectator, James Molesworth reports that “Memento Mori’s founders, along with winemaker Sam Kaplan, have decided to create their own permanent home. With the purchase of the former Stonescape estate in Calistoga, this new star among boutique Cabernet producers is following a similar path in trying to set itself up for a generational run.”

National Geographic highlights five great US cities for wine lovers.

In Wine Enthusiast, Petrina Darrah talks to New Zealand winemakers about how they’re dealing in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, which drove heavy wind and rain across the country’s winegrowing regions.

Elsewhere in Wine Enthusiast, Kayla Blanton offers a list of 10 wine social media accounts to follow.