It’s been an interesting week for wine news…

The New York Times ran an in-depth story about Napa in 2010. The downturn in wine sales as a result of the recession combined with a surplus in grapes has been a tough pill to swallow, and many wineries are trying to reinvent themselves, with a focus on direct-to consumer, wine club and e-commerce. A sobering quote: “…in 2009, sales of wines priced at $25 and above dropped 30 percent nationwide, according to Nielsen. While global wine sales increased, California wine shipments fell for the first time in 16 years.” Read more at NYTimes.com.

In other news, a French court has convicted 12 French winemakers for selling millions of bottles of fake Pinot Noir wine to the U.S. wine giant E&J Gallo. Apparently they were barreling up cheap Merlot and Shiraz and calling it Pinot. The French authorities caught on because they noticed that the amount of Pinot, which was being shipped from the Languedoc, exceeded the amount of Pinot grown in the region. The nearly $10 million scam ran from 2006 to 2008 and apparently the phony wine was sold under the Red Bicyclette label. Nobody at Gallo caught the mistake. Uhh…. Whooops? Read the whole story here at AOLNews.com.

By the way, if you like the wacky little wine napkin pictured above, you can purchase a pack of 30 for $3.95 at TrueFabrications.com. Cheers!

- Economy got you down?  Check out 8 Cheap Wine Pairings for Cheap Foods You Actually Eat.

- A study shows that our expectations of wine can influence the taste.

- Wine Spectator takes a look at the changing face of France’s vineyards.

- And finally, if you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own vineyard?  Check out Wine Tycoon, a video game that lets you open your own vineyard and France while overseeing your operations from your own chateau.

- Having trouble trying to figure out which wine to pair with that asparagus?  Check out Winekillers and how to tame them.

- A guide to replacing your favorite non-alcoholic beverage with wine.

- Wine consumption is on the rise in the U.S. for the 15th consecutive year.

- And finally, coming soon: Frank Sinatra wine.

- Wine Spectator recommends a California white for the end of summer.

- The French are on a wine-buying spree.

- Impress your friends with the wine word of the week: Négociant – just don’t ask me how to pronounce it.

- And finally, check out “8 Unexpected Celebrities with their Own Wine Labels“, my favorite from this list is Lil John, who’s yours?

- Champagne producers agreed to pick 32% fewer grapes this year, leaving billions of grapes to rot on the ground.

- A rare Australian shiraz sells for a record price.

- Petite Sirah is gaining more respect.

- And finally, the Church of Sweden is turning to fortified wine to help battle swine flu.

- A quick profile of the Rock Star of Wine.

- A look at a few wineries using social media.

- In preparation for Labor Day, a panel at the Chicago Tribune rates red wines for grilled food.

- Marijuana, Flowers and Vegetables: Unusual Sources of Wine.

- Governor Schwarzenegger has declared September as California Wine Month.

- According to CNN, your choice of wine may say something about your personality.

- And finally, the Top 10 Wine Labels by Famous Artists.

- French chefs say that if climate change is not stopped, the best wines will be coming from Scotland.

- A look at unoaked Chardonnay.

- 61 Exceptionally Creative Wine Labels.

- And finally, here’s an idea for your empty bottles of wine: stylish outdoor torches.

-Being the gadget geek that I am, I’m always checking out new wine related toys, Iphone apps and the like, and this little device caught my eye… An aerator (much like the Vinturi), but it screws onto your bottle and it looks pretty cool. It’s name? The Soiree. Check it out…

-First synthetic corks, then screwtops and now… plastic wine bottles?

-The Pinot is coming! The Pinot is coming! That’s right- harvest has begun as pickers arrived at Hunter Vineyards south of Glen Ellen to pick the Pinot grapes bound for Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine. Read all about it.

-The state of Alabama’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has banned the above wine label (and therefore the wine) from stores and restaurants in the state because it displays “a person posed in an immoral or sensuous manner”. Hahn Family Wines figures it can sell plenty of it’s Cycles Gladiator pinot noir as a result of the publicity (outside of Alabama of course). LA Times article here.

-Is red wine really good for you? I say unequivocally yes, but here’s an opinion peice from examiner.com.

-…and a little flowery read as the weekend begins: The lavenders are in bloom in Sonoma. Read about it at NYTIMES.com.
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