Great news for those of you who lust for that tooth purpling, robust, style of red wine. After a very successful limited release, the folks who produce the Apothic line of blended wines have permanently added APOTHIC DARK to their regular lineup. I'm already a big fan of the Apothic Red and Apothic White blends. If this wine had a coffee doppelganger, it would be a cup of Hubbard & Cravens dark roast, as this bold bottle offers up its own enticing note of smoky mocha along with a rich ripe satisfying finish. Or as a dessert, it could be a thick slice of Brotgarten's Mocha Cream Torte Rio, a layered sponge cake with cherries and a mocha cream filling on a cookie crust. (Check it out at their Sunday Kaffeeklatsch events www.perkupindy.com )

Even better news, I've seen it as low as $10 a bottle at several grocery stores.

The Unified Wine & Grape Symposium took place last week in California. One of the highlights is the annual, "State of the Industry" session, were experts give updates on trends when it comes to wine sales, and consumer behavior. Some fun facts to share next time you enjoy a glass of the grape.