The wine industry in California has blossomed and the wine consuming public can’t seem to quench its thirst for California wines — that’s good news for the industry and economy. Pictured are travel writers sampling wines for a variety of publications ranging from Los Angeles Times to San Francisco Chronicle.

Here’s one special holiday book, and three holiday wine tasting events coming up:

• Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines, book
  Award winning “World’s Best Drinks” author, Natalie Maclean is having fun with her new holiday release wine book, throwing in stories about sharks, goats, predatory hawks, polo horses, sheep and magpies. Some of her previous books and wine tips have been released as phone apps. Her books and downloads with wine buying tips make for great holiday gift giving. nataliemaclean.com/book

• PALM DESERT – Gift of Life celebration – November 12, 2011
  Gourmet food and a wine auction will feature the desert’s most elegant estate, Porcupine Creek, with wines rarely up for auction. Other auction items include three magnums of pinots from different Kosta Browne vineyards, a beautiful 1999 Meritage made exclusively from Bordeaux varietal grapes from Deerfield Ranch Winery, a 1977 Cabernet Sauvignon from Mayacamas, a magnum of the finest red from Mt. Veeder Appellation in Napa Valley’s Vinoce Vineyard, 3 liter bottle of the best Rombauer, a magnum of exceptional 2006 Carneros Pinot Noir from Patz & Hall, a 6-bottle wooden case of 2004 Kapcsandy State Lane Vineyard, 95 points from Robert Parker, and a special 6 liter bottle of Haraszthy Family Cellars wonderful 2008 Zinfandel bottled specially for this event. Seating is very limited so place your reservations now by calling (760)773-6554.

• SONOMA – Sonoma Valley Wine Market – Saturday, December 3, 2011, Noon – 4 p.m. $35 person.
  Taste, Buy, Be Merry! Unprecedented access to over 35 Sonoma Valley wineries all in one place! Sonoma Valley Wine Market will host wine tasting, food pairing, and shopping experience unlike any other. Tickets – sonomavalleywine.com or by calling (707) 935-0803.

• YORBA LINDA – Fall Wine Classic – November 6, 2011, 2-5 p.m. $85 person at Richard Nixon Library.
  500 tickets will be sold to guests who can taste wines from over 53 wineries, nosh Zov’s Bistro for hors d’oeuvres, a Cabot of Vermont cheese tasting, Pepper Jelly tasting with Chili Gourmet Temecula, artichoke dip tasting with Wild Artichoke Yorba Linda, and chocolate and wine pairing. An upscale auction featuring a wide variety of products, services and fine wines includes a Wine Pairing for Ten from Tesoro Winery, sports memorabilia and unique home decor items. Tickets can be ordered online a fallwineclassic.com