Local Versions of Europe's Everyday Wines.

Terms like ''brutal'' and ''worst year in history'' were tossed around with the release of 2009 sales figures at the nation's largest wine industry trade show, a few weeks ago in Sacramento. For the first time in years, California shipments and sales dropped significantly. Wines over $15 a bottle were particularly hard hit. It's not surprising that people are drinking cheaper wines. But why can't they be better wines? [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]