Fine wine in Tracy, indeed

Jeff Brown, who oversees several vineyards in the Tracy Hills appelation, confirmed early reports that this year's local harvest is going to be a good one and survived an early October storm with nary a scratch:

"This year's harvest has been the longest and most productive in all of my years farming grapes, and next week I should be done with my last two varieties. I grow 23 different varieties here on Bird Road on 400 acres."

Varieties from Southern Italy, Portugal and the Rhone and Bordeaux regions are Brown's specialties. But he says the pride of his Tulip Hills wines (some of the grapes are grown in Tracy) are the Cabernets and Syrahs. "Excellent," Brown calls them.

So tip back a glass, and savor a real taste of Tracy.