Looking at the two men, one wouldn’t notice much in common; except maybe the worn out pair of jeans each wore and the purple stains under their finger nails. But these two men share the same passion – wine. “Some kids went to preschool,” said D.J. Latcham, a 24-year-old third generation winery owner and operator at Latcham Vineyards. “I went to the tasting room. There is wine in my veins. Some zin is in there somewhere.” For Mount Aukum winemaker Michel Prod’hon, a native of a tiny French village who moved to the U.S. 31 years ago, wine was a part of growing up. “When I grew up, we didn’t wait to drink. I have been drinking wine since I was little.” His childhood memories involved pickin

The El Dorado Winery Association’s Bring Out the Barrel will take place January 29-30, 2011. It features barrel tasting from 26 wineries in the El Dorado wine country. In addition, many wineries feature entertainment, live bands and food pairings. Ticket prices are $20 in advance if purchased before January 23. Discounts are also available for designated drivers and groups. To purchase tickets and learn more, visit www.eldoradowines.org. Before visiting an El Dorado winery, a few tips from veteran wine drinkers and winemakers on how to make the most of your experience: Find a designated driver. Convince a friend or hire a car service to be your driver for the day. These wineries offer g

 “Whose cuisine reigned supreme?” All of the contenders in the 8th annual Celebrity Chef Challenge brought their ‘A’ game and amazed the judges and crowd with their culinary talent. Judges , 2009 challenge winner, Adam Pehal, Regional Vice President Wells Fargo Foundation, Chevo Ramierez, Sacdine.com food and wine blogger, Charlotte King, and News 10’s Bryan May, sat with satisfaction on their faces as they were served succulent dish after dish. “The judges reactions are like little kids at Christmas,” said Sacramento and Company’s Melissa Crowley, emcee for the night. “Oh my gosh, it’s amazing. I love watching the chefs brainstorm.” Hundreds of people came out to the California Auto M