As advertising revenues plummet and interest in wine soars, the number of wine-focused events seems to have increased exponentially. Magazines need events and tastings to make up for a shortfall in ad revenues. Wine competitions have proliferated. Among wine consumers there seems to be a delightfully insatiable appetite for opportunities to taste wine and listen to wine producers and commentators talking about the liquid we all love. And, fortunately, an increase in consumer interest has spawned a legion of wine writers who also relish the chance to get together and exchange stray thoughts and opinions on everything from pH levels...