Jennifer Jenkin of Pamo Valley Vineyards & Winery tells us, "The Federal Taxation and Trade Bureau has formally designated the Ramona Valley as an official American Viticultural Area."

The new designation -- a sort of geographic pedigree -- now allows wines to be labeled "Ramona Valley" as long as at least 85 percent of the grapes are grown within the boundaries of the viticultural area's 89,000 acres (139 square miles).

To give you a rough idea of the boundaries, visualize a line running from the peak of Mount Woodson, to Starvation Mountain, to Witch Creek Mountain to Eagle Peak, to the center of the island in the San Vicente Reservoir, to Iron Mountain, and, finally, back to Mount Woodson. Got that?

Additionally, an area wine can now be called "estate bottled" as long as it meets these criteria: It's labeled "Ramona Valley"; the bottling winery grew all the grapes used to make the wine on land owned or controlled by the winery within the boundaries; the bottling winery crushed the grapes, fermented the resulting juice (called a "must"); and the wine was finished, aged, and bottled in a continuous process, at no time removing it from the premises.

Note that, with respect to quality, there is no guarantee that a wine labeled within a specific viticultural area is any better or worse than a wine that does not bear such a demarcation.

Learn more by contacting Bill Schweitzer at bill@paccielo.com or (760) 445-5260, or Carolyn Harris at carolyn@chuparosavineyards.com or (760) 788-0018.

You can also visit www.ramonavalleyvineyards.org on the Web. For more information about viticultural area, visit www.wineinstitute.org/ava/index.html.

The group that spearheaded the arduous designation process -- informally dubbed "The Ramona Valley AVA Committee" -- was made up of Carolyn Harris, Bill Schweitzer, Victor and Beth Edwards, John Schwaesdall, and Richard Carrico.

The total woman: The Ramona Women's Connection's Marlene Robershaw tells us, "The Promenade Club's Fitness for Women co-owner and operator, Nikki Bigbee, will be giving tips on fitness for the new year at the club's next meeting, held on Jan. 18."

Nikki Bigbee and brother Peter San Nicholas (co-owners of the Promenade Club, at 850 Main St., Suite 202 in Ramona) will give the presentation. Peter is also owner and manager of the Ramona Fitness Center at 558 Main St.

Also on the program will be speaker and former fashion model Jennifer Strickland from Fallbrook. She will be sharing the "Meaning of Real Beauty."

Those assembled will also be treated to music by the True North Trio singers Nikki Bigbee, Amie Spizey, and Kim Perkins.

The salad-bar luncheon meeting takes place at the Ramona Sizzler, at 4th and Main, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. For reservations, call Francine at (760) 789-1526 or Carol at (760) 788-1348. Complimentary child care is provided by reservation only.

That's all he wrote. Have a great week.

Contact Charles Carr at his Web site, www.charlescarr.com, with your comments or column items.