The Naples Winter Wine Festival — the goodwill economic indicator — raised $8 million this year, up from last year’s take of $5 million. Does that mean today’s economic climate has more people budgeting goodwill? You bet.

News for the generous palate. There’s going to be a wine tasting to generate donations for Haiti on Feb. 13th at D’Argenzio Winery in Santa Rosa.

Romeo, want a wild idea? How about having Elvis officiate a faux wedding ceremony for you and your Valentine in the candle-lit Bella wine caves in Healdsburg? This is a ridiculously charming idea, one that will help you score plenty of romantic points.

Budget-wise ZAP zins. If you’re a zin-fanatic strapped for cash, you’ve tapped into a wealth of wine within reach — $20 and under.

Suspense. The final day of that “Really Goode Job” at Healdsburg’s Murphy-Goode Winery is February 15th. What’s the next step for Hardy Wallace who was awarded the post after competing in an “American Idolesque” contest that played out for months?

Are you a fan of snappy, back-talking zins or do you prefer the gallant, well-mannered ones? These extremes and everything in-between will be poured at the 19th annual ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) Tasting this Saturday at San Francisco’s Fort Mason.

It’s a shame. Sauvignon Blanc Republic is no longer in business, one of the victimsof this economic downturn. As winemaker John Buechsenstein said, “Who knew that the economic tsunami would occur when it did? Stronger brands than ours have fallen!”

Recession-proof wine. I tasted a glass of wine blind last night and it turned out to be quite a surprise. It wasn’t complex, but it was a decent everyday wine for less than $5 a bottle.

The Facebook effect. Winter Wineland had a record number of tickets sold (5,000-plus) but there weren’t any skirmishes reported with the overly exuberant. Apparently no one was spotted roaming through Wine Country with a beer in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.

The Spottswoode, 2008 Sauvignon Blanc was the wine pick at Michelle Obama’s surprise birthday bash this week at Restaurant Nora in Washington D.C. Were the Obamas making a statement by picking a posh organic eatery and drinking a highbrow, organic wine? You bet.