He's the East Coast-born entrepreneur with vines on 105 acres in Sonoma Valley, who was honoured to have his Fume m Blanc served to the Queen at a Stonington reception, during her recent visit.

Cosmopolitan Liquors President, Mr. Michael L. Robinson, said that the wine was favourably received by the Royal party.

Cosmopolitan has been importing Dry Creek wines since 1980.

Mr. Stare said: "Our vineyard was started in 1972 and Bermuda was just about the first foreign country we exported to. We are now exporting to the US and British Virgin Islands, Canada, the UK, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.'' Mr. Stare was co-host with Mr. Robinson at a wine-maker's dinner, held at the Waterlot Inn, where invited guests included "restaurateurs and other people who are interested in good food and wine.'' The wine-maker is right now annually shipping out 110,000 cases of seven different products throughout the US and internationally, ranging in price in Bermuda from $10.20 to $23.85.

Mr. Robinson said that there is a bottle for every palate.

California wines have made a major incursion into the list of Bermuda's wine imports, at one time almost the exclusive preserve of Europeans, South Americans and other non-US bottlers.

It was almost 20 years ago when the famous wine tasting lesson was learned by the French.

An Englishman organised some of the best Parisian wine experts to sample, in a blind taste test, wines from both sides of the Atlantic.

It was no surprise to American wine lovers when Europeans were soundly trounced. But it finally opened the door to the mass marketing of California wines worldwide.

The Boston Globe has said about the Fume m Blanc, the wine selected for the Queen: "The owner of Dry Creek Vineyard, David Stare, is a former Bostonian and has earned himself quite a reputation for making top-notch sauvignon blanc. His 1991 is right on track with plenty of herbaceous flavours and a long and intense finish.

And the New York Times said: "Year after year, one of the best California sauvignon blancs is made by Dry Creek Vineyard, in northern Sonoma County. Its 1991 fume m blanc sells for (BD$12.50). This wine is taut and intense. And it has good acid.In fact, it is usually quite elegant! WINE-MAKER'S DINNER -- Pictured from left to right, Mr. Michael L. Robinson, president of Cosmopolitan Liquors, Waterlot Maitre D' Mr. David DeSilva, pastry chef Mr. Bernard Stemphlet, head chef Mr. Regis Neaud, wine-maker Mr.

David Stare, Mrs. Gay Robinson and head wine steward Mr. Stephen Kerr.