I've got some actual bright economic news today. Local store managers and wine directors say two good trends are affecting area wineries and wine lovers.

First, because lots of wines get released about now, and because the economy is still fragile, it looks like there are some good prices ahead on some pretty decent wines.

Also, the average price people are willing to pay for a bottle is inching back up again, which is a sign of general consumer confidence and a breath of relief for the industry, particularly smaller and mid-sized wineries – which describes most folks in the foothills and nearby regions.

Let's start with the second part. It's not everyone or everywhere, but many buyers are paying a few bucks more for wine more often, maybe $10-$20 in supermarkets instead of $5-$10.

"What's fueling the tick upward is a sense of calming," said Rick Mindermann, store director of Corti Brothers. "It's also part of general interest in quality in food and wine. Maybe that $6.99 bottle seemed subconsciously too much like a bargain wine, and now people are moving back a little higher to get a wine with a real story."

Hank Beal, the corporate wine buyer for Nugget Markets, said he's not yet popping any Champagne corks, so to speak, but he's seen some recent movement, too.

"We're closing the gap on bottle price," Beal said. "We're not where we were two years ago, and it's still going to take some time, but there is a sense in our stores that people are willing to spend a little more."

There's even a bigger sense of that in specialty food stores like the Market at Pavilions.

"The change literally started the Thursday before Labor Day," said Michael Chandler, the wine director there. Instead of tons of $20 bottles, he's selling more $45 and $50 wines, though it's still not like the economy is totally roaring.

"Lots of people are getting back to their mainstays," Chandler said. "Those expensive wines were stagnant for the last six months, and all of a sudden they're hot. Before, people were coming in saying, 'Do you have a good pinot under $15,' and those are four words that don't go together."

Weak wineries weeded out

The general sense, too, is this is a good thing at all levels.

"It's healthy for the industry," Mindermann said. "This tough economy was a weeding-out period, and it looks like the ones that survived are going to make it."

There is also good news on price. There appears to be some good values on high quality wines, not just bargain buys, coming our way.

"Distributors are offering discounts. Retailers are offering discounts," Beal said. "Some wineries who never offered price cuts are suddenly giving us very good deals.

"There is so much value out there because there's so much wine out there. And they're having a big vintage this year, so that's not going to change for a while."

Corti Brothers is seeing the same thing, in part because wineries are into crush and have to clear out space.

"It's not so much the upper rung, but there are discounts at every other level," Mindermann said. "Wineries have to clear out wine, and customers will benefit from that."

A vote for Clover

Meet Clover Jean, a fixture on the midtown restaurant scene. And now she's a fundraiser. Sort of.

Clover Jean is a sweet rescued pit bull and a regular on patios at such eateries as Café Bernardo, Three Sisters and Tuli Bistro – she loves Tuli Bistro. And she's part of a "My Dog Is Family" photo contest to raise money for BAD RAP, a Bay Area nonprofit that rescues and adopts out pit bulls (including Michael Vick's dogs).

Her people, Monica Hernandez and Kevin Flanagan, adopted her from BAD RAP and are raising money to return the favor to other dogs and people, and to spread the word that pit bulls are great dogs.

"I had been afraid of dogs all my life," Hernandez said, "then I got to know my friend's pit bull. She was so warm and gentle and calm, plus she didn't smell. We are so lucky we adopted Clover."

You can help them raise money by voting for Clover Jean – it costs $1 per vote (with a $5 minimum) and you can spend as much on votes as you'd like. For info and her vote page, go to www.tinyurl.com/Vote4Clover before Oct. 15.

Call The Bee's Rick Kushman, (916) 321-1187. Listen to him Tuesdays at 8:40 a.m. on NewsTalk 1530 (KFBK).