(Wines&Vines) - Experts at the Best Practices in Winery Operations conference last week in Napa discussed topics such as social media, evaluating vineyard property and contract winemaking. But the most lively sessions at the two-day event sponsored by the Seminar Group were an update about California’s onerous tied-house laws and holding events in Napa County, which has the most restrictive regulations for winery events in the United States. ‘Don’t tell me what you’re doing’ Matthew D. Botting, general counsel of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, presented a summary of updated tied-house rules about contests and sweepstakes as well as a seemingly trivial bill that uncovers a dirty little secret: It’s illegal for winemakers or vintners to sign wine labels at their wineries or restaurants. A new law allows them to sign labels at retailers under strict restrictions, however.