L.A. WINELINE WINE CLASSIC TO BENEFIT CHILDHELP.

Byline: LARRY LIPSON

Featuring strictly the wines of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, the Malibu Wine Classic is set for April 2 (1:30 to 5:30 p.m.) at the Sunset restaurant, 6800 Westward Beach Road, Malibu.

Founded last year by Michael Barnes, the fund-raiser for the treatment and prevention of child abuse through Childhelp USA actually begins the previous day with a wine competition,which presents awards in various categories to wines from the three counties.

Some 30 of these South Coast California wineries will join a dozen Malibu-area restaurants to serve samples of wine and food pairs to attendees.

Tickets ($50 by advance order, $70 at door): order online via www.malibuwineclassic.com or [phone].

A TOAST TO ...: Congrats to Andrea Robinson (formerly Andrea Immer), who was named this year's Wine Literary Award winner by the Wine Appreciation Guild. Kudos also to European Wine Council winners Gerald Asher (Outstanding Journalism award) and Karen MacNeil (Wine Educator of the Year award).

The latter two were honored locally at Valentino in Santa Monica recently at a gala dinner event featuring a multicourse and multiwine dinner.

FEELING 'DESPERATE'?: Want a part on ABC's ``Desperate Housewives''?

All you have to do is attend the Napa Valley Auction on June 4 and place the highest bid on a package of five 3-liter etched bottles of Frank Family Vineyards Winston Hill meritage ('98-'02), a case of a limited-production 2004 cabernet blend called Promise (to be released in 2007), a trip to Hollywood for three couples with a stay at the Four Seasons Hotel and a dinner at Norman's hosted by actress Teri Hatcher, winery owner Rich Frank (former Disney Studios president) and ABC president Steve McPherson (partner in the Promise wine project).

Hope you already have tickets. They go very fast. If not, try Napa Valley Auction ticket information at www.napavintners.com.

WAR-ERA WINERY: St. George Spirits, the makers of Hangar One vodka, has opened its World War II Alameda ``hangar'' to the public for the first time in 63 years.

For the price of a $10 tasting glass, tasters can now sample all of the St. George spirits at its hanger home at 2601 Monarch St. on the island city of Alameda.

Information: [phone] or www.stgeorgespirits.com.

NEW RELEASES: Upscale Chilean wine Altair, a French-Chilean joint venture with a 2002 vintage red blend ($55) and its sister wine Sideral ($25) of the same vintage, currently available in the New York tri-state area following a premiere tasting in Manhattan, are due for national release during April and May. ... Leonesse Cellars of Temecula has a 2002 cinsault port ($39) that it describes as ``bursting with aromas and flavors of ripe plum and blackberry with just a touch of dark chocolate.'' Information: [phone] or www.leonessecellars.com.

SIPS & NIBBLES: Among the 135 producers of Rhone-style wines that poured samples at the annual Rhone Rangers tasting in San Francisco Saturday were such catchy names as R&B Cellars from Alameda, founded by a jazz and blues musician; Crushpad, a downtown San Francisco winery; and A Donkey and Goat winery, one of the 25 new Ranger members. ... Arthur Jacobus is the new president and director of Copia, the Napa museum and cultural center for wine, food and the arts. ... Got big bucks for wine? Among some of the private cellar treasure wines for sale at the Duke of Bourbon, 20908 Roscoe Blvd., Canoga Park, are a bottle of 1986 Henri Jayer Richebourg for $1,499.50 and a three-pack of Screaming Eagle 1992/'93/'94, said to be a $7,500 value, for $5,500. Call [phone].

Larry Lipson, [phone]

larry.lipson(at)dailynews.com