The passion and energy of wine
I’ve never tasted a Gerard Bertrand wine that I didn’t like, whether it cost $10 or more than $100. The French winemaker, producer, entrepreneur, etc., is one of the most energetic and creative viticulturalists in the world. He is greatly respected for his passion and commitment to preserving the land, especially in the Languedoc-Roussillon region […]
Mascota Vineyards, located at the foot of the Andes Mountains in Mendoza’s Uco Valley, is well regarded for its premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and sparkling wines yet one of the winery’s “secret” gems is Unanime Merlot. When veteran winemaker Rodolfo “Opi” Sadler launched the Unanime brand nearly seven years ago, a 100 percent Merlot was […]
What is the best-selling new wine produced in Italy? The answer is simple: Prosecco DOC Rose`. More than 50 million bottles are in circulation worldwide since Italian wine regulators approved the new production zone and denomination for the Glera-Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) rose` blend in May 2020. According to the Consorzio di Tutela della Denominazione […]
Don’t be surprised if you start seeing more Italian “rosato” (rose`) at your favorite wine shop in the near future. Italian producers from Lombardy to Sicily are banding together to promote a rosato renaissance. The unifying movement, called “Rosautoctono”, is somewhat historic: In a country where people are extremely proud and protective of local and […]
Mouton Cadet Bordeaux Blanc and Mouton Cadet Rose`, from the house of Baron Phillippe de Rothschild, represent one of the best couplets since Cher and Sonny Bono. Ok, I might be exaggerating just a bit. But here are two inexpensive and quality wines from a famous estate that will surely extend good summer times into […]
With California suffering through its fourth driest year on record, grape growers and wine producers are doubling down on becoming more efficient and preserving natural resources. In early August, the situation intensified when the state ordered 1,500 ranchers and farmers to stop taking water from the Russian River, one of Sonoma County’s major water sources. […]
For centuries, the fortunes of Portugal’s remarkable Douro Valley rested with making ageworthy, fortified port wines that were shipped all over the globe. And while porto still reigns in the world’s oldest demarcated wine district, the Douro’s still wines – red and white – no longer sit idly by in the shadow of greatness. In […]
(The second of two parts on Gary Farrell Winery’s “cru” wines focuses on Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.) When it comes to crafting wines for Gary Farrell Winery, Theresa Heredia has a simple philosophy: Let the vineyard and fruit do the talking. Heredia, Gary Farrell’s winemaker since 2012, knows Sonoma County as if she sprung […]
(This first of two articles on Gary Farrell Winery’s “cru” wines focuses on three premium Chardonnay bottlings made in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. The second explores Pinot Noir.) The point about single-vineyard wines is to express the unique terroir – mesoclimates, soils, landscape, etc. – in which the vines are planted and the influence it […]
If Julius Caesar were alive today, he’d be proud to call the debut vintage of the 2020 “Crossing The Rubicon” rosso his own. Crossing The Rubicon is a home-crafted wine using 100 percent Old Vine Zinfandel grapes purchased from a longtime California grower in the San Joaquin Valley. The architect of this savory gem […]
