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Summer Delight: Ram’s Gate Chardonnay with my homemade lobster salad roll
If you are unfamiliar with Ram’s Gate Winery, a small-lot, premium wine producer located north of San Francisco in Sonoma’s Carneros appellation, don’t be alarmed. I was too until several weeks ago. That’s when I sampled bottles of their introductory Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. My first reaction was to repeat the refrain from Neil Diamond’s […]
Pasqua Family wines tell a love story about Italy with every sip
The Pasqua Family of Verona has a simple philosophy when it comes to winemaking: Put passion and quality into every bottle produced. It also helps that Pasqua’s portfolio of seven wines highlights native grapes – Garganega, Trebbiano di Laguna, Corvina, etc. – and unique terroirs that bring special distinction to the Veneto region. The Pasquas […]
Italy’s Dolomiti wines give rise to Alto Adige’s growing popularity
Besides tasting very good, Italian wines usually have an interesting tell to story. One can learn a lot about Italy’s culture, history and traditions just by reading the bottle label and then following up with an Internet search on the winemaker, the winery, and the region. Often overlooked are wines from Italy’s northernmost wine-growing regions […]
Un-Oaked Chardonnay? Try Pam’s and plunge palate first into Ron Rubin’s delicious Russian River Valley wines
When Ron Rubin purchased River Road Winery in the heart of the Russian River Valley in 2011, he took on the personal challenge of developing a Chardonnay that would win over his wife Pam’s palate. Pam, as the story goes, didn’t like most Chardonnays. And with the help of chief winemaker Joe Freeman, Team Rubin […]
Looking for inspiring taste? Try Robert Mondavi’s Napa Valley Fume` Blanc and Chardonnay
Robert Mondavi’s 2018 Fume` Blanc from Napa Valley is better than ever, showcasing the iconic winery’s innovative spirit in producing richer tasting Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Semilion. The entry level Fume` Blanc, which I recently sampled, offers ripe fruit from Napa’s top vineyard sites at Wappo Hill, To Kalon, and Oakville District. Its […]
Hunker Down Series No. 8: Break out with fruity, delicious, carefree and chilled canned wines
So what canned wine is in your beach cooler? It’s a timely question now that states are relaxing COVID-19 beach bans and allowing residents to head back to the sandy shores – albeit with social distancing protocols in place. In recent years, sales of canned wines have increased dramatically, and the coronavirus crisis has done […]
Ehlers Estate wines: A nod to Bordeaux with a whole lot of California Dreamin’ going on
(This article was updated on May 28, 2020 to correct an inaccuracy and add information supplied by Ehlers Estate. Changes are bolded. The author regrets the error.) Bernard Ehlers’ stone mill barn that he built in 1886 for a winery is still in use today on the Ehlers Estate in the St. Helena […]
Two wines that can’t be held hostage: Eternally Silenced Pinot Noir and Blindfold White
The creators of Eternally Silenced Pinot Noir crow that the California wine will leave drinkers “speechless” but I say the 2017 vintage has found its voice. Indeed, Eternally Silenced builds on its 2016 inaugural with brighter character traits, including intense aromatics and flavors. Maybe it was the excellent growing season in Napa Valley and surrounding […]
Hunker Down Series No. 7: Rose` sets the stage for delicious summer sipping
[URIS id=6180] Sales of dry rose` wines continue to climb across the globe, especially in the U.S., where consumers are enamored by the allure of bright, refreshing fruit flavors, dryness, and elegance for summer sipping. Here is my first of two columns on one of my favorite tasting subjects. Today, the focus is on eight […]
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