I never gave much thought to drinking aged Chardonnay made in California, believing that French vintners from Burgundy had a monopoly on the terroir and grapes conducive to crafting such outstanding, long-lived whites. The good news is I was wrong – and happily so. In early August, I was among a dozen wine and food […]
General Wine
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 […]
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 […]
There’s star power behind Frank Family Vineyards’ Napa Valley wines
Rich Frank had the money and Hollywood connections to launch his own winery in 1992, but it was no guarantee of success in the big-time Napa Valley market. Fortunately, Frank’s knowledge of and passion for wine, expert business sense, and close-knit family talent were the most valuable assets in the overall equation. The former president […]
What do Kim Crawford, Sarah Jessica Parker and Charles Krug have in common? Bright, exciting Sauvignon Blanc for hunkering down
Life goes on – at home – and I’m not going to let the COVID-19 outbreak get me down. First, I want to express my gratitude to all the medical personnel and first responders who are on the front lines during these difficult times and helping the nation’s coronavirus victims. Second, I send my prayers […]
Buy wine online, save a job, and put a cork into the spread of COVID-19
While I am faithfully following all social-distancing protocols because of the COVID-19 crisis, I am still embracing the splendid art of drinking and dining at home. With that important message in mind, let’s not forget your local wine shops and their employees. Some are trying to find a way to do any type of social-distancing […]
Wines of the Day (1-25-20): Vina San Pedro wines from Chile offer value
True or False: Chile annually exports more wine to world markets than does the United States. The answer is true and, quite frankly, amazing. At the close of 2018 Chile ranked No. 5 with $2 billion in global exports, according to a recent Wine Advisor report. The U.S. was No. 6 at $1.4 billion. (France […]
My Top 30 Memories (Wines) List of 2019
My top memories of 2019 certainly had a lot to do with wine and sharing it with family – especially my wife The Wine Goddess – family, friends and new acquaintances. This list of 30 wines reflects the best memories of those instances and not the value of the wine. I remember these moments and […]
No one wins in a wine war between U.S. and EU
When wine and cheese become part of a U.S.-European Union trade war, you know world leaders on both sides of the dispute have a corkscrew loose. This is not a political opinion column so I will refrain from positing blame. However, there are facts you should know as a wine consumer. If the Office of […]