By Jim Campanini Did you ever drink wine from a can? Odds are that you haven’t, but times are a changin’ and so is the wine industry. Canned wines are gaining popularity worldwide, especially in the United States, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. The reasons are obvious: cans are portable, recyclable and less expensive […]
Red wines
Part II: Gary Farrell Winery’s “cru” Pinot Noirs capture Russian River Valley’s sense of place
(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 […]
Craving something savory and special? Try Stags’ Leap Petite Sirah
Looking for a new wine to add to your spring beverage list? Stags’ Leap Winery’s Petite Sirah (SRP $47, abv. 14.1%) is the right choice, especially with Easter celebrations on the horizon. Petite Sirah is NOT Syrah, It is a distinct varietal that was created by a botanist – Francois Durif – in Montpelier, France […]
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 […]
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 […]
Seven ‘smart buys’ on premium California Cabernet Sauvignon
Selecting a top-notch Sauvignon for the holidays shouldn’t bust your budget.There are many exciting U.S. wines on the market, especially from California where cab is king. But as we often do around the holidays, the tendency is to splurge and overspend. I hope the following selections help you to resist that temptation – and keep […]
Need a wine for Thanksgiving dinner? Here are 30 outstanding values to feast on
The 2019 Thanksgiving Wine List, based on the selections of five industry experts and educators, is a fabulous guide to plan your holiday meal. It matches the textures and tastes of quality, affordable wines with the flavorful food of a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings. food. Here are 30 great buys for your […]
Browsing for wine? Here are six for the weekend shopping cart
If you’re looking for wines this weekend, here are some specials to put in the basket. Delas Viognier Pays D’OC 2017, $9.99 – A nice Rhone Valley white that comes across more refined than the price suggests. Filled with apricot, peach, and honeysuckle flavors, this 100 percent Viognier sees only steel tank fermentation and yet […]
Singing the praise of Sannio’s Aglianico and Falanghina wines
Campania’s powerhouse red grape Aglianico is often described as the “Barolo of southern Italy,” prompting winemaker Libero Rillo to take a qualified – and prideful – exception: “We, in Benevento, hear that often and politely correct it. ‘No’, we say, ‘Barolo is the Aglianico of the North.’ ” Rillo’s point was well taken at a […]
