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Hypothetically… It’s a beautiful summer day in wine country.  I’m coming to the end of the one o’clock tour and tasting I’m hosting and it comes time to invite these guests to purchase wine, or even better, join the our wine club membership program. This group was genuinely great.  They were engaging, laughing at my […]

Keeping a few spare bottles of bubbles comes in handy, especially around the holidays for the unexpected guests swinging by, a gift in return for an unexpected present (Yikes! we hate that) but who doesn’t love bubbles?! It may be one of the biggest and most powerful ‘brands’ in the world, with its master marketing, alluding […]

The big T-Day dinner left us full, very full of turkey, stuffing and (non-canned) cranberry sauce. After more than two weeks off of writing and a busy day job schedule, we’ve got some catching up to do! Germany, of any country, has an incredible Christmas culture. Reflecting on the Christmas I spent with Johannes there, […]

At 12:01 AM, French time yesterday, Beaujolais Nouveau wines from this year’s vintage are released, just weeks after fermentation is complete. Obviously, there’s a huge party. The most well known event started Wednesday evening and will continue through Sunday in the town of Beaujeu.
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My Grandpa Jim (Jenny’s) ran a roofing business with my dad and loved his Scotch.  He’d say after work, ‘I think I need a drinky-poo,’ like one would say to a child.  Strong words coming from a 6+ foot man.  We’ve got some drinky-poos to get you through this year’s holidays. You’ve got too many […]

Fall vineyard colors. Something about them makes you want to grab a bottle of red, put another log on the fire, grab a blanket and someone to get under it with…. No? Maybe just us. Yellows, oranges and browns are the tell-tale signal of fall. Each year, the bright, green reminiscent of spring and summer […]

Opus One. The legendary combination of one of the wealthiest in France – Baron Phillipe de Rothschild and pioneer American winemaker Robert Mondavi, who joined together to form the first ‘ultra-premium’ winery in the Napa Valley. In a crowd, the mention of the name may bring any reaction from eye rolls among those who believe […]

Believe it or not, the 339 miles that make up the Mosel Valley can be subdivided into three distinct personalities based on soil, climate and flavor profile characteristics. The Lower Mosel, ironically at the northern end of the Mosel, but named for its lower elevation, also goes by the title ‘Terrassenmosel.’ Steep vineyards can be […]

After six days straight in the vineyards, I started to dream about rocks, slate to be precise, so much so that I wrote my my maid of honor speech for my best friend’s wedding around the theme of rocks for her big day the next weekend.  Don’t ask… Slate. It covered the ground, in many […]

After almost 48 hours awake, 14 hours of sleep, and a big Deutsche breakfast, we were ready to check out the vineyards. I should clarify, we had one breakfast at 2am on Saturday, accompanied with a glass of Riesling halbtrocken, when we woke up and couldn’t fall back asleep… It’s been a relatively dry summer […]

Just a few hours now until our flight to Germany for harvest at the Mosel. Packed? Clothes, no. Enchilada staples for California night? Yes. I’s a weird feeling knowing that vineyards you care for half way around the world were in budbreak last time you saw them and are now holding ripe fruit, waiting out the […]

Fortunately or unfortunately, this post is not about Charlie Sheen getting drunk on Riesling in the German wine region. [Insert: *This was actually a very special day because the evening before Johannes had planned a very romantic champagne boat ride on the Mosel River during which we got engaged! I said yes, in case anyone had doubts…] […]