Archive

Our trip to Alsace could be done over a long layover, although it’s practically impossible since the nearest major airport is three hours away. Spent (mostly) eating and drinking, we also learned a ton about the people, their wines and the region. Here’s a glimpse into the 24 hours we were there.   We had […]

A Google news search for El Nino’s effect on vineyards generates tens of pages of opinion articles speculating on if and how the big winter will contribute to the quality of the 2016 harvest. As always, the media is stirring up concern regarding the impact of heavy rainfall on grapevines in articles such as Eater’s, […]

One of the more recent Guild of Sommeliers podcasts out takes a look into the practice of sustainability in wineries, what it requires from the growers and winemakers, and the outcomes of practicing it.  One of the featured guests on the show said something to the effect of (and don’t quote me) if you’re shopping […]

The new wine vocabulary Sustainable, Organic and Biodynamic are increasingly found in descriptions of wines we drink and wineries we visit. But to explain the whole philosophy of each of these categories would take all day. Often times, their principles are confused with one another. Let’s take a brief look at each of them and […]

Independence-Day Drinking or Independence Day-Drinking? Are they synonymous? Either way, this year we are fortunate to have three days on which to celebrate the 4th of July and while we’re at it, enjoy some great wines, day or night. We’ve got some suggestions… Muscadet Somebody get a bag of oysters! Raw or Barbecued, this Muscadet […]

WSET, CMS, CSW… Deciphering all these wine certifications can be less than quaffable in deciding which route to take. If you’re climbing the restaurant ladder into the position of Sommelier or Wine Program Director, then the Court is most likely the best option. But what about the rest of us in sales, hospitality, or purchasing? The […]

Last week, we sent our first five of our top ten favorite activities in Sonoma County. We promised another set this week and here they are and we promise they’re just as fun and economical as the first set. All you’ll need is some fuel and your fellow coworkers soon to be new friends. Here […]

Not enough oak for you last time? Here’s some more on the topic of oak aging. Click here to read our first post on oak. In wine production, there are three main categories suitable for aging wine: French, American and Hungarian/Eastern European. French Oak The main reason for aging wine in French oak is the […]

You always wondered what exactly people are talking about when they say this wine is oaky…until you taste a wine that’s way. too. oaky. Too much oak influence in a wine will suck all the moisture out of your mouth and leave you with a dry, woody, vanilla-y like flavoring that leave you wondering if […]

Or lack thereof… In this post, we’ll explore what’s happening in California vineyards right now, bloom! Checking out the weather forecast last week ago, we noticed rain was scheduled for yesterday, Thursday. It wasn’t much but if it were, it could have left a powerful impact on the vines. Only several weeks ago, the vines started […]

We say, hand over a glass of each!  ‘Tis the season to think pink! Even Riedel is giving Rosé its own glass! Rose. We’ll take it any way it comes, sparkling, saignée, as long as it’s pink — and at least mostly dry. But that’s just us. 3 ways – Saignée, skin contact, blending. Rosé is always […]

Believe it or not, all of Napa Valley was dry farmed until the 1960s, when overhead irrigation systems were introduced. Just a few years later came the early stages of drip irrigation. Still, the benchmark classics of Napa Valley – BV, Inglenook, Martini and others, were farmed without irrigation for many years before then. How […]