Throughout Sonoma County’s 14 appellations, region by region, variety by variety, and vineyard by vineyard, reports indicate that there was much variation experienced in terms of yield and timing of harvest, but the general consensus indicates that overall yield was down by an estimated 20% from the average. Nevertheless quality of the fruit that was…
Let’s see…. Did ya take my advice this year to SEEK, FIND, BUY, & ENJOY,(or CELLAR) ANY of these wines?!?!? : ) NV Gruet Cellars Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine New Mexico!!! 04 Domain Wachau “Terassen Federspiel” Niederösterreich Wachau AUT Gruner Veltliner! 10 Margerum Wine Co “Happy Canyon” SB County CA Sauv Blanc!!! 09 Terredora…
Corkage Update The Baltimore Business Journal came out with an article about the upcoming corkage debate (“MD Wine Connoisseurs Want Another Pop at Repealing Corkage Law,” October 28) last Friday. The article profiled Cristin Dadant, co-owner of Clementine Restaurant, who asked the rhetorical question, “Why tie my hands even more to make my business accessible…
Today we have thee wines from Australia and one from Maryland for your virtual tasting. The Aussie’s came from my contact at Old Bridge Cellars and the Maryland wine came from a more personal connection, Susan Southard, the media maven for the Taster’s Guild of Maryland, brought it with her during a recent visit. 2010…
ROLL YOUR LEG OVER – CHEF MIKE IS “BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!” by Michael Fraschilla (A Postscript from Barbara Ringuette can be read in Part 2 on 12/1/11) As October 1 drew close I felt my nerves getting the best of me…. It had been years since I did the role of “Chef Mike”…….
It’s the official start of the holiday shopping-for-what-I-hope- is-a-unique-gift craze! This landed in my inbox, and you know what? It totally fit the bill of something truly different for wine pals: Dear Eve, If you’re anything like me, when you think of wine, you think of pairing it with cheese. But David Hopkins, winemaker at…
Not long after interviewing Stillman Brown [aka Swilly Idle, among other things] on the telephone for my recent article about the opening of the Zeppelin Wine Hangar in Morro Bay, I found myself in his vicinity. I asked him if he would be around if I stopped by, and he said it would actually be…
The Loyal Companion Wine Series gives back to animal shelters and rescue groups After years of crafting outstanding wines from some of the most exclusive vineyards the world over, charitable wine brand Cru Vin Dogs is launching a new series of wines to benefit man’s best friend. Wines from The Loyal Companion Series will dedicate…
My daughter Samantha’s favorite vegetable is the mushroom. No clue where that came from, suffice it to say, I’ve found a way to incorporated mushrooms into several dishes. (Please, send me any recipes you might have with them too Dear Wine Friends!) So, while working the Hart Show Choir Rummage Sale a few weeks ago,…