I must admit that, living in Healdsburg, I was mortified when an Indian casino was built into the pristine hills above neighboring Alexander Valley. And I still think River Rock Casino is an eyesore and does not belong perched on a hill overlooking vineyards. Recently, I discovered a different side of the tribal gaming story…
A film by David Kennard 82 minutes, documentary, color, 2014. In English & French w/ English subtitles (optional English SDH). From the start – a hot air balloon ride to celebrate a winemaker’s birthday – you see people smiling while working together to get a balloon upright and ready for a journey. This film, encapsulating…
This week readers get a peak into the wine world of Tanya Green, owner of Wine 661. Tanya recently celebrated her 2nd year with a candlelight party, does beer and wine tastings, live music but I thought it high time we focus on a local lady living the life of a wine bar owner. …
Recently I was thrilled to meet one of my Facebook wine friends in real life: Carmen Russo. We both attended Kirk and Nicole Stinson’s 4th of July party and met, don’t you know, over wine. I had brought a couple of “picnic” wines, a French Rose and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, while Carmen brought wine…
In looking at new ways to help wine 101ers learn about wine I remembered that in the weeks I was studying for my WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) test I asked the other students to my home for some group study meetings. During one of those sessions one woman had found a really cool…
First of all, I apologize for w[h]ining so much in my article two weeks ago. I’m sure we are all glad I got that out of my system. There will be no complaining this week, I promise. I’m probably dating myself when I say we used to eat at Hamptons in Burbank. Back in the…
Threat or opportunity for producers? Changes in the Earth’s climate will bring about changes in the taste and production of wines with some calling it a ‘grape-ocalypse’ as traditional growing areas are lost, it’s been predicted. Whether global warming is man-made or a natural phenomenon or a combination of the two, vine growers are already…
Oh, that elusive reference wine drinkers make to “terroir” sets my wine 101 readers to wonder…what the heck is this person trying to say with that one word? Short answer: Everything that went into getting that grape to become that wine. According to the Oxford Dictionary, terroir is “The complete natural environment in which a…
Over the last 25 or so years of enjoying wine, I’ve had the great benefit of a few individuals who have served as my mentors in this area. Starting out, my first wine mentor was my boss Tim. We sometimes had to travel to see clients, and he introduced me to the miniature wine bottles…