To those that know me it is no secret that I am in love with Paso Robles. Yes, I still collect wines from France and Italy but Paso is growing to become a second Napa Valley in my opinion. This area has a wide variety of wines to select from over 300 vineyards producing many…
A wise man once said that before one can understand anything properly, one has to learn how to love it. For me, this holds true with both wine and women. It seems that the bulk of my time is spent with the pleasurable task of trying to understand the qualities and complexities of wine and…
My husband Eddie and I recently spent the night at the beautiful Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley. The expansive ranch was established in 1928 and was a fave destination for movie stars like Clark Gable and Joan Crawford. The grounds include a stone hacienda, private lodgings, game room, carriage house, conference room, chapel, patios, courtyard,…
His name wasn’t Andre, but since I didn’t ask if I could use his name I have taken poetic license just to give readers a catchy title. It was mid-evening—just shy of eight o’clock— on a Friday night, holiday lights twinkling at us on Towne Center Drive, bracing (only in the SCV) Santa Ana winds…
The old saying, “a photo is worth a thousand words”, works for a great photographer. For me, I was simply excited about the dozen or so small tapa plates I sampled at the West Los Angeles restaurant, Tapenade, so I took about a dozen photos! (Facebook album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10202058428969687.1073741853.1455706632&type=1&l=7e0bac24ed) My brother Mike and his wife…
I’m challenging myself this week to learn more about Kosher wines, recommend a few non-kosher wines and basically soak your holidays up through New Years, whether you’re lighting Menorah candles or Christmas trees. I’ve had the Kosher Manischewitz wine at a couple of Bris ceremonies: Fruit juice that a newborn boy could happily suckle off…
I often receive emails asking what are some of my favorite California wines and why I don’t review more of our gems. For the record, I have a preference for Sonoma County, and a penchant for the Russian River Valley. You guessed correctly, I am passionate about Pinot Noir. I also feel my colleagues…
The difference between a large wine tasting event and a small one should be fairly obvious to a wine 101er. However, at the latest incarnation of Pinot Days, an event where only wines made from the Pinot Noir grape are offered, we enjoyed a mid-sized tasting that incorporated the best of both worlds, satisfying every…
In November of 2012, George Washington’s fabled Mt. Vernon Distillery was reopened. Today a meticulous recipe of the popular 1799 blend by our first president, is taking the rye whiskey market by storm. I have it on good authority that the president’s whiskey was not only the rage of the day, it made Mr. Washington…
Need a gift idea? How about taking your wine-loving friend or spouse to this, I’m taking mine: UGC Bordeaux tasting on Friday, January 24, from 6-9pm at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, 2025 Avenue of the Stars, LA 90067. Cost: Only $69 per-person covers the price of admission. (Day-of-Event price will be $100.) …