As the Holiday season rolls around, we can’t help but look forward to the rich food and drink that are in abundance during this time of year. With our personal calendars at full capacity, every host needs a way to stand out from the crowd and make their party a memorable hit. The answer –…
I haven’t done a “One Bottle Post” in awhile because I had so much to write about from my Paso Robles trip. So, it was nice to segue from California to Mendoza, Argentina, to use my WSET education and take my time to evaluate a Malbec blend I had never had before from winemaker Michel…
(Culver City, CA), November 2015: What is wine without the cheese? Culver City’s Wheel House Cheese Shop asks the same question. That is why it is a serendipitous time for the cheese epicenter of the Westside to announce that it is now offering an array of rare and exclusive retail Wine, Beer and Ciders to…
I’m challenging myself this week to learn more about kosher wines and basically soak your holidays past New Years. I’ve had the kosher Manischewitz wine at a couple of Bris ceremonies: Fruit juice that a newborn boy could happily suckle off of a soft cloth for anesthetic purposes. I only tolerated it as that was…
Visit the gorgeous Hahn Family Wines in the Santa Lucia Highlands near Carmel-by-the-Sea and you may get lucky enough to take an ATV up to one of the highest points overlooking the estate. Trying the spectacular single-vineyard Lucienne wines while perched above the vines is a unique lesson in how climate and terroir influence the…
We brought some family members with us on our last trip to Paso Robles. This trip wasn’t about breaking new ground or seeking out new discoveries. Instead, we purposely visited some old favorites to show them [and remind us] what makes Paso such a special place for my wife Karen and me. So much of…
This is the third vintage from winemaker Kevin Willenborg at Vina Robles in Paso Robles, and, as I was a fan of the last two, I couldn’t wait to taste them. We work our way up dear reader, whites to reds in a tasting of four wines that I don’t think you should pass up….
Instead of a Moscow Mule in that copper mug…here’s another thought, with a recipe from the 12-Bottle Bar book: The Rye Whiskey Buck. (Read the section on the Buck Bar to see what I’m talking about.) A simple move from flavorless vodka to a spicy rye, and changing out the lemon for orange or lime,…
Opolo Vineyards donated two different spirits to the recent Cocktails on the Roof non-profit event I co-hosted. They were very generous in sending a total of 3 cases for our 400-person event…and since they sent the cases to me…I asked if I could pilfer a couple of the bottles to drink…err taste…and they said yes….
HALL St. Helena has announced the date for three of its multi-city parties celebrating the release of its flagship Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. Bringing together winemakers, wine-lovers, fans and foodies alike, guests will be invited to sip on the newly released 2012 Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine was recently rated 97+ pts. by Robert…