Last week I gave you information about the seminar at the latest Garagiste Festival as well as the list of wineries pouring. I couldn’t taste everything, but of the wines I tasted, these were the standouts for me: Alta Colina Vineyards – Rhones from this Paso producer continue to impress. Especially liked the 2012 Grenache…
San Jose, Calif.–J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines announced that Red Winemaker Steve Peck has been named ‘Winemaker of the Year’ by the San Luis Obispo County wine industry. Peck was nominated for ‘Winemaker of the Year’ by an esteemed group of industry associations that includes the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, the San Luis Obispo…
I have more than one friend that knows much more about wine from drinking alone than I do via classes and tastings, and Timmy is one of them. This week I have two of Timmy’s finds to rate, as even though he knows best, he has grown to trust my growing knowledge, and I’m honored…
One of the most successful, family-owned winemaking companies in Italy, Zonin1821, has unveiled a decidedly different Prosecco line with its ‘Dress Code’ Collection. It strays away from what the family’s seven generations of winemakers have been producing since 1821 – Prosecco made from 100% Glera grapes. Inspired to create a new concept of Prosecco, Zonin1821’s…
Larsen’s Steakhouse in Valencia, one of the few choices we have in town for a high end/fine dining experience, recently held one of its periodic “wine tasting and locker stocking” events for its VIP locker holders. My wife Karen and I had the pleasure to attend, taste some great wines, try some delicious apps and…
Vintners Feel Success…is partly due to the support of treasured friends Paso Robles, California – Just in from the New York International Wine Competition, Monterey County’s Mystic Hills Vineyard received two special USA Individual Awards: Monterey Winery of the Year 2016 and Paso Robles Dry Red Blend Producer of the Year. Adding to the accolades…
There are certain wine and spirit distributors that are known for representing a lot of producers of, well, plonk, and keeping strangle holds on their regions that prevent higher quality products to be available for the consumer. Henry Wine Group is absolutely not one of these kinds of distributors. Per their website, Henry Wine…
Shawn Shai Halahmy is a pal, and like other winemaking pals, I forget what came first, a love for their wine that developed into a friendship, or if we became friends before I tried his wine. Actually, I’m going with the former…wine does make the heart grow fonder, eh? Shai Cellars 08 Adome Santa Ynez…
Getting caught up on unsolicited (wines sent that I didn’t expect) and solicited (new friends that have the gift – of wine) produced this hodgepodge of tasting notes: Hawk and Horse http://www.hawkandhorsevineyards.com 2007 Red Hills Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon 14.1% alcohol The color was a clear, beautiful ruby with slight tawny edge in one ounce…
Cori Solomon, organizer of #LAWineWriters, recently arranged for our group to meet with Thrass Giantsidis of Greece’s renowned Ktima Gerovassillou all-estate winery. The plan: To boldly go where…wait…to be led through a tasting of his highly-awarded wines along with some small plates at Downtown LA’s Ledlow restaurant. I did a little research on Ktima Gerovassiliou…