We played a game the other day in the Pulchella Tasting Room. Winemaker Steve Lemley removed his tasting notes and we spent nearly two hours talking winemaking practices, the effects of the past 2010 and 2011 cold Paso years and that these wines we were to taste were from the “2012 No Excuses” vintage –…
While it’s fresh in my mind, I wanted to jot down some notes for wine 101ers on the Carmel-by-the-Sea Wine Walk adventure I’m on right now! So I’m sitting in a small outdoor shopping mall courtyard, as I just finished my last tasting of the day, at Wrath. Time to enjoy the cool weather, the…
There’s a new local flavor in town. You don’t have to leave your home to try it. Comes in many varieties and styles. And it involves wine, of course. Lisa Madison is a beautiful blond. I wished she wasn’t. When I met her at Lee’s Wine Bistro last week to discuss her wine knowledge, interests…
Classic Guides to California’s Destination Wineries Go Digital! Back in 2010 I met and interviewed editor/publisher Tom Silberkleit of The California Directory of Fine Wineries at the now defunct Vino 100. Tom had come to the shop for a book signing and I came in about an hour ahead of time to meet with him. …
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,…
Janell and Dante Dusi This year has been good to me. I have great friends that I share my passion of wines as well as new wineries that I have come to feel close to as if I am part of their family. One such winery is Daou, which I have written many articles…
CARMEL, CA Inspired by the culinary bounty of California’s Central Coast, Holman Ranch Tasting Room, located at 19 E. Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village, is working Edible Monterey Bay to invite local culinary chefs and artisans to demonstrate how wine can be best complemented with fresh culinary products found throughout the Central Coast….
In my wine travels, and my writing, I tend to focus on smaller, up and coming wineries, rather than the larger, more well-known ones. I also focus A LOT [maybe too much?] on Paso Robles. That’s why, when I came across these two books, they did not just get dumped into my ever growing pile…
With the finishing touches wrapping up on the owners’ library, tasting room, outdoor fireplaces and courtyard, the excitement at Law Estate Wines’ is uncontainable, knowing that they may now begin to share it with the public. All tastings are currently by appointment for an experience that truly affords a sense of place for their wines. Reservations can be…
In this, maybe my sixth visit to Del Dotto, I knew winemaker Gerard Zanzonico had a plane to catch so I suggested we skip the barrel tasting and limit ourselves to whatever he had in bottle. So what did he do? He pulled barrel tastings and put them in bottles for us to taste. The…