Sommelier and Master Sommelier Host First Master Courses in Santa Barbara WHO: Brian McClintic and Eric Railsback, managing partners of Les Marchands Wine Bar & Merchant, the wine bar and retail store which recently opened to rave reviews in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone. Teaching the courses will be acclaimed Master Sommeliers from around the United States: Brian McClintic,…
One of the great things about living in a town with multiple wine bars is that we have a lot of choices, not just in where we choose to enjoy wine, but where to enjoy the entertainment that these venues typically provide. On any given weekend night, there are might be as many as half…
Pedigree Team of Dan Russo, Jason Paluska and Nick Flores Join Forces to Create a Dynamic Culinary Destination in the Center of the Urban Wine Trail The Lark, one third of the triumvirate that also includes Lucky Penny and Les Marchands Wine Bar & Merchant, opened on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 as the latest whistle stop to the…
Paso Robles and Santa Barbara garner plenty of attention when it comes to wine, but insiders know the Arroyo Grande Valley as an up-and-coming hot spot that tourists often miss. Equal parts down-home charm and polished sophistication, the Arroyo Grande Valley Wine Trail is a fantastic getaway for anyone seeking a change of pace…and some…
The problem as I see it is that we all dream of this: The lush vines sagging under the weight of their fruit, the intimate backyard tastings, the rocky earth, the turquoise sky above a mountain, wind chimes barely making their music, the coolness of the winery, the large-bowled stemware filled to just under 1/3,…
Vino California (www.vino-california.com) is a week-long wine and food celebration of native Italian wine. Sponsored by the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West Inc, Blue Lifestyle, and The Tasting Panel magazine, this year the festivities started on May 13th and continued for five days with a series of tastings, seminars, and wine dinners. I had the…
Wandering Dog Wine Bar http://wanderingdogwinebar.com/ You might ask – why go to a wine bar in wine country? I mean, you’re already visiting wineries and tasting rooms and trying all the wine you want, right? Well, there are good reasons, and when it is Wandering Dog Wine Bar the best reason is: not all wines…
For a long time I have been asked by the GOTN group to do a road trip for one of our monthly adventures. Recently, Gary Stewart (owner/vintner) of Four Brix Winery, offered us an opportunity to come to their tasting room and sample as well as educate us on the art of winemaking. Gary and…
“Free run juice” is the initial juice that drains from the grapes when they are crushed but before they are pressed. My limited understanding is that this juice can theoretically produce wines of higher quality than from grapes that have been pressed, due to reduced exposure to the skins and the chemicals released by the…