Valencia Wine Company (VWC) hit its tenth year in business this year, and with it we’ve seen their location on Town Center as the continual bright light among other storefronts that have come and gone. And while the changing landscape could have daunted any business owner, Guy Lelarge just keeps on going. His most recent…
From our patio view from the Cafe Akrotiri, we gazed at the endless blue of sea mile. The Aegean is always breathtaking, especially when viewed from the many islands that dot this beautiful part of Greece. This is my first visit to the volcanic island of Santorini. In classical times, the island was known as…
Back Roads Wineries of Paso Robles, a collective of wineries, olive producers and B&B’s located on the East side of Paso Robles, announces their first annual “Taste of the Back Roads”, wine seminar and grand tasting, to be held Friday, October 19, 2012 at Windfall Farms in Creston, CA. Event will occur during the “Harvest…
Literally at the foothills of the Alps, Piedmont abounds with vineyards producing Italy’s finest wine. A sumptuous and noble wine that has been heralded as the “the wine of kings, the king of wines.” Of course, I am speaking of Barolo. Today, I am with my friend and fellow sommelier, Serena Dutto. We are visiting…
The region of Monferrato, Italy is a spectacular expanse of rolling hills and vast vineyards. This is the fabled area of Piedmont. A wine region that has been extensively celebrated in the arts and literature. On hot days in Monferrato, what white wines do the locals drink? The answer is quite simple, they seldom, if…
As we explore the world of wines we find that as we answer one question others surface. As an aerospace engineer I am always striving to know every little detail why things are the way they are. Then add a passion, such as wine, to this equation and you have a lifetime study. While many…
The day before I left the U.S. to chaperone my daughter’s show choir at the Olympics, I signed up for my friend Denise Lowe’s Spanish Wine Tasting Class. I’ve interviewed Denise many times about her work as a wine educator and festival sommelier, but never attended one of her educational tasting classes. Below are the…
As reported in “Part I–Burgundy,” Don and I traveled to Southern France this spring, combining an 8-day river cruise of the Saone and Rhone rivers with a week-long, independent driving trip along the French Riviera. As our trip progressed, we left the Saone and Burgundy behind, and the Viking Europe, carrying 150 passengers, merged onto…
Flagship Event Will Feature Hundreds of Wineries, Chefs, and Food Purveyors The full flavors of Sonoma County will be in the spotlight at the 33rd annual Taste of Sonoma at MacMurray Ranch in Healdsburg, California on Saturday, September 1, 2012 as part of the 5th annual Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, presented by Visa Signature®. Taste…
Don and I traveled to Southern France this spring, combining a Viking River Cruise of the Saone and the Rhone rivers with a driving trip along the French Riviera. One reason for traveling with Viking is the complimentary (and free-flowing) wine and beer served with each shipboard lunch and dinner. Enough said. Another plus for…