I’ve reviewed wines from Smith-Madrone before and have always appreciated them, not only for their outstanding flavor but also because their prices have always been accessible – especially for Napa wines. In this article I will taste three from their 2019 vintage: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling. Of the three I have to say it’s…
Eddie and I visited Napa Valley this past holiday season. One of the wineries we booked a tasting with was Clif Family Winery off of the main drag, Highway 29 in St. Helena. It would become one of the most remarkable tastings we have had over the years. Let me set the stage by first…
Palm Springs, CA. – Canopy Wine Lounge, an elegant oasis in the heart of Palm Springs, celebrates its official Grand Opening! Conceived by Owner Noah Mamet, former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina and Palm Springs resident, along with Alejandro Bulgheroni Family Estate Wines, this new venture managed by Director of Operations Ellis Delahousay, Winemaker Joshua Kelly, and Managers Phil Barrood and Liz Swartz, promises a…
I have been tasked with devoting my column to a Q & A all about whiskey. This is not a problem because, for one, I have a certification in Wine and Spirits, and two, my husband and I have co-taught single malt (scotch) whisky classes in our home. I’ll answer some of the usual questions we…
Very early in our wine journey, Santa Barbara Country was a focal point of our interest. Back in the 1980s and early 1990s, there weren’t too many tasting options there yet. Memories can be hazy, but we have very fond ones, such as visiting The Brander Vineyard and tasting wines in the barn before the…
SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Harvest is underway in California wine country and Foley Family Wines has seized the season as inspiration to spotlight a slew of wine tasting experiences at seven of its Sonoma County wineries. Foley is rolling out the welcome mat with activities ranging from new outdoor tastings, on-site entertainment, and unforgettable epicurean…
FINGER LAKES, N.Y. (PRWEB) – After years of anticipation, renowned winemaker Paul Hobbs has announced the grand opening of his Finger Lakes estate, Hillick & Hobbs. The state-of-the-art hospitality center will showcase Hillick & Hobbs’ exceptional estate Riesling and is set to become one of the premier wine destinations in the Finger Lakes. Situated on the…
A trip to the Healdsburg area wouldn’t be complete without visiting Antoine Favero. Antoine is a winemaker for several of the Wilson Family Wineries. We’ve met with him a few times at Mazzocco Sonoma in Dry Creek Valley [with a focus on amazing Zinfandels] and at Jaxon Keys in Mendocino County [love those Rhone varietals]…
We have a “wine night” with friends pretty frequently and it recently dawned on me that I’ve never written about how that works. For some, or even most of you, you have some experience with this: you invite pals over, everyone brings a bottle or two to share over dinner, and you talk about the…
Back in December, a few days before their opening on New Year’s Eve, I shared news about the latest S Bar in the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Unable to attend that first night Eddie and I rectified our loss by visiting them two weeks later. From the outside in, we were excited with just…