Winemaker Gerard Zanzonico may very well be the first winemaker I interviewed when I began writing about wine in February 2012. I had sent an email to the winery he was with for many years, Del Dotto in Napa, and someone agreed to let me meet with him. From our first meeting to what I…
I’ve done retrospective articles before, and for those I often turn to Google searching my name and the subject so I can refresh my memory and share links. Today I feel reflective without Google and want to share some of my favorite memories, those that involve the first two Napa wineries that I covered as…
If you’ve been following my reviews for any length of time you know that I started sharing my wine notes well over ten years ago, about the same time I first met winemaker Gerard Zanzonico at Napa’s Del Dotto. We’ve shared many wonderful wines of Gerard’s over the years, and when he finally retired to…
My husband Eddie has painstakingly categorized our photos by year on our cell phones, so I recently looked at photos from ten years ago to see if any were worth posting alongside a photo taken recently, for the latest #10YearChallenge on social media. As you can guess, most of my photos back then were of…
Last week I asked Facebook pals to share their favorite winery experience, something that made them lifelong fans. I had a few of my own, they had many more, so this is the second group of answers. Feel free to email me if you also have a memorable winery experience to share: Eve@EveWine101.com Your Favorite…
In writing wine and spirit reviews, which include comprehensive tasting notes on appearance, aroma, flavor and sometimes a score, it would be remiss for me not to explain that even when I’m not working on an article I will still employ some of these same methods when drinking wine for pleasure with friends or at…
A few weeks ago I shared some news in my weekly Dear Wine Friend e-newsletter that I’m still struggling with: Wine News: I recently learned that longtime Del Dotto winemaker Gerard Zanzonico is moving off to Ensenada, where he has already been making wine, and moving into the role of consulting winemaker for Del Dotto….
After visiting the PureCru wine bar on the first night of our recent trip to Napa Valley we spent our second day tackling a wee bit more: Regusci Winery, Hall, Del Dotto and Vintner’s Collective. The first and last stops were not planned, but happy circumstances brought us to them. (This is the album of…
Been to visit Del Dotto Vineyards Estate almost annually for ten years now, covering their amazing cave tour and tasting for Elite magazine, Eve’s Wine 101 and the SCV Beacon. I have never had an experience like it: After entering the subterranean entrance, guests are greeted with expansive views of marble floors and Venetian glass…
After a recent trip to Calistoga and Napa Valley, I wanted to do a column on some of the lesser-known restaurants, markets and what some of the wineries are doing to quench your hunger along with your thirst: Calistoga Roastery, Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga: Warm and inviting, with a Brit behind the counter that was all…
