I’m always both thrilled and cautious when I have wine samples from a new-to-me winery to review. Today it’s samples from Hamilton Family Wines. I received a press release from their public relations agent – and a handwritten note from Greg and Lindsay Hamilton – ahead of the wine so I knew a few things….
Aged in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks, the new permanent expression brings a sweetness derived from oak and malt forward, in balance with Lagavulin’s unmistakable smoky character ISLAY, Scotland, /PRNewswire/ — Few places in the whisky world match the intrigue of Islay, an island in the Western Hebrides of Scotland, where whisky-making is in the fabric of…
FORT WORTH, Texas, /PRNewswire/ — Point Blank Tequila — a new, 100 percent additive-free tequila that just hit North Texas liquor stores — recently took top honors at the 2025 PR%F Awards in Las Vegas, one of the beverage industry’s premier competitions. All three expressions, Añejo, Blanco, and Reposado, won medals for both taste and bottle design…
SANTA ROSA, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — Washington’s Maryhill Winery, located in the Columbia River Gorge, was named Winery of the Year at the 2025 Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition (DBIWC). The event celebrated its 44th consecutive year of judging at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on Dec. 11. Owners Craig and Vicki Leuthold opened Maryhill Winery 25 years ago….
2025 marks the fourth year that I’ve served as a wine and spirits judge for the Proof Awards in Las Vegas. Not sure I would know that except that it’s not only been a fabulous experience sampling spirits, wines and making new friends – on the fifth year I get awarded with their black leather Proof Awards…
If you’ve been reading this series from the beginning about our latest visit to the Dry Creek Valley (and if you haven’t, why not?), you may recall that we added one more winery to our itinerary. When we were visiting with winemaker Antoine Favero at Mazzocco Sonoma, he graciously suggested that we pay a visit…
Ken and Diane Wilson began acquiring land and planting vines in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley in the 1980s. They started making wine when they bought the historic Fredson Winery in 1993 with its century-old tin barn. It is now known as Wilson Winery of Dry Creek. The redwood vats were replaced by modern tanks…
Have you ever had a whiskey that was sold out in under 20 minutes of its release? I had learned that Frey Ranch Distillery did just that when they offered their limited-edition Harvester whiskey this past February. And, at press time, they probably just sold out of their second Harvester release this past September. As…
The Celebration of the Volcanic Wine Awards will Culminate at the International Volcanic Wines Conference in New York City, June 2026 NEW YORK, /PRNewswire/ — Volcanic Wines International (VWI) announces a landmark partnership with JancisRobinson.com, for the annual Volcanic Wine Awards. This transatlantic collaboration with a global wine editorial powerhouse signals a bold new chapter in showcasing the vibrant diversity of…
I’m not a big tequila person, truth be told, but it appears I have a lot more friends into tequila than ever before. Anejo has been my choice, over Blanco and Reposado, due to the longer barrel aging. Of course, Extra Anejo is even better – for my taste. When faced with some tequila-lovers coming…