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….
Lompoc, CA – As the wine harvest approaches next month, what better time than now to escape to Lompoc, home to some of the industry’s most creative beverage makers. From estate wineries to regional brews, this Central California city in Santa Barbara County is bursting with refreshing wine and beer choices. Below are top picks to…
There was a funny graphic on Facebook that I shared recently, about how it’s okay to have white wine after Labor Day. (Some crazy rule from the “Clothing Police” states we can’t wear white after Labor Day. So it’s a joke on that.) I used the graphic to get people’s attention and to ask what…
The longtime regional wine experience returns after a Covid hiatus, offering its first-ever auction of rare bottles and a series of new, exclusive experiences at the wineries. The SLO Coast Wine Collective’s annual Roll Out The Barrels celebration, which has drawn thousands of wine lovers to San Luis Obispo’s wine country since 1990, returns this…
It is finally time to move our focus to Northern California, so now we can write about the Big Three. Ahhh, the Big Three. These are the three winemakers that have had the biggest influence on our wine drinking over the last 2+ decades. Not only do they make great Zinfandel [kind of a requirement…
Recently a pal that used to live in Santa Clarita had called me as he was opening a wine bar where he lives now in Texas. He didn’t want advice on anything other than what wine I would want if I were to visit his bar. Since he had moved to Texas a few years…
Was recently invited by fellow wine writer and organizer of the #LAWineWriters group, Cori Solomon, for a road trip to Lompoc. It had been awhile since our group had met but Cori found a winery she liked that was most willing to set up for us outside and socially distanced for a tasting. The winery…
Melissa and David Pittard are excited to announce their recent purchase of Toro Run Winery. Located on State Route 89 in Ovid, Toro Run is noted for their fine wines and spectacular view of Cayuga Lake. The meticulously managed estate vineyards, planted in 2009 by founders Jim Coppola and Chris Weaver, contain a wide…
At a well organized wine tasting of Austria’s Domäne Wachau at Boa Steakhouse West Hollywood I learned (among other things detailed below) once again that not all Rieslings are sweet, and was also reminded that I miss Gruner Veltliner. See my mouth-watering slide show here and read the full story below. Domäne Wachau Lesson and…
I almost skipped this year’s Family Winemakers uber-large tasting as it was being held in Pomona at the Fairplex, a two-hour round-trip drive. But then I noticed that the organizers had given the press a four hour window to taste (and recover) from about 100 wineries – each serving up two or more of their…