Last week’s article was about the seminar that kicked off the latest Rhone Rangers event in Los Angeles. Now it is time to report on the grand tasting. Three dozen wineries were pouring, mostly from Santa Barbara County and Paso Robles]: Adelaida Vineyards & Winery Alta Colina Andrew Murray Vineyards Bernat Bonny Doon Vineyard Broken…
Over the years I keep on being asked how I’ve gotten to the point of being a wine educator and a wine judge. My first response is meant as humorous; “I drink a lot!” but that isn’t the true answer. The true answer is much more convoluted and lengthy. Let’s start with the basics. I’m…
The Balletto Family story is a true wine country farming story. Even as they segued from vegetables to grapes, the Ballettos continued to be farmers and were named 2010 Sonoma County Farmers of the Year. And, as you visit their stunning production facility and tasting room, you would never dream that this began as a…
At a recent Grape of the Night event, that a dozen or more friends attend under the tutelage of Eve’s Wine 101 staff writer Rusty Sly, the assigned varietal was one none of us was overly familiar with: Roussanne. Grape of the Night, for those of you new to Eve’s Wine 101, is an event…
The recent boom in sales of Prosecco is a story that continues to generate great interest among both the trade and consumers in the US. As is often the case when demand for a product grows, so does supply and choice. With many Proseccos on the market, deciphering quality can be a challenge, and is…
As Grape of the Night (GOTN) continues our exploration of wines from different countries, regions and states we returned to Spain to sample another wine from the old world called Albariño. Wines from Spain are not high on most drinkers list when selecting to purchase or drink. This is really too bad as Spain produces…
The origin of Chardonnay is from the Burgundy region of France. Like French Bordeaux and Burgundy wines the French Chardonnays are named according to the region that they come from. French Chardonnays are commonly called White Burgundies since they are believed to have originated in the Burgundy region of France. French and American Chardonnays are…
Dating back to antiquity, most of what is now the Republic of Macedonia was known as the Kingdom of Paeonia. The peoples who inhabited these lands were primarily of Thracian stock. In 356 BCE, Phillip ll of Macedon took control of Paeonia. Under his reign, King Phillip not only brought in Greek culture, the tradition…
Just east of Cape Town is one of South Africa’s most prolific wine regions. Known as “Winelands,” it is a seemingly mystical land conjured from a fantasy tale. The landscape is fringed with craggy mountains whose peaks ascend high into the clouds. Green valleys are dotted with 300 year old camphor trees, fields of flowers…