Can you sense it? That faint wisp of an unseasonal mist? The tortured scream of someone who’s blood-red drops have run dry? Oh, that’s just me, finishing off my samples of Bogle’s Phantom Wine, website here. Obligatory Disclaimer: “Wine sample” means these wines were free for my review. Sure, it’s almost Christmas, but that’s no
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My introduction to the Bodegas LAN winery came over churros and chuleton. I was invited to meet the winery’s CEO, Enrique Abiega, and USA export director, Trinidad Villegas, at Bellota, a Spanish restaurant that’s part of San Francisco’s Absinthe Group. Obligatory disclaimer: This was a new media lunch, so the food and drink I’m about
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Did you say vertical tasting? That’s an irresistible invitation for wine bloggers. We love to compare and contrast different vintages from the same winery, to ponder the sometimes subtle, sometimes great, differences between them.  Make it five vertical tastings in an evening, at a restaurant I’ve never tried before and from a wine region with
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At summer’s onset, I took part in a press trip to Lodi, CA, a wine region I’ve become happily familiar with over the last year. Took part means I tried all the wines and enjoyed all the experiences mentioned in this post courtesy of the Visit Lodi tourism bureau – and I was not compensated
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Occasionally, as a blogger who does reviews, I can get a little behind. Especially as I’m also just a month and a half out from the release of my first book, and a wee bit harried making sure everything’s in place for that. So with a backlog of wines to sample and review—to the point
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I was delighted to say yes to an invitation to check out J Vineyards and Winery’s Bubble Room, as my past couple of years blogging in the Bay Area has somehow resulted in remarkably few visits to wine country. Obligatory disclaimer: That means the meal and pairings I’m about to write about were absolutely free
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Six months have passed since last year’s Wine Bloggers Conference in Lodi, but I’ve been wanting to write about one more experience from it ever since – the Wine Blogger Awards Banquet. It’s not the cheesy emceeing of Alan Kropf I want to highlight, though that cracked me up quite a bit. Nor was it
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Obligatory disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of A Perfect Score to read for this post. Released in September by Center Street, A Perfect Score ($26; 207 pgs.) tells the story of the founding and growth of the HALL and WALT wineries from the intertwined perspectives of its two founders, Craig and Kathryn Hall.
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Which Pinot Noir Region Marks the Spot? Pinot noir isn’t a favorite wine varietal of mine, but since I moved back to California in 2013, I’ve been intrigued by how pinot noirs of different winegrowing regions can be markedly different here. The grape is typically used to produce light-bodied, low tannin wines with light fruit.
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Maryhill Proprietor’s Reserve 2011 Tavola Rosso Columbia Valley, WA Last time I reviewed a Maryhill wine, I pledged to have my pictures edited from our winery visit before the next one. I am happy to say I completed that mission! And wow, Maryhill is a breathtaking winery (9774 Hwy 14, WA). It’s hard not to
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