My last excursion to visit a winery before the sheltering in place went into effect in Los Angeles took me for a day to Temecula to visit Chapin Family Vineyards. What makes Chapin stand out is the Italian varieties they produce. Although Chapin focuses on red wine and two that are unusual for Temecula, Montepulciano,
Holiday Red Wine To Enjoy This Winter
When I think of Christmas and New Year’s, I think of red wine. Perhaps it is because red is such a prominent color at this time of the year or the fact that I think of the gorgeous variations of the hues that come forth with the variety of red wines. With red on my
Visiting Solvang Winery Lucas & Lewellen
It takes a balancing act to oversee the 50 different wines that compose the portfolio of Lucas & Lewellen Estate Vineyards, a Solvang winery, but winemaker Megan McGrath Gates does it with panache. It began as a friendship in 1975 between Louis Lucas, a viticulturist, and Royce Lewellen, a Superior Court Judge, and moved on
Markus Wine: A step above Red Wine Blends
I think of Markus Niggli as the master blender, and after sampling all the red wine blends he now produces, I find like an artist, his palette and technique for combining varieties takes him to a level beyond most winemakers. I first met Markus in 2017 when he was the winemaker for Borra Vineyards in
Discover Perfect Winter Wines
Winter solstice has come and gone making it time to think about those winter wines to serve during this season. As we move forward into 2019, these wines will bring enjoyment to throughout the year. Here is a selection of winter wines I recently sampled. White Winter Wines During the winter when I have hearty
Wines in Review: Stellar Wine of 2018
Beckoning in the New Year, I like to revisit those wines I sampled in 2018, which made a lasting and stellar wine impression. Here are the exceptional wines and wineries that merit recognition. Furthermore, the wines chosen are those wowed me, and I wrote about throughout 2018. I will also share the two winemakers that
Five Wines to enhance Father’s Day
When I think of Father’s Day, I think of an afternoon early evening Barbecue, maybe hamburgers, grilled chicken or a nice juicy steak. As I think about the ideal wine to pair with this cuisine, my thoughts lean towards more hearty red wines. Here are some Father’s Day wine suggestions. Father’s Day Red Wine The
2017 Wines in Review: Stellar Wines of the year
As 2017 comes to a close, I found many wines, which made a lasting impression, and I consider genuinely stellar wines in quality. Here are the exceptional wines and wineries I discovered that merit a standing on this wine list. Furthermore, the wines chosen are only those that I wrote about during this past year
Seven holiday wines to consider this season
Christmas and New Year’s are just around the corner. As you decide what to wine to serve with your holiday dinner, here are some suggestions for holiday wines. All merit a seat at any dinner table and represent many countries throughout the world. White Holiday Wines I love to discover new varieties, and Italy always
Folio Fine Wine Partners: A portfolio of prestigious red wine
Who could resist a wine tasting of luxury wines, a dilemma that I think we all know the answer to. Case in point occurred when I attended a Folio Fine Wine Partners Wine Tasting at Stanley’s Wet Goods in Culver City. Impressive accurately describes the wines sampled. The wines featured represented mostly red wine from
