From driveway drinking to online wine tasting to virtual dinners, welcome to our new norm in socializing and visiting with our friends. We used to spend our days enjoying our friendships and social lives based around a meal or sipping wine together. Finding new ways to survive the need to be social creatures in a
Argentinian Malbec: Celebrating the Malbec Grape
Malbec World Day is just around the corner, and although celebrating has a different connotation in the days of a pandemic, one thing that has not been taken away from us is wine, the ability to buy good wine and savor its nuances. We can still pick up an Argentinian Malbec wine and enjoy a
Travaglini Gattinara: Nebbiolo At Its Best
Often there is something besides the wine that attracts us to a particular winery. As I sit and reminisce about tastings in the past, I think about when Cinzia and Alessia Travaglini were in Los Angeles for a tasting of the family’s Nebbiolo wine. It was the unique bottle shape that stood out to beckon
Temecula: Discovering the Red Varieties of Chapin Family Vineyards
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,
Soul of the Lion: The Story of DAOU Estate’s Outstanding Wine
The thrill for a wine writer is the ability to sample an exceptionally outstanding wine, but often the story behind compels me to compose the article. In the case of DAOU Family Estates, the biographical history behind the wine Soul of the Lion drew me to write this piece. Although this wine is extraordinary, it
Stay At Home: Eleven Wines To Savor At Your Leisure
We may not be able to travel to visit wineries at this time, but we certainly stay at home and enjoy a bottle of wine in the comfort of our houses. Many wineries are offering special deals and free shipping. Our local wine shops will allow curbside pickup and in California, the ABC relaxed the
Discovering Gilbert Arizona
This post is an excerpt from an article I wrote on Gilbert Arizona for FWT Magazine. Gilbert Arizona has become the fastest-growing city in the Phoenix area. Its popularity can be seen as one walks down Gilbert Rd in the heart of Gilbert’s Heritage District. Not only is the town popular with snowbirds, especially those
Willamette Valley Winery: Tyee Wine Cellars
From a dairy farm to growing grapes, Tyee Wine Cellars is a family-owned Willamette Valley winery. Now in its 5th generation with Merrilee Buchanan Benson and her husband Brian Benson taking the lead on this boutique Oregon winery that produces 2000 cases of wine a year. Off the beaten path about 20 minutes from Corvallis,
Alentejo and the Antão Vaz Grape
In a recent article, I discussed Alentejo and its most popular red grape, Alicante Bouschet. This article concentrates on one of Alentejo’s popular white grape varieties, Antão Vaz. Alentejo is one of the largest wine regions in Portugal. The country has over 250 indigenous grape varieties, so it goes without saying that its most popular
Iris Vineyards: Showcasing the Southern Willamette Valley
On a recent visit to South Willamette Valley, I discovered Iris Vineyards. The winery’s production facility is located in Cottage Grove, but Iris’s tasting room is situated about 20 minutes from both Cottage Grove and Eugene. The drive is well worth the visit because of the spectacular views. Perched atop a knoll, the tasting room
