My second day in the Ramona Valley AVA took me to four Highland Valley wineries. I found the day to be all about passion. Each winemaker had their interpretation of their love of wine, whether it be the winemaking process or the growing of grapes. Although the passion seemed to take on different forms, one
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
The Driving Force between Five South African Winemakers
Bring five South African winemakers together, and you will see what defines South African wine. They are friends and collaborators who represent four distinct wine regions in South Africa, and they presented their wines and those of others at a wine tasting called South Africa Redefined. South Africa’s wine history goes back almost 400 years.
Spanish Wines: The Wines of Fillaboa and Vall Llach
Let’s delve into the wines from two specific wineries in Spain. Both exemplify the wine regions they represent, but together they tell the inherent story of Spanish Wines. Rias Baixas One sees the Spanish affinity to the white varietal Albarino as profound. The variety is probably Spain’s most popular white. Most Albarinos come from the
Memorial Day Wine: Spring into Summer Wine
As I think about the ideal wine to serve this Memorial day weekend, I am reminded that Memorial weekend signifies the time we start to light up the barbeque as we move from spring to summer weather. We switch from the big, bold, more moody wines of winter to the brighter livelier wines of summer.
Delve into Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills AVA
Recently while on a wine adventure to the Willamette Valley, I explored wineries in several of the seven Willamette Valley AVAs. There are enough wineries in each appellation for a weekend escape to each one. This article focuses on the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, including things to do in the surrounding vicinity other than wine tasting.
NZ Wine Navigator: Elevating the bar on New Zealand Wine
When we think of New Zealand wine most American’s are familiar with the big wineries that make their way to the United States, but many do not realize an effort is being made to bring notoriety to some small boutique wineries. One company forging the way to make these wineries known to us is NZ
Explore the Mexican Wine Scene in Valle de Guadalupe
When we think of Mexican wine, we think of Valle De Guadalupe, the up and coming area in Baja. The area is like the wild west, a new frontier for wine especially those winemakers who choose to be pioneers of the region. Valle De Guadalupe History In the 16th century, the first grapes were planted.
Malbec World Day: Celebrating Malbecs from Argentina
On Wednesday, April 17, 2019, we celebrate Malbec World Day. It is a day to celebrate Malbecs from Argentina. Malbec World Day comes from the Spanish words “ Mundial de Malbec,” which means “Malbec throughout the world.” However, the best way to honor this day is with a glass of your favorite Malbec whether it
Titus Vineyards: Half a Century of a Napa Vineyard
Celebrating fifty years of growing grapes in Napa Valley, Titus Vineyards shows us that a family’s determination to hold on to the land they purchased in 1968 and still sustain the quality of wine that Napa is known for can prevail. Today in Napa we see many wineries selling out to the big conglomerates. It
