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CategoryThe Pleasures of Tasting Wine

California Wine For A Softer Palate At Monterey’s I. Brand & Family Winery

Some California wine regions have big wines (big, bold, chewy) and some winery areas are known for their subtleties (softer tannins, more fruit flavor.) Monterey Country winemaker Ian Brand falls … Continue Reading California Wine For A Softer Palate At Monterey’s I. Brand & Family Winery

Misfits & Mavens of Lodi’s California Wine Show Off Zins, Syrahs & Barberas

Somewhere, somehow, you’ve come across a Michael David Wine. You’ll find this California wine in Costco, Total Wine, BevMo and other big box emporiums. They favor names like Freak Show, … Continue Reading Misfits & Mavens of Lodi’s California Wine Show Off Zins, Syrahs & Barberas

California Wine On Highway 1 – PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)

California wine is found in many isolated areas. Like Harmony Cellars right off California’s infamous Highway 1. Sitting west of Paso Robles this coastal town named Harmony hosts a total … Continue Reading California Wine On Highway 1 – PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)

Lodi’s New World California Wine: Barbera, Syrah & Zinfandel

Many hobbyist California winemakers aspire to create a wine loved by others. Dave Dart & Helen Rommel started down that path in Lodi’s wine appellation 13 years ago when they … Continue Reading Lodi’s New World California Wine: Barbera, Syrah & Zinfandel

After Creating Two Successful Commercial California Wines: How Do You Top That? Create More Great Amador County Wine

Few winemakers plaster their full name across a bottle of California wine. But winemaker Scott Harvey has participated in 50 vintages of wine, 49 in California where he created the … Continue Reading After Creating Two Successful Commercial California Wines: How Do You Top That? Create More Great Amador County Wine

Water Into California Wine: Is This 2023 Vintage the Best Of The Decade?

California wine regions were pummeled by wild weather spouting atmospheric rivers drenching us in the winter of 2022-2023. The big question all year has been, ‘What affect will that water … Continue Reading Water Into California Wine: Is This 2023 Vintage the Best Of The Decade?

10 ‘Pour’ Behaviors to Avoid While Tasting California Wine: Don’t be The Ugly Wine Taster

You’ve seen people’s ‘pour’ behavior in California winery tasting rooms. Don’t be this person. When you become the ‘ugly wine taster’ you’ll end up with short corporate pours and pointed … Continue Reading 10 ‘Pour’ Behaviors to Avoid While Tasting California Wine: Don’t be The Ugly Wine Taster

California Wine And The Rhône Rangers

To explore California style Rhône varietal wines, Tablas Creek Vineyards in Paso Robles is one of the Central Coast wineries focused on Rhône style blends. Grape varietals like Mourvedre, Syrah, … Continue Reading California Wine And The Rhône Rangers

Gold Country’s Sierra Style of California Wine: Findleton Estate

Nestled in the rolling hills of Gold Country right outside of Placerville, California wine has a friend in the ‘Sierra Style’ of farming  grape and creating wine. Findleton Estate Winery … Continue Reading Gold Country’s Sierra Style of California Wine: Findleton Estate

Screw Caps Vs Cork In California Wine Bottles: Which Works Best?

When a porous cork enclosure is the only thing blocking oxygen from your California wine there’s plenty of room for failure. As one winemaker said to us several years back, … Continue Reading Screw Caps Vs Cork In California Wine Bottles: Which Works Best?

California Gold Rush Country is Home to the Wine Rush

This California wine region tastes, looks, smells, sounds, drives and feels like Paso Robles. But it’s Amador County’s Highway 49, not Paso Robles’ Highway 46. They even grow similar oak … Continue Reading California Gold Rush Country is Home to the Wine Rush

16 Million Cases of California Wine From One California Winemaker

When you sell 16 million cases of California wine each year, do you really need a tasting room? Delicato Family Wines still maintains one. Most wineries we visit sell 500 … Continue Reading 16 Million Cases of California Wine From One California Winemaker

California Red Wine at Room Temperature? Is that 80°, 70° or 60°? Winemakers Weigh In on Favorite Temps

Everybody knows California white wines should be served cold and reds should be savored at room temperature. But, “Which room temperature?” asks winemaker/owner Helen Rommel of Lodi’s D’Art Winery. Would … Continue Reading California Red Wine at Room Temperature? Is that 80°, 70° or 60°? Winemakers Weigh In on Favorite Temps

An Australian Vibe For The Love of California Wine

While it took Damian Grindley, a man from Wales, to bring the laid-back Australian style of comfort to Paso Robles, his Australian wife Amanda Grindley surely has a piece of … Continue Reading An Australian Vibe For The Love of California Wine

Notes On California Wine: Keeping Your Head Straight While Tasting

Drinking California wine doesn’t make you smarter, it just seems that way. That’s why we take notes on our wine tastings. Writing tasting notes on a wineries’ flight sheet seemed … Continue Reading Notes On California Wine: Keeping Your Head Straight While Tasting

Rolling Out Barrels of California Wine – Tasting Before Bottling

Roll Out the Barrels of California Wine means different things to different people. At Stillwater’s Winery in Paso Robles it means club members evaluate wine right out of a barrel. … Continue Reading Rolling Out Barrels of California Wine – Tasting Before Bottling

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