Reviews of wines and spirits for the curious drinker.
Alquimista Manchester Ridge Chardonnay Some winemakers and winery proprietors are born into the business. Some buy into the business. And some evolve into it. Greg LaFollette of Alquimista evolved quite successfully. He has been called a “vine whisperer,” a “cellar magician,” and a “tireless coaxer and protector of handcrafted wines.” He is one of Sonoma’s …
Kenwood Vineyards Jack London Red Blend 2016 Author Jack London (1876 – 1916) was an American novelist, journalist, and social activist. A pioneer of unabashedly commercial fiction in both novels and magazines, he was one of the first American authors to become an international celebrity and earn a large fortune from writing. His most famous …
Lombardi Chardonnay Tony Lombardi was born into a family of small business owners, and grew up in Sonoma County. He graduated from Saint Mary’s College with a degree in Business Management. His first job in the wine business came in 1998 when he joined the hospitality team at Clos Du Bois Winery, located in Geyserville, …
Ser Graciano Bokisch Vineyard 2018 In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman Owned Wineries, …
Ser Wirtz and Silletto Vineyards Cabernet Pfeffer 2015 In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according …
Ser Cabernet Pfeffer Central Coast 2016 In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman …
Ser Rosé of Grenache Loma Del Rio Vineyard 2020 In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, …
Ser Dry Orange Muscat 2020 In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman Owned …
Ser Vermentino Cedar Lake Vineyard 2019 In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman …
Ser Dry Riesling In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman Owned Wineries, a …
Mac and Cheese In addition to being a wine blogger, I am also an amateur chef with advanced skills. All of my friends have fond nostalgic memories of mac and cheese which they enjoyed while growing up. However, I had never had mac and cheese, but finally wanted to try it. I decided that the …
Walson Holland Mélange Rouge 2018 Click here for tasting notes. Walson Holland Mélange Rouge Walson Holland is a small winery nestled in the Ojai Valley of Southern California. it was founded in 2018 by winemaker Benjamin (“Benny”) Holland, a seasoned winemaker, and Jonas Svensson, an Ojai-based vineyard owner. Benjamin Holland began his career by interning …
Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Merry Edwards Winery, founded in 1997, is a well-known producer in California’s Russian River Valley. The winery was established by Merry Edwards, one of California’s first female winemakers. She began her winemaking career in 1970 with her amateur label, Merry Vintners, while pursuing a degree in physiology at UC Berkeley. …
Beau Vigne Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Beau Vigne, pronounced “bo-veenya” and meaning “beautiful vineyard” in French, is a boutique winery located in Napa Valley, California. Founded in 1999 by Napa native Ed Snider and his wife Trish, with its first vintage release in 2002, the winery has established a reputation for producing exceptional wines, …
Lanson Le Rosé is a signature rosé Champagne from Maison Lanson, one of the oldest Champagne houses in France. Lanson’s tradition of crafting high-quality rosé Champagne dates back over a century, making it one of the pioneers in this category. Lanson was founded in 1760 in Reims, France, by François Delamotte, making it the sixth …