Articles
CategoryWhat Everyone Should Know about the Santa Maria Valley AVA
Wine-grape growing first came to the Santa Maria Valley in the 1830’s. However, it was not until 1964 that it became a modern, wine-growin..
13 Ways to Re-Use Empty Wine Bottles
Unless the wine you drink comes out of a box, you empty a least a few bottles every month. And you probably drop those empty wine bottles ..
Joseph Phelps Current Releases & New Customer Experiences
In 1973, Jospeh Phelps bought a former cattle ranch—760 acres in eastern St. Helena—in order to plant a vineyard. Based in Colorado, his b..
J Wilkes Wines: Tastes of the Present and Future
During my recent trip to Santa Barbara County, Wes Hagen met with me at the lovely new J. Wilkes tasting room in Los Olivos. Wes is both w..
Stewart Cellars and Gather Cafe in Yountville
Even with Yountville’s already bountiful roster of excellent tasting rooms and restaurants, Stewart Cellars is a welcome addition. The tow..
Cold Heaven Viognier (and more)
Morgan Clendenen founded Cold Heaven Cellars twenty years ago. She quickly established herself as one of the world’s best producers of Vio..
Scenes from an Industrial Winery
Visiting an industrial winery is an eye-opening experience. The scale is awesome, stunning really. The process and equipment are totally d..
The Dalmore King Alexander III Single Malt Scotch
The Dalmore, founded in 1839, is a Highlands Scotch producer. The distillery is in northwest Scotland, a little less than 20 miles due nor..
In Pursuit of Balance, The Final Tasting: Thoughts and Wines
In Pursuit of Balance held their final tasting on November 14 in San Francisco. It was one of the best tastings I’ve attended this year. I..
Sour Grapes Movie — About the Rudy Kurniawan Saga
Rudy Kurniawan was sentenced to 10 years in prison on August 7, 2014 after a long investigation and short, high-profile, trial. He was con..