The History & Future of Wine in Livermore Valley
Livermore Valley was once one of California’s prime sources of grapes. In 1882, Charles Wetmore planted cuttings of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon from Chateau d’Yquem in his Cresta Blanca Vineyard.
Manton Valley Approved as Tehama County’s 1st AVA
Leland Stanford planted vineyards at Vina in Tehama County in the mid 1800’s, but it wasn’t until August 1, 2014 that the area was recognized as an official American viticultural area. The new AVA,...
SF Wine School Gives Bloggers a Deep Dive Into Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara County is one of California’s best and most diverse wine-growing regions. Among its five AVAs are climates ranging from cool “Region I” to St. Helena-like “Region III,” soils from dee...
The 46 mile long and 8 mile wide Malibu Coast, with glitzy beachfront mansions and celebrity-filled Starbucks, is now an official American Viticultural Area, or American wine appellation. This is i...
Travel Log – FWS Alsace Immersion Trip
Greetings from Alsace, where the wines are as fascinating as the region. I was one of 15 wine professionals experiencing the French Wine Society’s first immersion trip here this week and the incred...
2012 Vintage Challenging in Burgundy
Temperatures rose quickly in the tent at the Hotel Vitale’s Americano Restaurant last month, and not just because of the unseasonably warm San Francisco weather. Women were swooning over the charmi...
Okanagan Valley – Wines of British Columbia
Wine production, quality, and tourism are booming in the Okanagan Valley, Canada’s predominant wine district of the five contained within British Columbia; the other officially designated viticult...
I can hear a soulful Edith Piaf lamenting, “Mon Dieu”. With the French Paradox we learned that drinking wine in moderation, with even a rich meal, may be beneficial to our health and lower chances ...
Learning that the French Alpine Skiing team had their final training for the Sochi Olympics in Monts Jura (Lélex-Crozet), it seemed like a great time to provide an update on the Jura wine region. F...
Three Amazing Days for California Wine
The Inaugural California Wine Appellation Specialist® 3-Day in Santa Rosa. Which California AVA is the star in Mendocino for Pinot Noir and sparkling wine?
San Francisco Wine School Offers Only California Wine Credential Program
San Francisco, CA, January 17, 2014 – San Francisco Wine School is offering the first and only formal credential relating to California wines to shape a new generation of industry-leading Californi...
Moon Mountain adds to the list of Sonoma’s AVAs, now making it 16. Born October 1, 2013, it may be a mere infant in terms of recognition but plenty of winemakers and viticulturists have long known ...
Fall Release Report – Southern Italy
From the hot, dry, challenging 2012 vintage across Italy’s south and islands, look for success stories including the 2012 Cusamano Benuara Sicilia IGT $18, Nero d’Avola with 30% Syrah, a nice cross...
San Francisco, CA, November 14, 2013 – The San Francisco Wine School, a provider of world-class wine education and professional development for successful careers in the wine industry, today announ...
Wines of South Africa’s 2nd Sommelier World Cup was Won by Canada’s Will Predhomme
Twelve semi-finalists from different countries competed in Wines of South Africa’s Second Sommelier World Cup held October 12 at Franschhoek’s Grande Hotel. Three finalists were chosen; Anna Svirid...
A Look at the Newly Approved Ballard Canyon AVA, Santa Barbara County
The Ballard Canyon AVA was approved by the TTB on October 1, 2013. It is a small wine-growing region within Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley AVA. Though not yet a familiar name to most enth...
2 New Viticultural Areas Approved in Lake County
For many, the trip up Highway 29 ends at Calistoga. Yet if you continue about another 20 minutes up and over the grade, traversing Mt. St. Helena, you’ll end up in Middletown, at the base of Clear...
Burgundy Storm Report – Gambal on Damage
The French government’s provisional damage estimate is between 1,700 and 2,000 hectares were affected, 35-40% percent of the Côte de Beaune’s vineyards in its recent storms. In an email note I rece...
Catalonia’s EspaiPriorat Tasting
Catalonia’s EspaiPriorat TastingThe second biennial EspaiPriorat tasting of wines was held May 15 to commemorate the reconstruction of major portions of Catalonia’s Escaladei monastery. 50 sommelie...
Foss Valley: Napa’s Valley Above the Fog
Foss Valley: Napa’s Valley Above the Fog The name Napa Valley AVA is somewhat misleading. Napa Valley is certainly dominant within the AVA but is far from the only valley. Some others are obvious ...
Wine for Wheelchairs on Pending Moon Mountain AVA
Wine for Wheelchairs on Pending Moon Mountain AVA I had the pleasure recently of joining the sommeliers of Redd, La Folie, and Boulevard, writers including Deborah Parker Wong of The Tasting Pa...
TTB Approves 4 More Chateauneuf-du-Pape Varieties in USA
TTB Approves 4 More Chateauneuf-du-Pape Varieties in USA Fourteen grape varieties may be used in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.1 Many of them are bit players, used to add traces of spice or color or acidity,...
A Year in BurgundyIn the past few years there have been many wine movies out there that have missed the mark, but every now and then one “wows” me. I think that wine being such a detailed and seem...
Hoping for Heat After Cold, Wet Start to 2012 in the Loire Valley
Hoping for Heat After Cold, Wet Start to 2012 in the Loire Valley Residing in France for the past four months has been an amazing, enlightening experience. Plenty of traveling, both in and out of ...