San Francisco Wine School Blog

Check out articles about San Francisco Wine School and read our latest press releases

Fall Release Report – Southern Italy

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...

Fall Release Report – Northern California

Fall Release Report – Northern California

Toast to another great year with the tart strawberry, lemon peel, and Campari-esque nv Scharffenberger Brut Rosé Excellence Mendocino County $18. Despite unusually cool weather throughout much of t...

A Look at the Newly Approved Ballard Canyon AVA, Santa Barbara County

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...

Which Wine is in Your NV Champagne Bottle?

Which Wine is in Your NV Champagne Bottle?

Last year, I reported that wine critic Antonio Galloni would no longer be scoring non-vintage Champagne that didn’t list the disgorgement date on bottle. Consumers couldn’t be sure the wine they se...

Blanc du Bois, a Southern Belle?

Blanc du Bois, a Southern Belle? Sitting in a winery tasting room outside Fort Worth, Texas I perused the wine list. “What’s this Blanc du Bois?,” I asked. The name reminded me of Blanche DuBois fr...

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,...

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 ...

Malbec Wine Grape Profile

Grape Variety Profile:  Malbec This is the third in a series of varietal profiles by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, presented to aid students in preparing for blind tasting exams and gainin...

The Cult Wine You Don’t Realize is from Oregon

The Cult Wine You Don’t Realize is from Oregon In the mid-1960’s, Oregon’s wine industry pioneers began planting grapes in the northern Willamette Valley. They focused on Pinot Noir, but also plant...

Muscat Grape Variety Profile

Grape Variety Profile – Muscat This is the second in a series of varietal profiles by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, presented to aid students in preparing for blind tasting exams and gaining ...