This particular story was just inspired by my friend Ken Payton. On Facebook Ken wrote: So… I've uploaded and tagged a new gallery, this one simply called ‘Bordeaux, France'. I've kept the tags clean and simple; and, as you will note, some will be unavailable for commercial applications owing to the absence of the proper […]...

Aberrant Cellars, a Willamette Valley wine producer… Hello Pinot Noir and Pursuing the Profound ab·er·rant ?ab?r?nt,??ber?nt/ adjective: aberrant departing from an accepted standard. Biology diverging from the normal type. This was the birth of Aberrant Cellars… This is brand is a combination of old world, new world, and some modern att...

After my first story about Albert Smith (1854–1932), called Bordeaux ~ Impressionist Alfred Smith ~ partie onze, I wanted to know more about the Bordeaux artist. I thought, "Shouldn't there be a museum in Bordeaux where Albert Smith's works are located?" I mean, he's a home boy, right? Well, there is… The Musée des Beaux-Arts […]...

Interesting concept, huh? I have a friend in the CIA, who once told me, when the GOP is in the house, they enjoy hard liquor. When the DEMs are in the house, they prefer wine. Meanwhile, I know who has their "House" wine, but can't tell. How about celebrating this Fourth of July weekend by […]

Einstein's brain, upon examination, revealed that he had an extra-ordinary connection network. For each memory, his patterns were like looking at the interconnections of a busy railroad yard. To really begin to gain info about wines, reading their unique stories, where they're from, who made them and why, tasting them… These are the interconn...

Remember those fun days, when you had more friends than you had chores? Hide and go seek, kick the can, dancing in your friend's living room, and playing a good game of Monopoly were your greatest joys… Then we all grew up. Today's games surrounding wine have such solitary and serious goals… "Should I go […]

(Le quai de Bacalan le soir ) is a full bodied image calling for a full bodied wine. Let's say a Left Bank Bordeaux, because it's quite substantive and a bit mysterious, just as the wharves at Bacalan are so described in texts.

Good, better, best: never let it rest, until the good is better and the better is best...

As I've written about Portugal, To Understand a Wine, Once Must First Understand its People. Now, it's my time to learn about Verona, Italy: The customs of its people, its foods and wines, art and music, it's landscapes, and its history. This is all for the purpose of understanding Cesari wines and what makes the […]

Einstein's brain, upon examination, revealed that he had an extra-ordinary connection network. For each memory, his patterns were like looking at the interconnections of a busy railroad yard. To really begin to gain info about wines, reading their unique stories, where they're from, who made them and why, tasting them… These are the interconn...

Probably not too many people in this lifetime want to admit that their palates are on the wane. No awards are given for fessing up, and it will definitely work in one's disfavor, but I've always been one for telling it like it is, not like it isn't… I've got to thank Dan Berger for […]

Do I love adventure? I have wings on my feet, if you don't know. And I'm a storyteller, which you may also not know… So, this Email arrived. Hi Jo, Cesari Vineyard of Verona, one of the finest Vineyards of the Valpolicella region is celebrating 80 years of producing some of Italy’s greatest wines this […]

[Artwork by John Tewey, Portland Maine Rotary Club] People in Maine sent me off with the tribute to the right. By December 29, 1992, I was on a plane with husband, kids, pets, and all of my earthly belongings… With thoughts of, "Would I ever have such appreciation and understanding again?" Now, when the grape […]

Reviewing the Mission Statement "To promote, educate, and legitimize Petite Sirah as a heritage variety, with a special emphasis on its terroir uniqueness." Since 98 percent of its terroir being California, we've got that covered. This mission statement was created after the first Petite Sirah Symposium. Since 2002, when winemakers had stated that ...

Rich and ripe fruit, with a dusty, smokey character… The finesse is very much there, like a fine Stetson cocked to the right on a gentleman farmer, overlooking his vineyard… The 2014 Trivento Reserve Argentinean Blend of Cabernet-Malbec ~ Delicious… Some day, I've got to get to South America… Specifically, Mendoza Argentina....

[Copyright: mcininch / 123RF Stock Photo ~ Purchased image.] Credit where credit is due… Syrah (father) + Peloursin (mother) = Petite Sirah I did NOT write the following, in this rendition. This was written by Stephanie Douglas of Aratas Wine, who – like me – just "gets it." History, lineage, heritage, passion… We're on it! ...

I'm listing this one, because I know you'll enjoy more than a few of these dinners if you're local or coming to California for delicious fun. 2016 Masters Winemaker Dinner Series Includes Napa Valley's Top Wineries The Meritage Resort and Spa, in Napa, has announced its 2016 Masters Winemaker Dinner Series line up. Featured wineries […]...

[Copyright: phbcz / 123RF Stock Photo – paid image of Chateau Cos D'Estournel, Bordeaux Region, France] I searched on "What You Don't Know About Bordeaux," just out of curiosity, so see what I've been missing with bigger picture items. Up popped my friend Monique Soltani's Website with that exact same name… Her Website is WineOh.tv, [&#...

"We should have gone swimming, first…" [What's underlined below are the connective dots for which I'll be remembering this 2015 Nik Weis Selection Urban Riesling Mosel. Try this system for remembering your wines, too. It works.] We happily ended the evening, when Corinne said, "We should have gone swimming, first…" Here's how it all beg...

The Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation and Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University hosted this groundbreaking ceremony, for the future of the Wine Spectator Learning Center. The day was hot by mid-morning, when the event began. Sun was bearing down, as most of the early arrivals had all found spots in the shade.

So, I know that my feet have never been meant for shoes, and it's a great day when I meet someone else with the same joie de vivre. I first met Pamela Klein on Facebook, through our mutual friend Nancy Weil Brown. Pamela and I instantly clicked as twin sisters from other mothers. In many […]

I love this guy Mark Phillips… He's the brains behind WineTasting.org. His site begins with "Making Wine Fun." Yes, indeed, he's got quite the sense of humor. I learned a long, long time ago, make what they have to learn be as much fun (and funny) as possible, and even the most complicated concepts become […]

Sometimes it just hits you so right… A hot, late spring day (90ºF), you only want to eat light fare, and it has to be bubbles to make it all so refreshing… That was last night, as I reached for the newly arrived bottle of Champagne Forget-Brimont Brut Premier Cru. Everything was right with the […]

[Image from winesisrael.com.] Will there ever be a day when I am headed to Israel to taste wines? I do know that they're working hard to create a great Petite. Beyond that, I'm just plain ignorant, as very little has come to me in this regard. I can tell you that Kerry Damskey is a […]

I was just asked by someone, who's writing an article on tips of how to train your palate. He asked if I would be interested in sharing a tip for developing tasting chops.

If you're looking for a wine county novel to read, Dick Rosano's books won't disappoint you. He's an excellent author.

Bordeaux, the pearl of Aquitaine... the fascination continues. Millesima If I were to travel to Bordeaux, where is one place I would definitely want to visit, based on what I've now learned? The Miroir d'eau (Water Mirror)

Consistently tasty wine from Casillero del Diablo is something you can bank on as a great value, I don't care what varietal grape it is. When it retails for $8 in the US (average, not the same pricing in PA or Puerto Rico, for instance), it's an easy crowd pleaser.

C'est dans l' sac ~ Decadent Saint ~ What we love, the Winery Two 12 ounce cans of "Refresher" Seltzer Water 1 bottle of NV Ruffin Prosecco Sparkling Wine, Product of Italy Decadent Saint Batch 9, Bottle 902: Decadent Saint White Sangria White Wine, Real Fruit, Fresh Spice A Gold Medal Concetrate Rocky Mountain Crafted […]...

I just got this E-Mail; although, I also read their press release, so I did know about this one. Dear Friends, We announced yesterday that we¹re closing IPOB at the end of 2016. Therefore there will not be another membership tasting. We are very grateful for your interest in IPOB, and we wish you all the best in […]

I'm learning about Bordeaux, a big piece of my wine puzzle that's been missing since I began my wine journey in 1993. When one moves from a state like Maine to California, California wines just take over, especially if you make California wine your business and not a hobby. [Do you know that Maine is […]

I love rock and roll. I'm a product of The Summer of Love and then working for rock station WBLM in the 80s. I'm deeply into it, because music is a universal language, and I hear it. Have you ever noticed that when music is playing somewhere, a child about the age of two can't […]

The Top 10 Joys of Having Wine Writer Friends I crowd sourced on Facebook for this one. Many of my friends' stories were repeated, proving that we're all part of the same tapestry. This story was inspired by my friend Pamela Kline… Number 1 below… when she declared the following and it got me to […]

Austrian wines are really so delicious. Taste their wines, and you learn a bit about their culture. Their motto: arrive and revive. I'm sure that it has a lot to do with their mountains, for starters. From the Austrian Info Website: The miracle of Austria is that all of its wine regions are incredibly easy […]

STAGS LEAP AVA Another day to leave the office, and explore more of my wine world? When I got the invite to experience Napa Valley for an important weekend for so many specific vintners, I had to decide… Chained to my desk, or go exploring? People come from all over the world to discover Napa. […]

The 2015 Bila-Haut Rosé, Les Vignes de Pays, d'Oc Indication Géographique Protégee is deserving of its own ode… Delicious every day, with or without the rhyming, it's poetry in crystal. Domaine de Bila-Haut, Roussillon on the Rise, Rhône Leader Michel Chapoutier’s “Bila Heights" believes that “Roussillon has the potential to be as great as Bo...

Purchased image copyright: kasto / 123RF Stock Photo   This morning, Cathy Huyghe – a brilliant journalist for Forbes (Harvard grad, et al) and an independent wine writer for "Hungy for wine" was at the Mobile X Festival 2016. While attending, she wrote on Facebook and then quoted the following: PR people's greatest challenge, in […...

I have a granddaughter whose middle name is Sirah… Yes, in honor of my life's work that's involved Petite Sirah. I've been writing stories for my grandchildren, and I recently thought, "How can I explain to a two year old what her middle names means to me personally, and why she was given this particular […]

[Image of a Cabernet Franc leaf by Jo Diaz. All rights reserved.] Cabernet Franc is a delicious Vitis vinifera. It has luscious black fruit flavors and is the grape that gave Cabernet Sauvignon it's color and body. (Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Frank are the parent grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, if you didn't know this already.) […]...

Ha… Try Robert Biale Vineyards, that's who; and, deservedly so. Always ahead of the curve for just getting it done, Robert Biale Vineyards realized their passion a long time ago, and hasn't wavered one bit as winemakers… against all odds. And for getting the word out educationally, that's Proprietor Dave Pramuk's credo. We've been worki...

Getting ready to celebrate the Kentucky Derby this weekend? If you are (or even if you're not) this is a perfect weekend to indulge your senses in a bit of some Cabernet bourbon… Robert Mondavi Private Selection Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon from Robert Mondavi Private Selection would be a [R...

Understanding Wine PR Being in public relations has taught me so much about stardom. I was first in PR in FM radio. I produced a community issues talk program for WBLM radio, and was its host. I was the staff photographer, so I had nearly unlimited backstage access to all major bands in the 1980s […]

[Purchased photo credit: Olaf Speier] Let me begin by saying that the only formal study I've had with Gen Y, is raising three lovely daughters, observing them 24/7/365 at different levels of living, for however many years each one is old. Now, I observe each of them with her own family, and the children that […]

Continuing from last week's Bordeaux ~ You Can Bank On It ~ partie six… This Earth Snapshot image is located on this Website: Sediments in the Gironde Estuary, France, and is of The Gironde Estuary, formed by the confluence of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. I left soil for last, because its a serious, geological […]

I revived an invitation to attend the Stags Leap Vineyard to Vintner annual event, being kicked off on Friday, April 29, 2016. I knew that this was an honor. It just happened over this past weekend, and I took them up on their offer for Saturday, April 30. It's an event that draws out vintners […]

In northern California, two well known appellation exist: Napa and Sonoma. They're separated by a mountain range, the Mayacamas. (The Mayacamas Mountain name is thought to originally means "the howl of the mountain lion." Lions still do exist on this range, you can be sure of that. I seen my own and was wowed.) Sonoma […]

To Petite Sirah Stakeholders "Why do YOU make a Petite Sirah?" The answers are a tapestry revelation, each an important thread, woven into our magic carpet called Petite Sirah. A. Toraño Family Vineyards ~ Art Toraño, Owner ~ Healdsburg We make our Petite because it is one of the most delicious, unctuous, voluptuous, dark, spicy, […]...

PS I Love You, Inc. is a 501 (C)(6) non profit. This means that we're a Business-2-Busness organization similar to the Chamber of Commerce. We raise money in order to create marketing dollars. We're not raising money for the private sector, in order to help the disadvantages. Over the years, Petite Sirah has still had […]

I recently wrote about Dan Gustafson of Gustafson Family Vineyards and Winery, in a fun, astrological way… This Full Moon in Capricorn Celebrates Prominence – Dan Gustafson is in the House. I wrote: The Capricorn personality is geared towards that of leadership and achievement, they always want to climb the corporate ladder and be the […...