And you think that New Zealand has cornered the market on Sauvignon Blanc's claw factor? Think again, friends. I just tasted a 2015 Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, and it rivals anything I've tasted and really enjoyed from New Zealand, for instance. Also, I love the new bottles. Fun and so Millennial. Diablo… […]...

When word spread in Oregon that the Jackson Family was moving in the entire state of wine was abuzz "What's it all about," they whispered? I thought, "Well, this is going to shake things up a bit." [Image is a Stonestreet cat, one of the wine companies that is now in the Jackson Family portfolio.] […]

One of my greatest joys, as a more seasoned veteran of wine, is to have watched the next generation of  writers slowly rising to a "cream of the crop" level. I'm impressed when I see the same joie de vivre that I had when I began. Coupled with great writing skills, a desire to be […]

This blog story began on Thursday, April 14, 2016. I titled it: Bordeaux, You Can Bank On It, Partie Quatre. At the time, I had no idea that this story was about to take a very sharp 180 degree turn. [Denis and May-Britt Malbec at a reception for Respite Wines in Geyserville a few years […]

This sample came to me from Natural Merchants. I was asked if I'd taste Les Hauts de Lagarde's 2015 Bordeaux, which is both organic and verified as NON GMO. If you don't know me, I've been as organic as I can be, once – in the 60s – a "health food" store opened. It wasn't […]

I'm usually brutally honest, because lying is abhorrent to me. I think it ended when I stopped going to confession. As a small child, I'd have to make up lies; so I'd have something to discuss with the priest, who then would bless me. "Dear Father, please forgive me, because I did this, I did […]

Bordeaux Wine Grape Varieties [Cabernet Sauvignon leave. Photo credit: Jo Diaz] It's marvelous to hear people defend genetically modified plants as "it's been happening in the wine world since forever." This is a teachable moment. As I explore the world of Bordeaux this year, having received my inspiration from Millesima Cie, what I'm learning I'll...

Coming to wine country, or live here? What are you doing on Earth day? Safari West is cordially inviting you to celebrate Earth Day with them on Friday, April 22nd. Earth Day is the day that they traditionally set aside to honor the bountiful planet we all call home. In my humble opinion, there's no […]

Astrological Signs With Astrological Wines, for some of us, the truths are self evident and tons of fun…  For the lunar eclipse tomorrow, here's what I have to offer… I was born on a lunar eclipse. According to the astrology that I studied (as a side interest) for 10 years, people born on a lunar […]

In fact, I can't remember ever devouring a book this quickly. And, even if I hadn't been flying, for some time off, I still would have put everything non-urgent aside and just read through it. Michael Amon's debut book Blinders is a must read, if you love to be captivated by the first sentence onward… […]

I'd like to thank Claire Cyr, a high school friend of mine, still living and thriving in Maine. She sent this to me, knowing that I love a good story. I know that you do, too. And, happy April Fool's Day! THE BOTTLE OF WINE For all of you who are married, were married, wish […]

James Brown and Studio 54 It was what it was, and I had no idea what Studio 54 was at the time. Nor did I know about the joy for so many others of being put on the short list of who gets in. While in rock and roll radio, I was on everyone's list, […]

Delicious, mysterious, and adventurous (for my palate)…  Sicilian flavors from Stemmari's Nero D'Avola and Tenuta Rapitala Nuhar's Pinot Nero. They were really enlightening and sumptuous… As I tasted both the Nero D'Avola variety and a combination of Pinot Nero and Nero D'Avola wines, I was thinking how the Pinot Nero was a wine variety...

The Pisces personalities (and today's full moon in Pisces) are geared toward being compassionate, adaptable, accepting, devoted, and being Imaginative. They're the bard of the zodiac, the dreamer, the poet, the magician. They love to create illusions, the Wizard behind the curtain… Being the last sign of the Zodiac means that unless they have...

Traditional, Professional, and Family ~ I Am She TRADITIONAL: My maternal grandparents were Pierre Bernier and Abbie Ouellette Bernier. My first four years of life, they only spoke French to me. I would give it a try back to them. I remember my grandmother telling me, "You have great intonation," when I was then studying […]

Behind the scenes, I've been connected to Suisun Valley for a very long time. I have the inside skinny on moves happening in "the valley." Since my relationship began with them, I've been very impressed that growers and producers have been able to maintain their core values: being connected to the earth staying clear of […]...

Want to keep the peace? Sending wine media your "scores, " is like sending wine media … thinking here for the simile… your neener-neener… Wine writers want to taste your wine for themselves. They want to know what it tastes like on their own palates. They don't want to know that you trusted someone else […]

Spanish Wine of the Week From the Valdepeñas region of Spain: Viña Albali ~ Félix Solís Avantis is one of the top 10 wine companies in the world, and the largest producer of still wines in Spain.  More than 5,2834,410 gallons of their wines are sold, in more than 90 countries. They produce high quality […]

A book of "who done it" in France's Burgundy region of Nuits-Saint-Georges… It is the first in a series of two novels of "Not all is at it seems in the peaceful vineyards of Burgundy…" The Richebourg Affair ~ R.M. Cartmel's first mystery novel The Charlemagne Connection ~ R.M. Cartmel's second mystery novel I flip […]...

Wine Market Council Stands by their 2016 Consumer Research on Millennial Wine Consumption Habits I attended the Wine Market Council's recent meeting in Napa Valley at their Yountville Conference. They talked about their New York City presentation and clarified all points. Now, the Wine Market Council (WMC) further clarifies data reported at their 2...

In wine there is wisdom, In beer there is freedom, In water there is bacteria.

Mark Oliver, a partner of Windrun Wine, located in Santa Barbara County, emailed to ask if I'd like to taste his Pinot Noirs. As his company is a négociant wine brand,  there's a lot of freedom to choose wine grapes that are grown in the finest vineyards, which makes the most sense to some.  Windrun Wine […]

The PS in Paso event is done, and I've caught up… I just read that an event planner is the most stressful job; maybe brain surgery might be more, but not by much, I'm betting. Every second, something could go wrong and event planners just waiting quite anticipation for the shoe to drop… while dealing […]

A press conference on February 3, 2016, was held at the Highline Ballroom in New York. It began Italian Wine Week 2016, with an exciting panel discussion featuring Maurizio Forte, Stevie Kim, Kevin Zraly, and David Rosengarten. Together they offered insight on the evolution of the US wine market, and the future of Italian Wines […]

Good editing, even I can't get enough of it. I once worked with a colleague at a winery who was responsible for copy. She'd write a story, then it would make its way around the winery, seemingly to every single person. It seemed excessive to me at the time; however, anything that was finally approved […]

I chuckled when I read that Kanye West and his wife are now making wine. Not because of what the quality of the wine might be. All I could see was a Wine Enthusiast's Awards of the Year party, and Kanye running up onto the stage and ripping the award out of Helen Turley's hands, to […]

Today's Wine of the Week is the 2013 Artezin Verdelho, Amador County Sisney Ranch. Bright fruit, a bit of alcohol (14.5%), and still very much in balance and pairing well with food. Trust me, it takes longer to say it than it does to sip and really enjoy it. This is one really flavorful wine, […]

Recently, someone commented negatively about something I had written about wine being an investment. "Why," according tot his person, "would ANYONE want to invest in wine?" Well, one of those obvious reasons is that liquid investments DO pay off; most especially if it's a rare wine, like a 1945 Margaux. this could take care of […]...

A long time friend and wine associate, Jonathon Alsop is also is the owner of the Boston Wine School. In the early years of my wine blogging (2006), this was one of my first focused blog posts, being duly fed up with wine's pomposity. I wrote, Everyone Has a Palate. Wine doesn't deserve the elitist hype […]

In wine country, not everything is about wine; at least not for those of us who live here. For us, its 24/7/365; and as a result, we also notice other things besides grape vines and how they're doing. This story is part of that "noticing." I've long wondered… well, ever since I moved to California […]

[Image borrowed from the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus] The Aquarius personalities (and today's full moon in Aquarius) are geared toward doing "something useful with their lives, mixing that with their amazing way with people, they make excellent politicians and social workers/psychologists. They are progressive thinkers and are great at forming n...

Open letter to those of you who want to call Petite Sirah "a distant relative of Syrah…" Hello, You, Great story you've just written. In 2002, after a Petite Sirah symposium that I put on for Lou Foppiano, I started the wine grape advocacy group PS I Love You. The facts and figures you have […]

Batonnage, the stirring of lees after fermentation, at The Rubin Family of Wines, is performed by winemakers Joe Freeman and Ed Morris in a new fan-dangled way. Batonnage is a great example of Wine Ed 101. It's also important to note that assistant winemaker Ed Morris worked as a cooper for 11 years, prior to […]

Are you in Seattle, or close by? This is an event for you. First, how it happened that I've written this one. You can also jump to MAIN ATTRACTION below. There we were, meeting in Cousteaux' Bakery in Healdsburg, CA, for the first time. We've know each other over the years, as compatriots in wine […]

The Wine Market Council has announced details of 2016 Consumer Research Conferences, which is taking place on Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Yountville, California. The Wine Market Council is a non-profit association of grape growers, wine producers, importers, wholesalers, and other affiliated wine businesses and organizations. This year’s conferenc...

Football fan or not, Super Bowl is a great excuse to party. And, since Super Bowl 50 is going to last for an entire day of celebrating, I'm moving away from just one wine for the wine of the week recommendation, into a couple of wines. If having wine rules with your crowd, I've got […]

Helping me with this blog story is my friend Jane Kettlewell of Creative Palate.  We share lots of stories back and forth, as we both get our jobs done. I'm on the west coast and she's on the east… Talking about Super Bowl 50, Jane just shared her cat story with me. It sparked my […]

It's always great to see a company receive it's just desserts. Winesellers, Ltd., a wine importer, has earned it's recognition, and I'm happy to praise the company, as they've been very kind to me. As a California-based wine publicist, I have little opportunity to taste import wines. Fortunately, my wine blog has opened up the […]...

February is the month (astrologically) of altruistic love… Aquarius rules. Valentine's Day is the height of it all, and a heart is the totem. In this month of altruistic love, I'm going to be sharing a few profiles of women wine bloggers, whose passion is wine; and, sharing (via blogging) their own personal experiences, in […]...

Presidents of Prohibition were many, not just the ones during the actual time of Prohibition. As with any major project, it takes an inordinate amount of time to change anything politically. I was inspired to write this blog post when I read the book Mint Juleps with Teddy Roosevelt… Mint Juleps with Teddy Roosevelt, The […]

NV Valdo Prosecco, Demoninazione dorigine Controllata Brut Bubbles, we've got bubbles, we've got lots and lots of bubbles. This wine was really enjoyed. I hadn't ever heard of Valdo, but now I have. I'm really getting turned on to wines from around the world and I feel like Sir Francis Drake. It's a great adventure […]...

While making wine does involve the two sciences of viticulture and enology, for those of us wanting to learn about it, is doesn't have to so complicated that it loses its luster. I do have 60 college units dedicated to understanding it, so I could work with wine clients and not be a dolt on […]

Since my early days in wine, which started in March of 1993, I've watched Wine Business Monthly (WBM) morph. For those of you who aren't in the wine trade, it's our professional bible… When it first arrived, is was akin to a newspaper (same kind of paper) and it was free. Seemingly, their advertising took […]

The Capricorn personality is geared towards that of leadership and achievement, they always want to climb the corporate ladder and be the best they can be. Capricorns have excellent sense of time and manage it very well, they are excellent organizers. Capricorns are very creative, not spontaneously creative but it is incorporated into their time [&...

Confessions of an emerging wine educator; in Iambic pentameter (da-da, da-da, da-da, da-da) Bullet points give you the wine progression When I was young and with my folks, home was filled with colonial. Manischewitz Married, moved to Bangor, Maine, where candles dripped on window panes. Chianti in baskets Graduation meant moving back, and yet anoth...

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket –Chinese Proverb p. 154 We all need mentors, whether employed or self employed. I can list every single one of mine, who are related to the wine business. and from previous life incarnation. And I'm betting that you can, too. The need for expert counsel […]

Dear Oprah, Thank you for having your Super Soul Sunday show on SuperSoul.tv. Thank you for also having your 11 Life-Transforming Talks from Spiritual Thought Leaders, Change Makers and Wisdom Teachers. I'm not sure where Dr. Tom Pinkson would best serve your audience, but I know that you will decide what's best. I'm compelled to […]...

Two very thoughtful pieces, one written by wine blogger Tom Wark and another one by Steve Heimoff, are telling the story I've also been watching unfold, as clients continue to narrow their wine samples releases down to those wine writers who remain in power. Unfortunately, there's a hierarchy of who will and does have influence […]...

When I look at its history, I see that Don Melchor is a high performance wine. Would I like to taste it? Indeed, bring it on. I received the 2011 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon, Puente Alto Vineyard for review. This wine is kicking off my 2016 wine blog project… Wine of the Week. 2011 Don […]