[Photo Credit: Atlas Peak Appellation has used this image, with photo credit given to Stagecoach Vineyard] I've driven through the Atlas Peak American Viticultural Area (AVA) many times, but I haven't ascended the Vaca Mountain range. I had one insightful visit, when invited to my friend Dr. Sondra Barrett‘s art exhibit at Black Stallion Wine...

In my humble opinion, wines that come from the Concha y Toro Power House are incredible wines for the price that you're going to pay for them. I'll never waver in that belief, after tasting them one-by-one, for the last five years. If you get to know this producer, too, most especially since they're distributed […]

The wine business was founded by farmers. This group of people are basically scientists. They use the left (logical and repetitive based on history) side of their brains. "Prove it and I'll use it," is their axiom. Now, imagine someone who comes along who is right brained (intuitive and creative), and that person wants to […]...

At least, that's how I feel, every time… And, I've got better things to do… How many cocktail concepts are you going to send to me, PR people for the hotel industry and/or spirits companies, before you realize, no sample, no story. Bloggers are writing about their journey into the beverage industry. So, do you […]

From Spaghetti and Meat Balls, to their favorite veal stew, Pinot, Pasta, and Parties is a great primer on authentic Italian cuisine. Written by Dee Dee and Paul Sorvino, this is one Italian cookbook that belongs on anyone's shelves, who love Italian foods. It's filled with special dishes that we all know and love as […]

Wines of the Week It's pretty interesting when one starts a wine business. I've taken more than a few people through this process. First the owners have a few bottles to sell (between 200 to 500 cases). The price is set and off they go. As they grow, they've got this and that they need […]

IMAGE Copyright: rfoxfoto / 123RF Stock Photo Pinot Gris is a mutation of Pinot Noir. In a blind tasting, when placed with other white varieties, look for the telltale pink rim around the edge of the glass. You'll guess this one correctly every time, and people will think you're a genius for being spot on. […]

The Old World, brought to me gratis of Enoforum Wines… My exposure to Portugal was a paradigm shift in so many ways. It helps that my DNA dates back to Europe, because it was a return to my roots, and recentered my origins. I've traced two forefathers to Scotland and England in the mid 1600s. […]

A few years ago, I was privately doing a lot of reading and writing about Green Valley of the Russian River Valley. Something that was a bit elusive for me was actually grasping exactly where the Petaluma Wind Gap originates. Everyone writes about it, but knowing exactly where it comes in is not as well […]

Bianca Bosker's "Cork Dork,As  A Wine-Fueled Adventure" hit a home run, with this book. I've been in a lot of situations, like hers in her story, so it's all very believable. What a joyful story of learning the who, what, when, and where of the quirky inner sanctum of sommeliers.. Bianca is a down to […]

Forget the glass bottles and unpack that corkscrew. Award-winning importer Winesellers, Ltd. introduces two varieties of Tìamo organic wines in a can, just in time for the heat of summer. Perfect for picnics, barbecues, camping and more, consumers can sip organic white and rosé wines from the Italian producer, available as individual cans or pack...

Years ago, a friend, who was studying astrology, sat with his ephemeris and told me not only what I knew about myself within my astrology chart, but he also told me things that I hadn't wanted to admit to myself. I knew those facts about myself to be true, but I hadn't yet faced them. […]

The most important aspect of my first bike came in the form of a guide to "rules and regulations of operating a bicycle on the roadways." I wish to God that everyone today also had to read the rules of the road. When I'm on my bike, I do. When I'm driving, I know others […]

From Then to Now As I reflect upon my own life's extensive work, it's been one that's opened impressive doors to a lot of privilege and honor. Why did I get to be the one backstage with rock n'roll's brightest stars, in Portland Maine, and be allowed to photograph them for national trade magazine submissions? […]

Quirky is how I think of Eric Eide of Aberrant Cellars, in the best possible way. When in rock n'roll radio, I had my own set of stars. Today's stars are just as talented, but in the world of wine. Both music and wine need to be in a perfect balance of art and science […]

Enolytics ~ Important Lightbulb Moments Still our shining star for 2017: on January 9, 2017, Jose and I were pleased to award Cathy Huyghe our 2016 Diaz Communications Innovator Award. It's now six months later and the continuing communications from Cathy reaffirms, we were right on the money with this one. Enolytics' commitment is to […]...

Mindful tasting is paying attention to the flavor, smell, and texture of a wine, and noticing how it makes you feel. Writing about wine, given these parameters, then becomes a lot of fun. Evolution Wine is here to deliver the party to the party… E Wines' Philosophy Since its introduction by Dundee, Oregon based Sokol […]

This blog is my wine journal, as a wine publicist, since the day I started it on December 29, 2005. There are very rare occasions, when I segue to something that doesn't fit the above profile. This is one of those times. I've reviewed a few wine books in my wine time. For instance… I've […]

When a Wine Country Movie is Needed IMAGE: LuxInteriorDesigns.com Website. Failed London banker Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) inherits his uncle's (Albert Finney) vineyard. LOCATION: Uncle Henry's Chateau La Siroque is actually Chateau La Canorgue, which is set in the Provence region, Luberon, France. I loved this movie, because it's written about ou...

Photo copyright: aliensprog / 123RF Stock Photo Years ago, I worked for Ironstone Vineyards. The following story is one of my favorite memories, while working in the Sierra Mountain region. It all happened in Calaveras County. It began with a two and a half year gig I intuitively knew going into it that it would […]

MoveOn.org "KNOW YOUR HISTORY: Memorial Day was started by former slaves on May, 1, 1865, in Charleston, SC, to honor 257 dead Union Soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp. They dug up the bodies and worked for 2 weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude […]

éé Wines of the Week Rosés, our most delicious wines for the spring and the summer season ahead, I love them… True confession: It wasn't until I tasted Sutter Home's White Zin that I finally got wine. Had I not been trying to love Merlots as my entry wine, I wouldn't have needed something with […]

Once an oligopoly is formed, like the big three car manufacturers (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler), it takes (and took) an outsideAs  invasion to enter the US, offering greater value. Then, it will cycle back again…in continual consolidations. Worldwide, now, will be determined by who's cashed out and who's cashed into the most gold. Gold...

Making your own wine is done by a lot of home winemakers. And, if you've ever thought about making your own wine, right in the comfort of your homestead, there's a great new book on the market. Written by Lori Stahl, and published by Fox Chapel Publishing, Making Your Own Wine at Home is a […]

I believe I may have found an answer, through my 25 years of observations, visiting both parts of the country extensively, by living on both coasts – each for extended periods of time, and having been to Europe, to see that part of life, too. Here's what stuck me as pretty true, as I began […]

The Le Nez du Vin wine aroma kit is the original of all wine aroma kits on the market. Nobody does it better… It's the Bentley of wine aromas, discovered by Jean Lenoir, some 30 years ago… Often imitated, it can't possibly be duplicated. Nor can there exist anything quite like it for a luxurious […]

Meet the talented instructors who will lead the 14-Week French Wine Scholar As„- program in live online-classroom format, beginning on June 8, 2017.   STUDY UNDER TALENTED AND RENOWNED WINE INSTRUCTORS Sharon McLean is an award-winning wine educator whose ability to teach has been proved time and again by her students: Her wine knowledge is [&...

Liquid and Solid Art Michael Beaulac and Dale Chihuly This was my second year visiting wineries, at the Stags Leap District Vineyard to Vintner 2017 tasting. I was really jazzed to return, because last year's event was a highlight of 2016. Admittedly, I deliberately don't get out much. Unlike those who come to California wine […]

Your nose is the key to enjoying a glass of wine, long before the wine ever hits your palate. The act of swirling your wine releases the bouquet. (The bouquet is a result of the wine making process. Aroma, on the other hand, is related to the scent of the grape.) If you see people […]

The email began: "Could a chance encounter with a taxi lead to one of the biggest new things in wine?" Locations Wines Got My Attention It went on: A strange statement, I know “ but true. Just after the 2010 harvest, Dave Phinney (Orin Swift fame, and the winemaker for Stanton Vineyards, for instance) was […]

WINE WOMEN seeks North Bay women working in the wine industry to take their Compensation SurveyAs by May 31, 2017. [The survey link is currently not working. As soon as I have the correct link, I'll replace the one not working, and delete this message.] Having just held its firstAs Equal Pay Day eventAs at Napa Valley College's […]

For about 10 years, I was an active player in spreading the word on Suisun Valley's presence. The region had been given grants from the town of Fairfield and the Solano Irrigation District. Suisun growers were given 10 years to get themselves onto the wine maps, and they did it… Today, Diaz Communications has a […]

All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy… We've all heard that one. How about horseback riding, building asadas, singing folk songs, playing guitar… Germán di Cesare also makes wine… I think we've found our balanced, well-rounded winemaker. Do you agree? Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec (SRP $21) from winemaker Germán di Cesar...

I just read this from another writer. I'm holding off identity. If IAs  permission, I'm happy to share. (Inquiry has gone out.) Please keep in mind, this is exactly where people have been finding a pothole in the road, when it comes to Petite Sirah. Someone wrote it, ever so long ago, and it's been […]

I was just invited to the Grand Crus Tasting, May 20, in Bordeaux. This wine tasting reunites 119 Grands Crus ChÃ-teaux and their representatives, at the H14. The tasting lasts for the entire day, and offers wine lovers the possibility to taste two Bordeaux vintages (2014 and another one to be determined), in a frame […]

I once wrote a story called Wine Country Casual, because people are so concerned, wanting to know the best thing to wear. We're like that as people, aren't we? It's also one of my most clicked onto stories. Everyone wants to know what to wear. But, what about behavior? After we dress to fit in, […]

When I first met Clementina Biale, I was so drawn to her love of life and natural charm. She had great stories to tell, right from the very beginning. We met in Salsalito, California, for a special tasting of Robert Biale wines. We talked about our lives, her family and mine, like we were long-time […]

Travel with me on the Graton Road, in Green Valley of Russian River Valley. We're heading toward the Forest Primeval. And, we're feeling pretty much the way Yegor Chernykh must have felt, in 1836. Who was Yegor, you ask? An excellent question… Yegor was a Russian Agronomist, sent from his homeland to the new world. […]

Years ago, I worked for Ironstone Vineyards. The following story is one of my favorite memories, while working in the Sierra Mountain region. It all happened in Calaveras County. It was a two and a half year gig. I intuitively knew going into it that it would only last two years. It managed to squeak […]

I'm in the middle of reading Bianca Bosker's "Cork Dork" right now and loving it, said she with no doubts that I'll also write a review for it. Recently, a review in a major newspaper had a review of the book, and it wasn't anything like what I'll be writing. I'm writing from inside the […]

Anything, everything, all of the time… I left a chunk of my heart in the Alentejo. Just search on Alentejo, or Portugal, on my wine blog. Sadly, the second trip (media) that came as an opportunity, I had just booked another flight, and missed the boat (plane). But I was already committed. Someday, I will […]

Wine Cans ~ First and Foremost Waxing poetic from my own experiences of pitching the concept. As a PR person, I'm finding that wine writers haven't quite bought into the concept yet, except – that is – for the early adopters. But… BIG but… this is normal and typical for how new concepts – in […]

[PHOTO Gratis: Safari West,As  taken by Judy Bellah] For those of you who love wine country's other charms… On April Fools' Day – Saturday, April 1st – Safari West is playing around and putting a different spin on their Safari Tours. They all felt that it's a good time to clown around and have some […]

Back to my Robert Mondavi Winery days on this one, because I gathered the best stories while working there. Winery Tour Guide You realize, there are a lot of kids who live in wine country, right? Many of them are born into the wine world, so wine is NOT the forbidden fruit, nor is it […]

This is an unparalleled Stags Leap District wine experience. Stags Leap is an iconic American appellation, with legendary history, a vibrant future, distinctive Cabernets as Napa's neighborhood for world class wines. [Pine Ridge Vineyards] Last year, we attended this event and were stuck by the quality and attentiveness of each vintner and winemake...

White with Fish, Red with Murder, by Harvey Mazuk, is a murder mystery set in San Francisco and Russian River Valley in 1948. Harley Mazuk's novel is one where you imagine Art Deco influences, with Humphrey Bogart (playing P.I. Frank Swiver) and Lauren Becall (Cicillia "Cici" O'Callaghan, as a brunette) getting it on in more […]...

Save the Date Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20 ~ "Rutherford Wine Experience" Consumer Event ~ Tickets will be on sale soon! TheAs Wine Experience is RDS's majorAs consumer-focused event for Rutherford. This year's Experience will include a Friday night VIP reception, multiple educational sessions on Saturday morning, and a new addition to the e...

La Competencia Imports and La Mision Associates are proud to announce several new additions to our ever expanding U.S. Distribution Network. In the first two months of 2017, distribution agreements have been reached for Las Vegas (Johnson Brothers of Nevada), North Carolina (Epiphany Wines), and New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania (VOS Selections).

While James Concannon may have not been the first Irish vintner to work in a vineyard or winery in the United States, he was clearly the first Irish vintner to create his own winery. This is why, for me, celebrating St. Patty's Day has a lot of significance. So much credence is given to the […]