Bordeaux for Tonight - 3 Spring Reds to Drink Now
Looking for the perfect wine to pop open on a Tuesday night? Bordeaux certainly won't be the first that comes to mind. But a handful of oustanding producers are stepping off the beaten path -- crafting award-winning Bordeaux blends at affordable, everyday prices. Check out our top three recommendations for this spring below.
Read full storyThe Woman Behind Fearless Wines: Chelsea Hoff
Chelsea Hoff holds a fierce tenacity for life. Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with Fearless winemaker and proprietress, Chelsea Hoff, and I was absolutely enthralled by her passion for life, for travel, and for authentic winemaking.
Read full storyThe Complete Guide to Healdsburg
The epitome of wine country lifestyle, Healdsburg may be my favorite city in all of Sonoma. They truly have it all: excellent wine, delicious farm‑to‑table cuisine, fascinating history, eclectic art galleries, beautiful music, small town charm, and indulgent, pampering spas.
Read full storyThe Best Pizza and Wine Pairings to Try Tonight!
Let me just start by saying that I freakin’ love pizza. LOVE IT. In my household, we celebrate #pizzafriday on a weekly basis, and I look forward to biting into an ooey, gooey cheesey slice all week long. Like. Seriously.
Read full story6 Wines to Sip this Spring and their Perfect Food Pairings
Happy first day of spring! Now’s the time to emerge from winter hibernation and reach for your favorite springtime wine. These are the perfect wines to pop open during spring cleaning, bring to that backyard picnic, or sip on your porch as the sun sets (at a reasonable time.. finally!)
Read full storyDiscover Wine You Love with Online Wine Subscriptions
The number of wine clubs out there are staggering. With numerous different types of offerings to choose from, how do you make sense of the chaos?. Recently I discovered two really amazing options that I wanted to share: Palate Club and Wine Access.
Read full storyThe Best Places to go in Paso Robles
Paso Robles is a wine destination for the wild-hearted. It’s often touted as one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in California. Located centrally between San Francisco and Los Angeles along the Central Coast, Paso Robles is easily accessible and has a wide range of food and wine to offer visitors.
Read full storyThe Art of Pouring & Serving Wine
Being able to properly open a wine bottle is a crucial (some may say most important) step in enjoying a fine wine. There are many different ways to open a wine bottle with many different tools for the job. My personal favorite is a “waiter’s corkscrew” or a “wine key”. It’s the most common wine tool out there, and small enough in size that you can stash them everywhere (ask my friends… I have one in my car, my purse, my office desk, my underwear drawer… you never know where it’ll come in handy!) It’s also the type of wine opener that most professionals use, so it makes you seem more “legit” to use it correctly.
Read full storyThe Magic of Food & Wine Pairing
There is something magical that happens when a fresh goat cheese meets a New Zealand-style Sauvignon Blanc. The wine’s grassy, herbal, citrusy flavor elevates the acidity, creamy and slightly animal qualities of the cheese, or when Champagne’s bright acidity and sparkling texture meets the salty, luxurious richness of caviar or oysters.
Read full storyDiscover 8 Amazing Women in Wine
In honor of Women’s History month, I wanted to share a roundup of a few of my favorite Women in Wine. As of today, only 10% of California’s 4000+ wineries have female winemakers, and women own just 4% of them. This is despite the fact that 57% of winedrinkers are females and scientifically women have better palates. There is work to do -- share and support these amazing women, and next time you reach for a bottle, make sure you reach for one of these!
Read full story5 Steps to Mindfully Drink Wine
Tasting wine like a “pro” is more about mindfulness and intentionality than anything else. It’s so easy to sip something without thinking about it, gulping it back. While this can still be incredibly enjoyable, if you take the time to sip and savor and enjoy the wine, it’s going to be a completely different level of experience. Neither is wrong, just different.
Read full storyDecoding the Wine Label
Wine labels are incredibly important. The information a producer chooses to include (or not include) is there for a reason. It’s meant to communicate something to us as consumers. Oftentimes, it’s the only communication a winemaker has with potential customers. Wineries and their marketing departments deeply consider everything about the package.
Read full storyThe 6 Basic Styles of Wine
The world of wine often feels vast and confusing. While there are thousands and thousands of wine varietals out there, the good news is that they all fall roughly into just 6 simple categories of wine: Light, Fruity Reds; Smooth, Medium to Full Bodied Reds; Powerful, Big and Intense Reds; Aromatic Whites, Crisp Whites, and Rich, Full Bodied Whites. If you understand these six styles, you can more easily understand where a wine falls along the spectrum of flavors and body.
Read full storyEscape to Bourgogne
Bourgogne. The word itself feels luxurious in the mouth, invoking an aura of history, a sense of wonder, an awe for the place. Without a doubt, Bourgogne has played a key role in the wine industry’s development, a guiding beam that others look to for direction and inspiration, and a sort of “Bible” for demonstrating how to showcase terroir in winemaking.
Read full storyFrom farm to glass - Two Carneros Wineries that Do Things Differently
From farm to glass - Two Carneros Wineries that Do Things Differently. In the world of wine, it’s not unusual for winemakers to source their grapes from vineyards that are not grown by them. These partnerships are mutually beneficial and often highly-selective. Both sides of the equation have brands, reputations, and quality standards to protect. While I’ve spent a lot of time sipping wines that have pedigree vineyards on their labels, it’s unusual for me to have the opportunity to go straight to the root of things -- heading to the property of the vineyard growers themselves. Oftentimes, these winegrowers don’t have their own tasting rooms or welcome the public in. After all, what they do is rooted in agriculture. Farming is where their business focus is, not enotourism.
Read full story5 REASONS YOU NEED TO VISIT HEALDSBURG
The epitome of wine country lifestyle, Healdsburg might be the most charming city in Sonoma. They truly have it all: excellent wine, delicious farm-to-table cuisine, fascinating history, art galleries, beautiful music, small-town charm, shopping galore, and indulgent, pampering spas. What more could you ask for?!
Read full storyBrasswood Estate: A Local St. Helena Treasure
Nestled in the heart of St. Helena, there is more to Brasswood Estate than one might initially realize. On the property, not only do they have a tasting room for their wines and a restaurant where they serve delicious food, but they’re also home to a bakery, extensive man-made cave system, custom crush facility, beautiful event space, a bottle shop with rare wines and liquors, and numerous well-curated spaces to sit and sip your wine.
Read full storyOh Hey, Rosé: The Ultimate Guide to Pink Wine
When people think of rosé, they tend to lump it all into one category, assuming each rosé is similar to the last. But that is just as foolish as assuming all red wines or white wines are exactly the same! (Hopefully if you’ve been following me for some time, you realize this just isn’t true!)
Read full storyThe Best of Napa’s Farmers Market - Shop Small
There’s something magical about waking up early on a Saturday morning and heading to your local farmer’s market. Here in Napa, the heart of America’s wine country, that magic takes on a whole new level. The warm California sun beating on your face, the sweet smell of mustard flowers blooming in nearby vineyards, the sight of friendly neighborly faces… nothing comes close to the magic of this place.
Read full storyTwo Womxn Changing up the Wine Industry: Birdhorse Wines
I am so excited to bring to you this week’s #womancrushwednesday — Birdhorse Wines. Behind the scenes are Corinne Rich, Katie Rouse, and Tyler Ernst, three fiercely fabulous humans who are committed to bringing something innovative and fresh to California wines. Right off the bat, I was intrigued by their lineup, consisting of Valdiguie, Verdelho, and Carignan, three grape varietals not often seen in the California wine-o-sphere. As I’ve gotten to know them better through this process, my infatuation with the three of them has only grown. I think they’re an amazing trio who’s about to explode on the scene, breathing new life into the wine space. Read on below to learn why they need to be on your “must watch” list!
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