Each week, I feature a wine that leaves a lasting impression—sometimes for its distinctive character, sometimes for its story. But every now and then, it’s the sheer joy a wine brings that makes it impossible to ignore.The 2024 Sandlands Mourvèdre Rosé is one of those wines.Sourced from organically farmed, head-trained, dry-farmed vines planted in 1922,…
Author: Martin D. Redmond
Honey, Hops, and Chocolate: An Unexpected Dessert Pairing That Works
I’m a wine guy through and through—but every now and then, something off the beaten path captures my curiosity. This was one of those moments. About seven years ago, I tagged along with a couple of friends to a beer tasting at my favorite wine shop. The featured brewery was FiftyFifty Brewing Co., based in…
Wine of the Week; 2024 Sandlands Kirschenbloom
Each week, I spotlight a wine that truly captivates—whether for its distinctive character, compelling backstory, or the simple joy it brings in the glass. This week’s feature, the 2024 Sandlands Kirschenbloom , delivers on all three counts and then some! A Winemaker’s Curiosity, a Shared Table, and the Spark of Inspiration What has always impressed me…
Wine of the Week; 2020 Domaine Carneros Blanc de Blancs
Each week, I spotlight a wine that truly captivates—whether for its distinctive character, compelling backstory, or the simple joy it brings in the glass. This week’s feature, the 2020 Domaine Carneros Blanc de Blancs, carries both a personal connection and a lasting impression. A few years ago, during a visit to Domaine Carneros, we tasted…
Wine of the Week; 2014 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V.
Each week, I spotlight a wine that truly captivates—whether for its distinctive character, compelling backstory, or the simple joy it brings in the glass. This week’s feature, the 2014 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V., delivers all of that and more. It’s not just a remarkable tasting experience—it’s a taste of history, rooted in…
Wine of the Week; 2016 Smith-Madrone Riesling
Each week, I spotlight a wine that truly captivates—whether for its distinctive character, fascinating story, or the sheer delight it brings to the glass. This week’s feature: the 2016 Smith-Madrone Riesling, a wine that stands apart for all the right reasons. In a region famed for bold Cabernet and opulent Chardonnay, this mountain-grown Riesling is…
Wine of the Week; 2024 Massican Pinot Grigio
Each week, I love spotlighting a wine that truly stands out—whether for its unique personality, compelling backstory, or the sheer joy it brings in the glass. This week’s pick comes from a new-to-me producer I first discovered just last year: Massican Wines. After being thoroughly impressed with that first taste, I didn’t hesitate to order…
Wine of the Week; 2020 Baxter Pinot Noir Run Dog Vineyard
Each week, I love spotlighting a wine that truly stands out—whether for its unique personality, compelling backstory, or the sheer joy it brings in the glass. This week’s pick is all three: the 2020 Baxter Pinot Noir Run Dog Vineyard, is a pure, vibrant expression of an Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. It’s a bottle that…
Beyond the Usual: Discovering Teran from Slovenia’s Coastal Karst #WorldWineTravel
One of the things I love most about wine is its ability to preserve memories—bottled reminders of time and place, waiting to be uncorked. That was certainly the case when I recently rediscovered a bottle of 2018 Boris Lisjak Izbrani Teran, tucked away in our wine stash. We brought it back from a trip to…
Pinot, Memories, and Dry Creek Charm: A Taste of Papapietro Perry
One of the things I love most about wine is its power to unlock memories with a single sip. That’s exactly what happened when I opened the sample bottles of Papapietro Perry’s 2021 Pinot Noirs. Suddenly, I was transported back to our cherished Passport to Dry Creek weekends—an annual tradition shared with friends for many…