A Taste of Murrieta’s Well #SnoothVT

Not too long ago, I participated in a virtual tasting of four wines from Livermore Valley‘s Murrieta’s Well.  The tasting was organized and moderated by Snooth. Essentially the way a virtual tasting works is that select wine writers and bloggers are sent the same wines.  Then, at the appointed time, we drink the same wines and…

Wine Pairing Weekend To Explores Grüner Veltliner #WinePW

Get ready to explore Grüner Veltliner for the next Wine Pairing Weekend (#WinePW), coming September 10th! Many moons ago, when I first because seriously interested in wine,  Grüner Veltliner (Velt-LEEN-er) was trending.    While the wine  had been consumed in Austria forever, it didn’t gain favor in the international market  until 2002.   That year Jancis Robinson,…

Chillable Summertime Red Wines

Writing this blog for the last six years has led me to some unexpected opportunities.  I’ve been a correspondent for the American Winery Guide, writing reviews of wineries for a couple of years.   I’ve been sharing those reviews on this blog via my “No Reservations Wine Tasting” posts. I’ve also been doing some writing…

2015 Bodega Garzón Albariño

Uruguay’s Bodega Garzón sustainably farms 524 acres of vineyards planted to thin, rocky granitic soils, and cooled by breezes from the Atlantic, which is only 11 miles away.  The grapes were hand-picked,  whole cluster pressed, and raised in stainless steel on lees for six months. The wine pours a pale lemon green color with appealing…

An American In Saint-Émilion #Winophiles

This week the French Winophiles continues its virtual exploration of the Bordeaux Region with a visit to Saint-Émilion, which is located on the right bank of the Gironde estuary.  Merlot is the dominant grape in this prominent wine region, which also a UNESCO World Heritage site.  To truly understand wine, you must understand that ultimately,…

2014 Ironstone Vineyards Symphony Obsession #WBC16

Last weekend I attended the Annual Wine Bloggers Conference hosted by Lodi Wine.  The conference was a great opportunity for learning, networking and fellowship with my fellow wine writers and bloggers.  During the Friday Excursions Into Wine Country,  I joined a small group that hosted by  Ironstone Vineyards.  We visited Teichart Ranch located in the Sloughhouse AVA. After…

Time To Get My Wine Bloggers Conference On! #WBC16

I’m pleased to report that I’ll be attending 2016 Wine Bloggers Conference (“WBC”) later this week!  The WBC is being held August 11-14 in Lodi.  It’s my first Wine Bloggers Conference! There will be a few hundred online, print, citizen and industry wine writers who will be will be immersed in educational wine seminars, networking, grower and…

2015 Kir-Yianni Akakies Rosé

Yiannis Boutaris founded Kir-Yianni in 1997 with the vision to create a super-premium Greek wine estate. After more than 30 years of owning a controlling stake and running the operations of Boutari —the leading Greek wine brand— Yiannis decided to spin-off two of the best vineyards belonging to the Group in order to create Kir-Yianni….