Recap of the 2014 Seven % Solution Tasting

Last week, I attended the second “Seven % Solution tasting in San Francisco.  The event was organized by Bergamot Alley.   It’s a unique event premised on the following: Roughly 93% of Northern California Vineyard acreage is planted to eight grape varieties. The remaining 7% of acreage is home to an impressive aggregation of lesser known…

#DrinkPink; 2013 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé

Rosé season is in full bloom, although truth be told, it’s Rosé season for me pretty much year-round for me!  With that in mind, I’m cranking up my annual series of weekly “Drink Pink!“ Rosé tastings.  It’s my quest for the best Pink Porch Pounders for $20 or less!  This week’s Rosé is the 2013 Tablas Creek Patelin de…

A Taste of Two Shepherds

When I started this blog in July 2010, I took (ah the benefit of hindsight) the ” Ready, Fire, Aim” approach.  I knew next to nothing about blogging.  All I knew is that I had a passion for wine that I wanted to share.  And that I wanted to continue to educate myself about wine,…

Wine of the Week; 2011 JC Cellars Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel

Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out.  For this week, my Wine of the Week is the 2011 JC Cellars Isabel Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel. The Winery JC Cellars (“JCC”) is an award-winning urban winery located in Oakland, CA.  Jeff Cohn is…

My New Everyday Bubbly; Kirkland Prosecco!

A friend of mine,  who adores sparkling wine, especially Prosecco,  IM’d me last week. The message said “Martin go get yourself 2 bottles of Costco brand prosecco…….it will blow your mind for the price….I was just shocked”. He drinks a lot of Prosecco.  That’s high praise. Since my wife and I were hosting a wine…

#DrinkPink Rosé of the Week; 2013 Bedrock “Ode to Lulu” Rosé

Rosé is in full bloom, although truth be told, it’s Rosé season for me pretty much year-round for me!  With that in mind, I’m cranking up my annual series of weekly “Drink Pink!“ Rosé tastings.  It’s my quest for the best Pink Porch Pounders $20 or less!  This week’s Rosé is the 2013 Bedrock Wine Company “Ode to Lulu”…

A Taste of Casey Flat Ranch

One of the things I enjoy most about writing this wine blog is that I get a chance to discover exciting wines, and/or a wine tasting regions.  I had a chance to discover both exciting wines and an exciting wine region when I invited by Charles Communications Associates to participate in an online tasting of the latest spring…

Wine of the Week: 2011 Thierry & Pascale Matrot Bourgogne Blanc

Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out.  For this week, my Wine of the Week is the 2011 Thierry & Pascale Matrot Bourgogne Blanc. The Winery Domaine Matrot is one of the oldest estate-bottlers in Burgundy. It has been distributed in…

#DrinkPink Rosé of the Week: 2013 Charles & Charles Syrah Rosé

It’s April and for me that means, it’s the unofficial opening of Rosé season (truth be told it’s Rosé season for me pretty much year-round)!  With that in mind, I’m cranking up my annual series of weekly “Drink Pink!“ Rosé tastings.  It’s my quest for the best Pink Porch Pounders $20 or less!  This week’s Rosé is the 2013 Charles & Charles Syrah…