Wine of the Week: 2012 Merry Edwards Sauvignon 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 2012 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc. The Winery Merry Edwards, one of California’s first female winemakers, began her career at Mount Eden…

#WineWednesday Review: Gallo Hearty Burgundy

It’s been a looooong time since I’ve tasted Gallo Hearty Burgundy.  It was one of the first stops on my wine journey many moons ago.  How many moons ago?  I’m not exactly sure, but Gallo is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Gallo Hearty Burgundy with a special bottling to honor “America’s First Iconic Red Blend”…

Drink Pink! Rosé of the Week; 2013 Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare

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.  This week’s Rosé is the 2013 Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare. The Winery Bonny Doon Vineyard, located in Santa…

Wine of the Week: 2010 Carlisle Mourvedre Bedrock Vineyard

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 2010 Carlisle Mourvedre Bedrock Vineyard. The Winery Carlisle Winery & Vineyards is a small Sonoma County based winery  based in Santa Rosa….

The Best of North Coast Rhone Wines

I attended the North Coast (California) Chapter of the  Rhone Rangers (“NCRR”) tasting last month.  The tasting was held in Oakland, at Campovida’s Taste of Place Oakland. With the Rhone Rangers riding into the Bay Area next week, April 5-6 for the 17th Annual Rhone Rangers San Francisco Bay Area Weekend Celebration of American Rhones, I thought I’d share some of my favorites…

Saké 101 and SakéOne Tastings

Last month I had the pleasure of participating in a virtual tasting (a group of tasters, tasting the same beverages, interact with a host and one another) hosted by SakéOne. SakéOne is an importer of Japan’s finest saké as well as America’s premium saké company. For more than a decade, SakéOne has been crafting junmai ginjo…

Wine of the Week; 2009 Gérard Bertrand Saint-Chinian Syrah/Mourvèdre

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 2009 Gérard Bertrand Saint-Chinian Syrah/Mourvèdre, and it’s a fantastic value! I picked up this wine at my local Costco for $11.59….

A Taste of Smith Madrone

Smith Madrone Vineyards and Winery, a family run, estate-bottled winery located in St. Helena, California was founded in 1971 by brothers Stuart and Charles Smith who are the Managing Partner/Vineyard Manager, and Winemaker respectively.  The name of the winery is a tribute to the Smith brothers and the predominant tree on the ranch. The Madrone is an evergreen with a…

Wine of the Week: 2008 Ridge Lytton Springs

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 2008 Ridge Lytton Springs. The Winery Ridge Vineyards  is a California winery with two estates, Monte Bello in Cupertino, and Lytton Springs in Healdsburg.  They…