S.R. Tonella Cellars is a Napa Valley artisanal producer focused exclusively on the Rutherford appellation. Steve Tonella (read his bio here) is the proprietor. The winery is the culmination of over 100 continuous years in the wine business in Rutherford, Napa Valley. It all started with an earthquake. In 1906 after the great San Francisco earthquake, a…
Product Review: Vinomaster Wine Bottle Lever Screwpull
From time to time I receive wine related products (mostly books mostly) for review. Tim Edison of Wine Turtle (where I was included in last year’s 103 Wine Blogs You Can’t Miss) reached out to me and offered me the opportunity to sample the Vinomaster Wine Bottle Lever Screwpull. As a wine lover I’ve used a…
Franciacorta; The World Class Italian Sparkling Wine of Lombardy #ItalianFWT
One of the things I love most about food and wine is their ability to transport one to a different place. I think a place’s people, culture, and customs are reflected in its food and wine. In that sense, one can virtually travel the world through food and wine. And that is exactly what we are…
A Taste of True Myth Wines
True Myth is a specialty appellation winery that produces wines from regions along California’s Central Coast, focusing on Chardonnay from Edna Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles recently announced a nationwide launch of its wines. I recently received two sample of the wines: 2014 True Myth Chardonnay Paragon Vineyard – Crafted from grapes grown solely…
Chablis:The Spirit of Chardonnay – In The Glass And At The Table
I love minerally, acid-driven white wines. They are refreshing and delicious on their own, and a great companion for a wide variety of foods at the table. So, I was thrilled when I received four sample bottles of Chablis from Pure Chablis a couple of months back. About Chablis Pure Chablis is a trade organization that…
Wine Pairing Recommendations For #SundaySupper Regional Specialties
This week, the Sunday Supper taste makers are celebrating regional food specialties. Foodies believe there is no better way to get to know an area than to experience what the “natives” eat. The Sunday Supper family is sharing more than 40 wonderful dishes they grew up eating or learned to love while visiting or living in…
2013 Castello Di Amorosa Chardonnay: An Exploration of Terroir and Technique
My friends who know I’m a wine writer often ask me if I’d like to be a winemaker. My answer is always the same…Are you nuts? Let me explain. Though winemaking is often perceived as glamorous, I think it’s anything but. It’s hard work that requires long hours, being a slave to Mother Nature, and a…
When Is Sparkling Wine From Spain NOT Cava?
When I think of sparkling wine from Spain, I think Cava. But Cava, while it has a reputation for offering great value, is offers no serious competition to the world’s best sparkling wines. It’s no secret that the “Cava” brand has been undermined by mediocre sparkling wines produced far from the traditional region in…
A Taste of Loire; Saumur-Champigny #Winophiles
The French Winophiles is doing a deep-dive into the Loire Valley region. The Loire Valley is divided in to five distinct regions – Pay Nantais (which we explored last month), Anjou, Saumur, Touraine, and Centre- Loire. This month we’re exploring the Anjou and Saumur region. I chose a wine from the Saumur-Champigny sub-region of Saumur. …
A Tavel Paired with Spring BBQ #WinePW
We’re pairing fresh, seasonal spring foods with wines from the diverse and fascinating Southern Rhône region of France. Wine Pairing Weekend is a monthly collaborative event for wine/food bloggers started by David Crowley of Cooking Chat. It’s a great way to find food and wine pairings that work (or learn from the ones that don’t); along with…