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…
Tag: Napa Valley
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…
#WineWednesday Review; A Taste of Silver Trident Winery
From time to time, I receive wines samples from wineries or their public relations agencies for review. I feature such samples on here on #WineWednesday Review. This week I’m featuring two distinctive wines from Silver Trident Winery. The Winery Silver Trident Winery is a Napa Valley based winery located in Yountville that offers a completely different and singular…
WINEAPAWLOOZA 2015- A Napa Valley Cause For Paws
I attended, as a media guest, the 2nd annual WINEAPAWLOOZA on July 18th at Gamble Family Vineyards in Oakville. WINEAPAWLOOZA is a fundraiser for Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch (“JARR”). The Cause Founded in 2014 by Monica and David Stevens, JARR is a non-profit no-kill rescue and refuge for companion and farm animals in the Napa Valley. They provide…
No Reservations Wine Tasting – Heitz Wine Cellars
My wife and I do more than our fair share of wine tasting. We’ve hit all the major wine regions in California (and a few minor ones too;-), along with some tasting in Oregon, Spain and Champagne. From time to time we have a wine tasting experience that stands above the rest, and is everything…
A Taste of @DateNightWine with Phifer Pavitt
I recently received a couple of wine samples from Napa Valley based Phifer Pavitt Winery. It’s a winery that’s completely new to me. I don’t know why, but coming across new to me wineries is always a bit of a surprise. That’s because…well…I’m a promiscuous wine lover that “gets around” so to speak. Between…
Wine of the Week: 2011 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon
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. My Wine Of The Week is the 2011 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. The Winery Faust Winery is the creation of Augustin Huneeus and it continues to satisfy his long-held desire to produce a wine that…
Wine of the Week: 2009 Volta Cabernet Sauvignon
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 Volta Cabernet Sauvignon. The Winery Volta Wine is an artisanal producer of single vineyard wines from the Napa Valley. The…
A Taste of Castello di Amorosa
Castello di Amorosa is one of Napa Valley’s top “destination” wineries. What makes it unique is that it’s both an authentic 13th Century castle and a winery. The Castello (Castle in Italian) was the brainchild of Dario Sattui, a fourth generation winemaker. Armed with his vault of medieval architectural renderings and another passionate dream, Sattui purchased…
#WineWednesday Review-Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Wines
My #WineWednesday review features three very good wines from the Robert Mondavi “Napa Valley” Collection. I had the opportunity to taste these wine thanks to the good folks at Folsom & Associates, and Robert Mondavi. The Winery The Robert Mondavi Winery (“RM”) was established in 1966 by Robert Mondavi, one of the most influential and esteemed winemakers…