What if one of Greece’s most iconic grapes could thrive under California sun? That’s the question the 2022 Sandlands Assyrtiko answers—deliciously. Lodi, already home to more than 100 wine grape varieties, has become a proving ground for the unexpected. From Iberian to Italian to Rhône, Mediterranean grapes flourish here, and now Assyrtiko—famed for its origins…
Tag: Tegan Passalacqua
Wine of the Week: 2024 Sandlands Mourvèdre Rosé
Each week, I feature a wine that leaves a lasting impression—sometimes for its distinctive character, sometimes for its story. But every now and then, it’s the sheer joy a wine brings that makes it impossible to ignore.The 2024 Sandlands Mourvèdre Rosé is one of those wines.Sourced from organically farmed, head-trained, dry-farmed vines planted in 1922,…
Wine of the Week; 2024 Sandlands Kirschenbloom
Each week, I spotlight a wine that truly captivates—whether for its distinctive character, compelling backstory, or the simple joy it brings in the glass. This week’s feature, the 2024 Sandlands Kirschenbloom , delivers on all three counts and then some! A Winemaker’s Curiosity, a Shared Table, and the Spark of Inspiration What has always impressed me…
A Trousseau Trifecta!
Trousseau. It’s an obscure grape variety one doesn’t hear much about. Last week I had the pleasure of enjoying three harmonious, outstanding, and moreish wines crafted from the two varieties of Trousseau; Trousseau Noir and Trousseau Gris. I was introduced to Trousseau when I attended a Seven % Solution Tasting in 2014. According to the organizers…
Wine of the Week; 2012 Sandlands Chenin 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. This week’s wine the 2012 Sandlands Chenin Blanc is all of the above. From The Winery Sandlands is the personal project of Tegan and Olivia Passalacqua. The line-up encompasses the forgotten…