Category: Varietal of the Month
Viognier: Varietal of the Month
Viognier is a full-bodied white wine originally from the Northern Rhone Valley in France. Viognier differs depending on the climate be it cool or warm. Cool climate wines tend towards bright citrus notes, while warm climate wines exhibit deeper floral...
Gewürztraminer: Varietal of the Month
Gewürztraminer is a medium body, dry white wine lighter than a Chardonnay and heavier than a Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigo. Gewürz means spice in German and the grape hails from Alsace the French wine region bordering Germany. It’s a cool climate...
Barbera: Varietal of the Month
Barbera is one of Italy’s five most planted grapes and the fifteenth most planted varietal in the world. In California, Barbera is characterized by high acidity and fruity exuberance with medium tannins and a spicy finish. A charming and quaffable...
Chardonnay: Varietal of the Month
Chardonnay is planted widely around the world. It’s sometimes called the chameleon grape given its propensity to display characteristics that reflect the particular climate and region where it’s grown. It can be coy or bold in personality and run the gamut...
Cabernet Sauvignon: Varietal of the Month
Probably the most famous of all the varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon is King of the grape world. It grows in practically every wine region and is noted for it’s concentrated flavors and ability to age gracefully for decades. Its hearty body and...
Rosé: Style of the Month
Overview Rosé season is here and the annual crop of new releases practically makes me giddy. I can almost hear Ethel Merman belting out “Curtain up! Light the lights! Honey, everything’s coming up roses!” But of course I hear her sing Roses...
Pinot Noir: Varietal of the Month
Pinot Noir is synonymous with Sonoma County as one of the flagship wines of the Russian River Valley region. Light bodied with moderate to high acidity gives Pinot Noir a structure that makes it eminently pair worthy with a wide...
Zinfandel: Varietal of the Month
Zinfandel is know as the All American grape and has been grown in California since the 1800’s. Yet the grapes true roots are in Croatia where it’s known as Tribidrag. In Italy Zinfandel is called Primitivo. Although the majority of...
Sauvignon Blanc: Varietal of the Month
Widely planted and universally loved, Sauvignon Blanc is well known for it’s spiky, lively acidity. Flavors range from lean, green and grassy to creamy with notes of passion fruit and fleshy peach depending on climate and how the wine is...
Syrah: Varietal of the Month
Syrah, a Rhône varietal, is a medium bodied to full-bodied dry red wine. For many years Syrah was ignored by consumers, it struggled to find it’s place at the table and stylistically many Syrah’s were pushed to the far side...