Barbera bottles of wine on a rail with trees in the background

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...

/ August 23, 2022
Recipes written large on an open book with various ingredients forming a frame around the open book.

In Pursuit of the Perfect Recipe (and Pairing)

My husband and I love to cook, and are always scouting for new recipes, especially those that pair well with wine. But websites that don’t bombard you with pop-up ads and other annoyances are increasingly hard to find. However, I...

/ August 1, 2022
8 bottles of Chardonnay on a red cloth with trees in the background

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...

/ July 25, 2022
Historical image from Rochioli's early vineyard harvest with a horse drawn cart of grape bins

Multigenerational Family Wineries – Part 4

When I started to explore the backgrounds of two more multigenerational family wineries along the Wine Road, I didn’t expect them to have much in common. Yet, the more I dug into their family histories, the more I realized the...

/ June 30, 2022
Cabernet Sauvignon bottles on a rail with tress in the background

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...

/ June 24, 2022
Photo of the sun setting in the distance and a sweeping landscape of vineyards

Wine Road Insider—Best Club Ever!

Everyone loves to know the insider scoop, be a part of the insider crowd, and get in on the insider deals. Being a wine club member gives you the inside track to wineries, but you can only realistically belong to...

/ June 2, 2022
Rosé bottles lined up on a fence rail with trees in the background

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...

/ May 20, 2022
Sepia toned photo of people unloading wooden crates from a truck.

Multigenerational Family Wineries – Part 3: Deep Roots

It’s time to explore more of the many multigenerational family wineries along the Wine Road. This time we’re looking at two wineries whose farming roots go back over a century.

/ May 2, 2022
Pinot Noir bottles on a red table cloth with corks in foreground

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...

/ April 22, 2022

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...

/ March 18, 2022