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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...