Many people are unaware that there is an AVA on the East Bay of San Francisco. The Lamorinda AVA, a hidden gem, is part of the Central Coast and San Francisco Bay AVAs. Located in Contra Costa County, the Lamorinda AVA encompasses the cities of Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda. Let’s discover more about this little-known … Read more
Every city has an attraction that delineates them from other cities. In many cases, it is murals; in others, it can be a style of architecture. When visiting Concord, California, the defining feature is the Concord Taco Trail; for people like me who have dietary restrictions, it is the Naked Taco Trail. Several years ago, … Read more
Rioja is one of Spain’s most well-known wine regions. One winery, La Rioja Alta, located in Haro, stands out as one of the area’s oldest and most prestigious wineries. It all began in 1890 when five families joined together to form the winery. In 1904 the winery merged with the Ardanza Winery. Today three families … Read more
National Farmers Market week begins on August 7 and runs through August 13. As a frequenter of the farmers markets, I thought it appropriate to honor some of my favorite vendors. If you live in Los Angeles, one of my favorite markets is the Sunday Brentwood farmers market. It is not huge, but the quality … Read more
I am pleased to announce that in 2022 two of my photos won awards in the 2022 IFWTWA Photo Contest. Both photos received first place in their categories. My photo entitled Sensario Pre-dusk took first place in the Landscape Category. In addition, my photo Turret Stairwell won first place in the Urban Landscape Category. Sensario … Read more
Brian Nuss’s passion for wine came from building homes on Mount Veeder. As a general contractor, he built many homes in the bay area. Building the home for comedian/actor Robin Williams finally brought Brian to Napa Valley to live. He took his first step into vineyard management when Robin asked Brian to oversee the vineyard … Read more
I find the best white wine for summer are those unique blends and the less common single varietals. Many of these white wines come from Europe, delivering a refreshing outlook instead of the typical varieties we see in our go-to wines. Most are bright in acidity. My white wine options will take the wine drinker … Read more
Each glass of wine we drink takes us on an excursion to some of the most incredible wine destinations worldwide. We live vicariously through the glass. For this article, let’s travel to Burgundy to discover a six-generation family that has made their mark on Burgundian wine, Albert Bichot. The Albert Bichot Family Family roots go … Read more
From the vineyard to the winery, innovation to traditional style, Lisa Strid does it all as winemaker of Arizona Winery Aridus Wine Company in the Willcox AVA. She is the backbone of both the winery and custom crush facility. Her goal is to “usher the grape from vine to bottle.” Scott and Joan Dahmer purchased … Read more
Their passion is contagious, and the food at this family-style restaurant is delectably yummy. I felt invigorated and satiated after eating a hearty breakfast and meeting Debbie and Ben Shahvar, a mother and son team who are part of the ButtercuP Diner family. With five restaurants, it takes a family to run the business. That … Read more