As Memorial Day 2020 approaches, although most of us are sheltering in place, we can still enjoy a barbeque and open a nice bottle of red wine, even with friends, if respect social distancing. Whether you barbeque chicken, hamburgers, or a steak, you chose from an excellent selection of wine to brighten the Day as
My last excursion to visit a winery before the sheltering in place went into effect in Los Angeles took me for a day to Temecula to visit Chapin Family Vineyards. What makes Chapin stand out is the Italian varieties they produce. Although Chapin focuses on red wine and two that are unusual for Temecula, Montepulciano,
The thrill for a wine writer is the ability to sample an exceptionally outstanding wine, but often the story behind compels me to compose the article. In the case of DAOU Family Estates, the biographical history behind the wine Soul of the Lion drew me to write this piece. Although this wine is extraordinary, it
Building a base or a foundation is the center for any artist, musician, and also for creating wine. Those wineries that were the pioneers of the wine industry in the 1960s and 1970s laid the groundwork for California winemaking. One winery which played an important role in the establishment of the Sonoma County Wine Industry
When I think of Christmas and New Year’s, I think of red wine. Perhaps it is because red is such a prominent color at this time of the year or the fact that I think of the gorgeous variations of the hues that come forth with the variety of red wines. With red on my
As summer progresses and we enjoy Al Fresco dinner and barbecues here are five summertime wine suggestions with an international flair. This selection will take you to Argentina, Spain, and Italy. Summertime Wine – White Of late, I find myself very intrigued by the wines from Domaine Bousquet. Bousquet’s grapes are grown organically and they
Celebrating fifty years of growing grapes in Napa Valley, Titus Vineyards shows us that a family’s determination to hold on to the land they purchased in 1968 and still sustain the quality of wine that Napa is known for can prevail. Today in Napa we see many wineries selling out to the big conglomerates. It
Some wines should be reserved for a special occasion. One such wine is the Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2015. For me, I celebrated Christmas Eve and the birth of our puppies that same day. After tasting the Don Melchor 2015, I knew immediately and without reading the material sent to me about the wine that
Sometimes we find wonderfully exceptional things in the most unlikely places. Take, for example, the passion of the wine lover who decides to grow grapes in his backyard in the city like those grown in Mandeville Canyon. Many winemakers start by growing grapes at home. Not everyone can do it successfully because the climate can
When I think of Father’s Day, I think of an afternoon or early evening Barbecue, maybe hamburgers, grilled chicken, or a nice juicy steak. As I think about the ideal wine to pair with this cuisine, my thoughts lean toward more hearty red wines. Here are some Father’s Day wine suggestions. Father’s Day Red Wine