The best way to describe Notre Vue Estate Winery & Vineyards is “Forever Wild.” This term describes the breathtaking view of the 710 acres of vineyards and protected open space in Sonoma County. From the gently rolling hills of the vineyards to the natural beauty of the nature preserve, these views captured the fancy of
I first met Billy Vondrasek in 2015 when he and his brother David presented their Artisan Uprising wine to LA Wine Writers. Now eight years later, I am still impressed with the caliber of wine the boys, as I call them, produce. There have been many changes over the years since I saw them last.
From a dying vineyard in the 1800s, Ehlers Estate in St. Helena has transformed into a renowned winery encompassing the legacy of Jean and Sylviane Leducq and their Leducq Foundation, as well as their predecessors, Bernard and Anne Ehlers. For Laura Diaz Munoz, General Manager and winemaker, the estate exemplifies a dream come true. The
In Piedmont, the Dogliani family stands for Barolo, and their winery Beni di Batasiolo has produced this variety for three generations in the Lange district. Over the generations, they have acquired over 320 acres of vineyards, including five “Cru” Vineyards within nine estates. Their name signifies the Nebbiolo da Barolo grape. Recently at a luncheon
My last visit with Titus Vineyards was in 2019 when this Napa Valley winery celebrated fifty years of growing grapes in the Napa Valley. Recently I met with Eric Titus and sampled the wines harvested in 2019. The vintage is one of Titus Vineyards’ best; therefore, the fifty-year celebration is still being honored today as
From grandfather to grandson, Piedra Creek Winery represents one of the smallest bonded wineries in the Edna Valley. Today, the winery is known primarily for producing Lagrein, a red grape variety from the Alto Adige region of Italy. The production might be small, but the wines are mighty in their own right. Romeo Zuech Founder
Although under different ownership, the backbone of Alma Rosa Winery still harks back to its beginnings with Richard Sanford, one of the pioneers of Santa Barbara Wine Country. Richard forged the roads to bring the Sta. Rita Hills on the map by establishing and planting one of the first vineyards in the area in 1971.
One mountain defines a wine region by creating a distinct microclimate with altitude and freshness to the wines and combats global warming by sheltering the region with a cooler climate. Mont Ventoux is the backbone of the Ventoux AOC, and the AOC is a rising star in the Rhone Valley. It is a wine gem
April is Walla Walla Valley Wine Month, and what better way to celebrate than sharing my latest adventure with my favorite Walla Walla Winery, L’Ecole No. 41. This year marks the 3rd year Walla Walla Valley celebrated wine month, and L’Ecole is one of three wineries in the area that helped put Walla Walla on
Anytime is a good time to honor California women in wine. One woman, Allie Ketcham, unexpectedly fell into the wine business and has now created an all-women team. The winery is Ketcham Estate in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma. After meeting Allie, her vibrant personality reflects in her wines. Life took a big turn