Although under different ownership, the backbone of Alma Rosa Winery still harks back to its beginnings with Richard Sandford, 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 1970. […]
Spring Wine: 12 Wines to Savor this Season
Springtime is the perfect time to enjoy all sorts of wine, from whites to reds. Spring is also the time for bud break and the beginning of a new vintage. The weather is ever-changing, so a heavier red still works, whereas, on a nice warm spring day, a refreshing white can be ideal. Join me […]
Delve Into Sannio: The Rising Star of Campania
When exploring the wines of Campania, one must venture into the hills north of Naples to the subzone of Sannio Benevento, located in the province of Benevento. This hilly area is still relatively unknown to most. What makes this area unique is its recognition of the Falanghina and Aglianico wines, the two defining grapes of […]
Ventoux AOC: Rhone Valley’s Hidden Gem
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 […]
L’Ecole Perigee: Perfect for Celebrating Walla Walla Valley Wine Month
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 […]
Enjoy Kosher Wine with Domaine Bousquet Alavida Malbec
What is in a name? In wine speak, it means a lot. It can tell us what is inside the bottle. Welcome to the latest wine from Domaine Bousquet, Alavida but pronounced A La Vida, To Life! It is unique from other Domaine Bousquet wines because it serves a dual purpose. It is a kosher […]
Vega Sicilia: Behind the Scenes of this Spanish Winery
The Álvarez family celebrates 40 years of owning Tempos Vega Sicilia, one of the most prestigious wineries in Spain. Over the years, the winery holdings have grown, yet they still produce some of the top wines in Spain and the world. It all started in 1982 when David Álvarez purchased the estate. Tempos Vega Sicilia […]
Ketcham Estate: Highlighting California Women In Wine
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 […]
Gretchen Voelcker: The Female Winemaker behind Luna Hart & Piazza
March is the month we celebrate women during Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is women providing healing and promoting hope. That can be interpreted in many ways, and for someone who loves wine, it is a female winemaker who promotes hope by nurturing the vineyard and creating a wine bringing hope as we can […]
Planeta: The Best of Sicilian Wine
Planeta has been a game-changer for Sicilian wine. Sicily was known as a bulk wine producer for mainland Italy until the 1990s when things changed. Planeta was at the forefront of many of these changes. Sicily’s Terroir And Climate The terroir consists of mostly volcanic soils. As an island surrounded by seas, the climate has […]