As the Thanksgiving Holiday approaches, many contemplate the best wine to serve to make our Thanksgiving feast memorable. Halleck Vineyard, a small Sebastopol winery, comes to mind. Many of their wines lend themselves to creating a unique and excellent accompaniment to the Thanksgiving dinner. Not only does the wine lend itself to the cuisine, but
Wine tasting comes together best when combined with a wine pairing dinner. I find West Hollywood restaurant Tesse creates food pairings that bring out the finest quality in wines. Owner Jordan Ogron enables one to travel the world in a three or four-course dining experience. West Hollywood Restaurant Tesse Tesse is a French restaurant inspired
A trip to Santa Barbara must include a visit to one of the funk zone wineries. These wineries are part of the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail. The Santa Barbara Funk Zone is located within a few blocks between State Street and Garden Street and Montecito Street to Cabrillo Boulevard. This industrial district was known
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
Art and wine connect me to the places I travel to; each establishes harmony and balance in its surroundings. Local art, especially murals, defines a city or town. Like art, local wine speaks of a place, especially in terms of terroir. Both inspire our senses and have a social impact whether we share with friends,
When thinking about New Zealand wine, one typically thinks of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. My mind immediately goes to the grassy and grapefruit aromas of the Sauvignon Blanc and the minerally character of the wine. Such was the case when I had the privilege of meeting Winemaker Natalie Christensen and tasting Yealands
Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along Highway 101, lies the Central Coast town of San Luis Obispo. A city that is increasing in popularity partly due to its agricultural roots giving way to grape growing, expanding the city’s desirability for fine dining and wine tasting. There is more to San Louis Obispo than
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
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
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