There is some bad news from the world of wineries. The Kirkland Ranch Winery has sadly been subjected to foreclosure. According to the reports of Wines & Vines, we have learned that the foreclosure proceedings on the Kirkland Winery have begun. It was an auction in December, which was unsuccessful in attracting any bidder to…
Diesel Farm has devoted itself to the fine craft of wine making to ensure that the final product not only has an exquisite taste. President and founder of Diesel Farm is Renzo Rosso. If you are wondering that you have heard his name, he also owns the luxury denim company, Diesel jeans. Rosso used a…
The independent Luxury Institute based in New York City recently released its annual LBSI or Luxury Brand Status Index. Every year people eagerly wait for the results of the LBSI. Luxury brand executives utilize the result to check how consumers rate their brands in the scale of luxury metrics. A survey of high-ranking consumers rate…
On January 20, President Obama enjoyed his inauguration with The Neighborhood Ball: An Inauguration Celebration event. The occasion was grand enough for calling for a toast. Historically US Presidents had their personal favorites when it came to the best wines of the world. 2000 J. Schram Rosé has always been a presidential favorite. This primary…
Looking for a nice Chianti? We came across the Chianti Classicos and were rather impressed with its’ remarkable history. It became an official wine region in the year, 1716. For the wine only sangiovese grapes were allowed. The Chianti area is divided into eight different sub-areas including Classico as well as Rufina. Chianti Classicos have…
You must have noticed that getting a good bottle of wine is not easily these days. You have to know what you are buying, or else you will end up with the wrong bottle of wine. However, Virgin Wines have come up with a solution. They will help you choose the wine that will suit…
Dry Creek Valley might be the ‘sweet spot’ for growing Zinfandel grapes but Humboldt County is a cool spot for making the wine. Sonoma County’s popular wine growing region is famous for those gnarly, 100-year-old vines that produce the inky, chewy zinfandels that are almost a meal within themselves, and the finicky Zinfandel requires just…
If your passion is Pinot Noir, head to Shell Beach (just south of San Luis Obispo) on March 7 and 8 for the 8th annual World of Pinot Noir, two days devoted to tasting, talking about and learning more about that fine wine. The festival was created by a small group of vintners from California’s…
In the world of Canadian icewine, Inniskillin presents the rarest of its luxurious range just in time for Valentine’s Day. Meet the 2006 Cabernet Franc Icewine. The Cabernet Franc’s heavenly aromas and rich flavors are enhanced by its brilliant carmine color. This particular harvest has produced an icewine with an abundance of fruit aromas on…
My friend Karen has one of the same bad habits I do: buying wine simply because the label is pretty, interesting or unusual. It’s the same way I bought record albums decades ago. It meant listening to some pretty bad music and today it means tasting some not-so-great wine. But last month Karen found a…
One of my favorite urban spas is the Ummelina International Day Spa on Fourth Avenue in Seattle. Its Asian-influenced décor, soothing complimentary foot baths, tea offerings, incredible shower rooms and attentive aestheticians make any visit a treat. Now Ummelina has moved to the country — wine country. I can’t wait to check out the new…
Check out this article from Friday’s SF Chronicle. Here, you’ll be able to browse a long list of suggested wine gifts ranging from a 2006 Costa de Oro Winery Estate Gold Coast Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir for $32 to an 1897 Schloss Vollrads TBA Trockenbeerenauslese for $15,000.