60 Days of New York wines for free! Upper class passengers using the Virgin Clubhouse at London’s Heathrow airport will be tempted to taste wines from New York State. Samples from Fingerlakes, Long Island and the Hudson Valley areas will be available for sixty days from June 22nd 2008.
Colorado will never be Provence. Or Napa. Or even Walla Walla. But the state’s wine industry continues to mature and grow, making a stop at any of the summer’s wine-related festivals a lot of fun. Wineries throughout Colorado offer tastings at regular weekend farmer’s markets and the grape-focused food festivals that seem to pop up…
So many California wines have been bought by East Coast or European conglomerates, I’ve lost track of who owns what. But this week, five well-known Golden State wineries — Buena Vista Carneros (Sonoma, established 1857), Geyser Peak (Alexander Valley), Atlas Peak (Sonoma), Gary Farrell Winery (Healdsburg) and XYZin Wines (Geyserville) — were sold to Ascentia…
One of my fave trade tastings each year is the Rieslings from Germany. Unfortunately, most of these incredible wines never see the light of day in the States. On the rare occasions that I do spy one on the menu and try to order it, I usually get the same comment from my (riesling ignorant)…
What is it about dogs and wine that goes so well together? Maybe good taste and big hearts bring out the best in those of us who love both a Cab and a Lab. I’ve written before about the Dog Lovers Wine Club (www.dogloverswineclub.com) that sells California wines with dog art labels to support animal…
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…
Far Niente is a small winery in the Napa Valley. It produces about 25,000 cases per year of luxury, estate- bottled Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay on 13 acres. Roughly translated from Italian as “without a care” or “with nothing to do,” Far Niente is actually doing quite a bit to offset its carbon footprint because…
One of my most surprising discoveries at the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (detailed report in a few days) was not a new alligator gumbo, praline flavor or cajun spice blend– it was my first tasting/sighting of acclaimed film director and California wine maker’s FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’s new collection of European wines. Hadn’t heard…
If you love all things Spanish, especially the delicious foods and wines of the Catalan region of Spain, mark July 19 and 20 on your calendars. Those are the dates. 11 am to 4 pm are the times. And Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards at 23555 Carneros Highway (better known as Highway 121) is the…
His friends called him Bob. Others called him one of the most inspirational people in vinoculture. Robert Mondavi, shown enjoying a glass of his famous product at his winery in Oakville at his 90th birthday celebration, passed away this week at the age of 94. There’s no truth to the rumor that he’ll be buried…
The historic Bengal Lounge of The Fairmont Empress in Victoria, British Columbia was the setting for the release of Victoria Gin on May 13. Winchester Cellars created B.C.’s first handcrafted gin, and they are also Vancouver Island’s first licensed distillery. The unique recipe for Victoria Gin blends ten organic and wild botanicals, from juniper berries…
Napa’s Cleavage Creek Cellars announces a Mother’s Day sale on two of their world class wines. The 2006 Reserve Chardonnay and the 2006 Secret White wines are specially priced at $15 per bottle.(Normally they sell for $30- $40 per bottle!) Not only are these great wines at a great price but it’s also for a…