Grenache Day 2022
International Grenache Day 2022 It’s Grenache Day and, though I have a habit of only realizing it is a grape holiday just before, or sometimes just after dinner, today I got the message early! Now don’t think that I don’t...
Discovering Wine Country Washington’s Yakima Valley and Corks vs. Screwcaps
Episode 4 of Discovering Wine Country On this episode of Discovering Wine Country, we head to the high desert of Washington’s Yakima Valley. We will discover the five nested AVAs of the Yakima Valley AVA and visit some vineyards, including...
Priorat DOQ in Spain’s Cataluña region and Franck Massard’s 2015 “Humilitat” #WorldWineTravel
Spain has some beautiful wines, you think of Tempranillo from Rioja, Albarino from Rias Baixas and of course, then there is Cava! I am traveling to Priorat, Spain this month. I do have some great company on this trip with...
Syncline Subduction Red – Day 3 of the 12 Days of Wine 2020
It was a cool summer morning when we visited Syncline. Located on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge just where the lush green western part of the gorge begins to turn into the flatter browner drier landscape. Here...
A Côtes du Rhône from Franck Balthazar and a deconstructed pairing #Winophiles
At long last, we have a reprise from the 114 degree days. It is time to again venture outside and perhaps in the evenings, as the stars begin to dot the sky, don a sweater. It is time to dig...
Priorat: Medieval Monks, Modern Rebirth and Outstanding Wine from Spain
Today we travel to Spain to the Priorat DOQ. This is a place with an ancient history that has only recently re-emerged as a formidable growing and wine making region. Catalonia (Catalunya or Cataluña) Spain-map-Spanish-Provinces To begin, let’s get...
12 Days of Wine Day 8 – Cowhorn
We are sticking with Southern Oregon today, but we are heading into the Rhônes. No…I’m not giving you another Syrah. Today we focus on Grenache from Cowhorn in Southern Oregon’s Applegate Valley AVA (which is nested in the Rogue Valley...
Exploring the Grand Terroir of Gérard Bertrand with Tautavel and La Clape
A tasting and pairing of Gérard Bertrand wines including a Crémant from Limoux, and red blends from Tautavel & La Clape in France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region.
The 12th Day arrives…2009 Esprit de Beaucastel Panoplie & Duck
The 12th Day of Wine demanded digging in the cellar for something special and Michael perused the Tablas Creek Wines that we patiently wait to open, allowing them to age as we gaze longingly at the Vintage chart waiting for...
Pairing a movie day with a wine from Lirac
Recently I indulged myself with a day of movies. I love going to movies by myself. You can immerse yourself in a film, in it’s moods, colors and tones. I always stay until the end to read all the credits....
Comparing Rhône blends from California’s Central Coast
I love Rhône wines. Wait…let me classify. I love Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Viognier, Tannat, Roussanne, Marsanne, Terret Noir, Picpoul Blanc….I love the varieties and the blends of said varieties. My experience with these wines is mostly from those Rhône Rangers...
A Grenache Vertical from Tablas Creek
We had planned to head to the Valley of Fire, but the winds kicked up and it didn’t seem like a good day to go, so…how to fill our day off? Michael suggested a vertical. We settled on a Grenache...
Tempting Spoonfuls: Pairing single bites with glorious wines (On Sale Now on Amazon)!
Tempting Spoonfuls: Pairing single bites with glorious wines