On the back label there’s a quote from Jack London in which he describes riding through his beautiful ranch in Glen...
Entertaining with Appetizers and Bubbles
One good thing about the holidays is that if you listen to the right people you might hear some pretty funny things. Take...
Marguerite Thomas’ Thanksgiving in Alsace
In 2011 my imagination is set not on a particular wine, but on a specific region. This year’s Thanksgiving...
Chateau Bonnet, Bordeaux Rouge (Bordeaux, France) 2008
This is exactly the sort of everyday red wine I find myself sometimes craving, especially after a steady diet of the Zins,...
Wine Competitions from a Judge’s Perspective
There are many reasons why my colleagues and I accept invitations to be judges in wine competitions (it certainly...
Drops of God
If you’re already a fan of manga (Japanese comic books) I don’t need to tell you how much fun they can...
Saving Zinfandel: Dry Creek Vineyards
Kim Stare Wallace was dismayed to see how many old Zinfandel vines in Sonoma were being ripped out and replaced with Cabernet...
Matua, Marlborough (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2010
It’s always nice to open a bottle of Pinot that is as satisfying as it is reasonably priced. Matua’s has...
Louis M. Martini, Sonoma County (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Delicious suggestions of red and black fruit are nicely balanced between alcohol (here at a relatively reasonable 13.8...
Harvest Headaches and Hopes
So you have a dream of someday planting a vineyard? There’s no doubt that this is a particularly appealing...
High Tech Vineyards
It’s hardly groundbreaking news that technology has changed the way we deal with, well, almost everything, but it has...
Difficult Wine Choices at the End of a Memorable Day
Paralysis, strangulation, derangement, violent death--this was fun! No, it’s not what you’re thinking. ...