Zinfandel vine row with a sign reading "Zinfandel"

Celebrate National Zinfandel Day

Zinfandel Day is the third Wednesday each November, putting it as a close predecessor to the Thanksgiving holiday. Here are some great Zinfandel facts for a bit of conversation over the turkey (and wine) for your celebration: Zinfandel is considered California’s heritage grape, there are some vines in…

International Tempranillo Day

Tempranillo is a Spanish red grape variety whose name alludes to its nature of ripening earlier than the other Vitis vinifera of Europe (temprano = early).  Tempranillo has a very, very long history in the Iberian Peninsula, and is most likely as old as the discovery of wine…

3 glasses of wine on an outdoor patio, red wine, white wine, and rose

It’s International Grenache Day!

Happy International Grenache Day! Grenache Day is celebrated on the 3rd Friday of September each year. It still surprises us how many folks will tell us they’ve never had a Grenache before.  True story, happens all the time.  But when we inquire if they’ve ever had Provençal Rosé,…

Orange background abounds in this photo showing Cameron Hughes Lot 681 and 3 balanced red wine glasses leaning against the wall at a 45 degree angle

9 Cabernet Sauvignon Facts

It’s International Cabernet Day the Thursday prior to Labor Day each year (8/31 this year), and thus, we offer fun Cab facts for you! Cabernet Sauvignon is the child of Cabernet Franc crossed with Sauvignon Blanc.  And it was most likely not intentional.  It occured in the 17th…

Flutes filled with sparkling prosecco, in a restaurant in Conegliano

It’s International Prosecco Day!

August 13th is National Prosecco Day.  A day dedicated to the most famous bubbles of Italy! Did you know that the name Prosecco is highly guarded, possibly even more so than Champagne?  That’s right.  Technically only wines from Champagne, France can bear the name “Champagne” on their label,…

Beautiful Lagrein red wine grapes hanging on the vines

On the Hunt: Lagrein

Another grape on the “one’s who got away” list from our last trip through Italy is a staff favorite, Lagrein. Those who have been with us the last few years may remember Lot 634, St. Helena Lagrein.  It was a cult favorite, and as soon as it was…

Beautiful Teroldego grape clusters hanging on the vine near harvest time

On the Hunt: Teroldego

Teroldego is an ancient Italian grape. As many of you know, we’ve been poking around quite a bit in Europe over the last few years in search of gems, can’t pass deals, rarities, and oddities.  Many of you know we’ve spent quite a bit of time in Italy…

Lemberger red wine grape clustsers ripening on the vine

On the Hunt: Lemberger

Well, we’ve scored another oddity from the wine world that we’re very excited to share with you. We recently trekked through Washington looking for our usual run of Cabs, Syrahs, Blends, heck, maybe a Merlot or some interesting white wines, but we were fully surprised to see ourselves…

Cameron Hughes red wine being poured into a red wine glass

On the Hunt: Rebo

The gifts of Italy continue. We cannot stress how much scouring the globe (and our own backyards) for the finest examples of varieties and terroir expressions, to bring to your door, drives us everyday to keep our eyes, ears, and mouths open to all sorts of opportunities in…

4 Varying designs of wine glasses fill with bubbly Pink Prosecco

On the Hunt: Pink Prosecco

Yeah, take a sec to let that article title settle in. Yup, pink Prosecco.  Prosecco Rosé?  Sparkling?  Is this for real? Yes.  Yes it is.  And it’s really, really good! Our tour through Italy continues to give us bountiful gifts, as no one was expecting to get our…