Cabernet Franc

Happy Cabernet Franc Day! And it couldn’t be at a better time of the year.  Nothing sounds better than cozying up by the fireplace with a delicious glass of Cab Franc to help keep you warm. Cabernet Franc in the new world has an association with big heavy…

Workers harvesting Merlot grapes from a vineyard

Merlot, Merlot, Merlot…

Happy International Merlot Day! Here are 10 facts about Merlot you may (or may not) know: Merlot is the child of Cabernet Franc & Magdeleine Noire des Charentes, recent DNA testing has proven this where the grape’s full origins were unknown for many years. Merlot’s soft skin is…

Calistoga vineyard in Autumn season

Calistoga AVA

Situated in the northernmost reaches of Napa Valley is the sub-appellation of Calistoga.  Established in 2010, Calistoga is the home to the highest rate of steep slopes to valley floor of any AVA, meaning warm to hot days, cooler evenings, better drainage from the soils, and subsequently higher…

Autumn vineyard roadway in Rutherford lined with colorful trees

Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley

Situated in the center of Napa Valley is the world famous Rutherford AVA.  Established as a sub-appellation of Napa Valley in 1993, Rutherford has a total area of 7,457 acres of which 1,454 acres are cultivated for grapes.  Sandwiched between St. Helena to the north, Oakville to the…

Beautiful midday scene of Red Mountain winegrowing region

Red Mountain AVA

Red Mountain is the smallest AVA in the state of Washington, hovering around 1600 hectares (~4,000 acres), with around 240 hectares cultivated for winemaking purposes. A sub-appellation of the Yakima Valley AVA (which in turn resides within the greater Columbia Valley AVA), Red Mountain’s unique geographical location allows…

Missouri Wine

It’s Missouri Wine Month, in addition to what seems like every-other-state-you-can-think-of’s wine month.  We kid, we kid…actually, it is a honor to be able to look into the history and immigration that led to the creation of what once was the largest producing wine state in the union…

Map of Illinois over the top of a bowl of fresh blueberries, with IL written on it

Wine? In Illinois!?

Happy Illinois Wine Month! Yes.  It’s actually a thing, and it should be. Illinois has their first documented winery and vineyard planting dating back to 1851 and by 1880 had over 660 acres planted with 40 operating fine wine cellars. The story of Illinois wine is a story…

Red and white wine plus different kinds of cheeses (cheeseboard) on rustic wooden table

It’s National Cheese Day!

In honor of National Cheese Day, we’d like to take a little time to enjoy some cheese and wine!  A match made in heaven, but why?  What is it that makes this classic combination so enjoyable to so many people from all walks of life?  According to research,…

Big Boys in Bordeaux

by: Cameron, staff From Cameron’s recollections of his European trip in 1993: I’ll never forget being in Bordeaux with my friend who is Julio Gallo’s grandson and we went to the top Chateau there and flashed his father’s card from E & J Gallo as a president of…