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…
Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley
Why Napa Valley?
Napa Valley Cabernet is synonymous with quality, luxury, scores, and of course, the subsequent price tags. But what makes the wines from Napa Valley command such a market presence? What actually makes Napa Valley wines so special? Let’s skip over the portion of history where its wines were…
Riedel Stemware Tasting Seminar Recap
At the end of last month, our whole staff had the pleasure of attending the Riedel tasting seminar at Dutton-Goldfield Winery in Sebastopol, CA. We enjoyed their Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah out of proper and improper stemware (complete with Lindt chocolates for pairing – more on…
CA Zinfandel
Prior to 1998, CA Zinfandel was the most widely planted grape in the state. Post-prohibition many common people believed it to be a native California grape until DNA testing results came in (and an assist from a little information filled invention called ‘the internet’) showing it to be…
CA Wine: The Earliest Days
California wine is well-known globally. A long, rich history is the backbone of the operation. Although much of the global stance got it’s footing post-prohibition, European immigrants long before modern winemakers saw gold in the soils and climate of modern-day CA. Although the official birthdate of California wine…
California’s Native Grape
It’s California Wine Month! What better way to celebrate than to kick it off by learning about California’s native grape. It is a common misunderstanding that Zinfandel is the native California grape. In fact, Zinfandel is actually Primitivo from Italy – or wait… is Primitivo Zinfandel from California? …
All About Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir (literally: Black Pine, due to the grapes color and cluster looking like a black pine cone), is one of the most globally popular grapes, has a long growing history pre-dating the Roman Empire, and could be upwards of 1,000 years older than the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. …
Our Top 3 Summer Entertaining Recipes
Planning summer entertaining or a dinner party can be stressful. There’s so much to think about: food, drinks, arrangements, music…it can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be – we’ve got your back. Here are our Top 3 recipe suggestions to help relieve your stress levels and…
Our Top 3 Hidden Gems in the CA Wine Country!
When planning a trip to the wine country, you’re sure to get tons of recommendations on which wineries to visit—everyone has a favorite they want to share! While winery tours and tastings are certainly the main event, we want you to know about a few hidden gems that…
