We feel like there might be a theme building here with the Understanding AOC series, but we will skip over the introductions to Champagne as the most widely recognized sparkling wine in the world. At one point in time the wine was in danger of losing its signature…
When you buy a bottle of Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, or any other French wine, there is a governing body that oversees the labeling and production standards to guarantee the finest provenance for the labeled product. That body is the Appellation d’origine contrôlée, or more simply, the AOC. The…
Planning on spending your holidays in the vineyards? Us too! Here are our top 3 choices in the Sonoma County: 1. Korbel Champagne Cellars – rich with local history, beautifully decorated every holiday season, a wide array of wines only available at the winery, a choose-your-own-adventure-style tasting format,…
But what to pair with dinner tonight? Here is our handy guide to assist all palates and people. Sparkling Wine: What holiday celebration isn’t complete without some bubbles? Furthermore, sparkling wines and Champagnes are wonderfully food friendly wines, hence their inclusion on every wine list in every restaurant. …
We are absolutely certain that anyone can do a simple interwebs search on Champagne and find all sorts of useful information in regards to Champagne: the history, the processes, notable houses, etc. In fact, at a later date, we will continue to further geek-out on Champagne, but for…
It is well-known and spoken about in the wine community: Americans drink their whites too cold; their reds too warm. While this is a grossly generalized statement, it exists for a reason. For example, when you dine out at a restaurant, the white wines are sitting in a…
In the world of wine, there are numerous bottle shapes and styles. More recently, wineries have been doing some incredibly artistic things with their bottles with marketing and customer awareness in mind. At a later date we will go into a much deeper dive on these shapes and…
We believe it is best to get this out of the way upfront: not all closures are made the same. No one type is better or worse than another, they – like humans – are just different. It takes all kinds. That said, let’s take a look at…
Steak time! Nuff said. As always, click on the recipe card below for a 4×6 printable version. Remove the steak from the refrigerator 10 minutes or so before cooking. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Season the beef with salt and pepper and…
New customers are sometimes confused when they find out that a Lot wine is sold out “forever,” and not just awaiting the next vintage. Barring the rare occasion where we are able to source from the same winery again, the chances of finding that Lot wine you loved become…