As we move into the darker, colder days of fall, the leaves start falling from the trees, and the last of the grapes have long been harvested. We begin to think about Halloween, and what better way to get into the spirit of the season than to pour…
What is Pinotage?
Pinotage is a portmanteau of Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsault). Pinotage is an actual cross between the two grapes as well, created in 1925. Pinotage was created in South Africa. But what is Pinotage really? The story of Pinotage is one of a grape almost lost to history…
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, Zinfandel was the most widely planted grape in California. 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 Primitivo, found…
Grenache, Garnacha, Alicante…
One of the most widely planted grapes in the whole world, Grenache in turn goes by a number of names: Grenache Noir, Garnacha tinto, Garnatxa negre, Alicante, Carignane rosso, Navarra, Redondal, Roussillon…the actual list spans around 55+ known regional names. Due to it’s need for warm,…
CA Wine: The Earliest Days
California is well-known globally for their wines. 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…
¡Feliz Cumpleaños!
by: Maribel, staff The boys and I decided to vacation in Mexico last summer. We’ve done the beachy coastal resort thing many, many times. When they suggested Mexico City, I was so excited. As soon as I booked our flights, I started looking up restaurant reservations. Mexico City…
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. …
Decoded: Serving Temps
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…
International Rosé Day!!!
This past June we did a small info piece on Rosé that looked at the 3 methods in which rosé wines are created (contact, saignée, and blending). Rosé sales and importing into the US are at an all time high, and continue to keep growing. In the mediterranean area…