Beautiful Piemonte, home to Barolo and Barbaresco. Well, home to Nebbiolo more correctly. Take it a step further, home to Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato, Cortese, and Arneis in addition to other local and international varietals. In addition to a plethora of grape varietals grown in Piemonte, the region produces…
Understanding Italy: Piemonte
Happy Beaujolais Nouveau Day!
The third Thursday in November is a big day in the Beaujolais region south of the Burgundy in France. On this day there is a mad dash for the first, freshest bottles of the new vintage of Beaujolais that has been sent into the markets to arrive on…
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, 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…
Grenache, Garnacha, Alicante…
Grenache is one of the most widely planted grapes in the whole world, and in turn goes by a number of names: Grenache Noir, Garnacha tinto, Garnatxa negre, Grenache Blanc, Alicante, Carignane rosso, GSM, Navarra, Redondal, Rhone Blend, Rosé of Grenache, Roussillon…the actual list spans around 55+ known…
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…
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…
Decoded: Wine 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…
