New wines for the new year
If like many people, you are one who enjoys a single brand or varietal of wine, you are denying yourself the joys of what the wine world has to offer. Monogamy is great for relationships but there are too many great wines on the market to stay true to only one. Let one of your...
Livermore Valley, part two
The climate and geography of the Livermore Valley is ideal for growing wine grapes. The valley lies in an east to west direction, exposing it to coastal fog and cool breezes blowing in from the Pacific Ocean.
Zinfandel, California’s grape
Prior to the mid 70’s zinfandel was produced primarily as a red wine. Ironically, it was the introduction of “white zinfandel” that saved the old vineyards from being ripped out as sales of red zinfandel fell as other varieties gained popularity.
Livermore Valley, part one
Prior to Prohibition, the Livermore Valley was considered California’s leading wine producing region.
Top Bordeaux Under $30
Earlier this year we attended a tasting of “Today’s Bordeaux presented by the Bordeaux Wine Council to showcase the best Bordeaux wines under $30. Prior to the event, hundreds of wines were tasted by a panel of judges to select the best 100 to be included the 2009 tasting tour. Bordeaux is home to...
A Quick Trip to Murphys
A spontaneous road trip yesterday “happened” to take me though the little California town of Murphys . Murphys is the heart of Calaveras County’s wine country, home to over twenty wineries. The town itself has changed little from the gold rush days offering the visitor a taste of history along with many great wines of...
Fermenting a Wine Competition Controversy
The Journal of Wine Economics has released a pair of studies done to evaluate the consistency of major wine competitions. The reports were compiled by Prof. Robert T. Hodgson, retired professor of statistics at Humboldt State University and winemaker. The first report is titled: “An Analysis of the Concordance Among 13 U.S. Wine Competitions”. The...
Robert Biale Vineyards
It is always a great experience when we discover wines that we have not tasted previously. It is even better when it is a wine that creates memories. The Biale family has been growing grapes in the Napa Valley since the 1930’s, beginning winemaking operations in 1991, producing zinfandel from the estate’s oldest...
