Minestrone with Runquist Wine
Crazy Northern California weather this past year confused many plants but the strength of Bacchus in the Amador and El Dorado county wine areas prevailed. New wineries surfaced while many established operations flourished, making stand out wines. In Amador County, I’ve particularly enjoyed wines from a small producer with an unwavering focus on reds, Jeff [...]
Cava in Penedes
A short train ride from Barcelona and you are in the Penedes area of Catalonia. 95% of all cava (sparking wine) is produced in this region of Spain. Regardless of whether you like the stuff, it´s a beautiful place to visit and take a tour or two. We chose Cava Rovellats, partly because it´s [...]
All Wine Roads Don’t Lead to France
I met Claiborne Thompson in the early 90’s while on a wine exploration trip through the Edna Valley on the central coast of California. Previously a tenured professor and Scandinavian Studies department chair at the University of Michigan, he and his wife and fellow professor Frederika Churchill stumbled on the winery scene in 1981, got [...]
Port and Chocolate or Cheese?
When I ask people what they pair with port, the first response is usually chocolate. Deep, dark, silky and smooth, it’s wonderful with most all port. But I have friends who don’t like chocolate and want something different. So I set out to find something for offering up when chocolate gets a thumbs down at [...]
The Wine Word: Chocolate & Dessert
I like wine and I like chocolate, good chocolate and 98% of the time a darker variety. I only eat it straight up if I’m craving something sweet and I don’t have anything in the house to satiate my inherited sweet tooth (thanks dad!) Not much is needed, just a few bites to slowly savor. [...]
In Search of the Small Winery Experience
The “LaMancha” release last fall was an opportunity to not only check out the wine, but to cater the party for Wofford Acres Vineyards wine club in Camino, just above Placerville. I followed this up with a surprise I made to specifically pair with their newly released Port at a recent wine club event. A [...]
Biodynamics
Biodynamics is an agricultural method similar in many ways to organic farming. Both systems shun the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and focus on developing healthy farms through close observation of growing cycles. Many people recognize Biodynamics as the precursor to our modern organic farming methods. In fact, many wineries practice Biodynamic practices but [...]
Appellation Paso Robles Grand Tasting Tour 2010
On April 20th from 6-8pm at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom (629 J Street), wine enthusiasts of all levels can enjoy appetizers and taste award-winning wines from more than 30 winemakers from California’s third largest wine producing region: Paso Robles. Leading up to this main event are smaller, more intimate wine tasting opportunities as well as [...]
The Days of Wine and Chocolate
I just heard about the 13th Annual Lodi Wine and Chocolate Weekend coming up this Saturday and Sunday. It’s co-sponsored by VinVillage and VinVillage Radio, an organization that is new to me. Turns out VinVillage is a new social group for people who like food and wine (and who doesn’t, really?). They are groups all [...]
