It is high summer in South America. Time to hit swimming pools and beaches while wishing everyone “Feliz Navidad!” Continue reading “Christmas summer 12-21-2022”
Category: Recent Columns
Five key winemaking decisions 12-14-2022
There are five terms you often will find in reports about wine. Understanding what they mean and how they affect wine can help you make choices. A quick review. Continue reading “Five key winemaking decisions 12-14-2022”
Napa agonistes 12-7-2022
Once upon a time Napa Valley was a place of pastoral legend. Blessed with the bucolic beauties of wooded knolls, forested slopes, springtime fields dappled with mustard flowers, summertime’s lush greenery, the valley aflame in reds and yellows come fall. The human presence was a smattering of vineyards and family-owned wineries, dairies, cattle ranches, walnut groves, plum-tree orchards. Continue reading “Napa agonistes 12-7-2022”
Wine world disruption 11-30-2022
The pandemic shook the wine world—as it did everything in the world. More to the point, it accelerated trends forever changing the wine landscape. Examples: Continue reading “Wine world disruption 11-30-2022”
Paso Robles 11-23-2022
When you think quality California wine, Napa and Sonoma leap to mind. Today, a sound argument can be made to include Paso Robles in the conversation. Continue reading “Paso Robles 11-23-2022”
Thanksgiving 2022 11-16-2022
Some people are intimidated by wine choices for the big Thanksgiving family feast. There is no reason for discombobulation. Continue reading “Thanksgiving 2022 11-16-2022”
Everyday, commodity wines 11-9-2022
November and December are the heaviest wine-buying months of the year. People not into wine—or even alcohol—indulge during the harvest feasts of Thanksgiving and Christmas and the bacchanalian excesses of New Year’s. Continue reading “Everyday, commodity wines 11-9-2022”
Cheap and sweet 11-2-2022
The recent death of Fred “Two Buck Chuck” Franzia, gave me pause to think about what the average, non-wine-geek enjoys in an occasional glass. Continue reading “Cheap and sweet 11-2-2022”
Wine and Halloween candy 10-26-2022
Every few years I recklessly throw caution and good judgment to the wind and confront pairing wine with Halloween candy. So here it goes. Continue reading “Wine and Halloween candy 10-26-2022”
Champagne boom 10-19-2022
As the leaves don new colors and the great harvest feasts and festivals approach, the demand for bubbly continues to increase. A soaring trend. Continue reading “Champagne boom 10-19-2022”