California

    In the realm of wine, diverse journeys unfold — whether through the legacy of a family business, the...

      I was always aware of the significance of clones in the world of Pinot Noir, but little...

  Cherry Pie Wines began with a vision of making Burgundian-style Pinot Noirs expressed by different iconic vineyards and AVAs...

      The story of VML Winery began with a fourth-generation Italian winemaker who had a passion to make...

There’s something about McPrice “Mac” Myers, the Winemaker and Co-owner of McPrice Myers, that inspires wine enthusiasts to get personally...

      The story of Presqu’ile Winery has always been one of family, contributing to the heritage of Santa...

The values of the LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards started in 1870 when the family’s German great-grandparents, Johann and Maria...

        Four years ago, I had the opportunity to visit my friend Ali Smith Story, the co-owner...

        As promised, I’m continuing to work through some of the higher-end, interesting, or special occasion samples...

    The topic intrigued me – are California Pinot Noirs built for aging? We all know that Burgundy wines...

        Riboli Family Wines is a story of reinvention. I could tell the story of when the...

      It’s always fun to meet a winemaker who has insight into the soul of her vineyard and...

    Tony Lombardi can be described in one word – humble. He’s a brilliant storyteller especially when he’s talking...

    You could call Bibiana Gonzalez Rave (pictured above with her husband Jeff Pisoni) a soulful winemaker. So much...

    For many years, my holiday of choice was New Year’s Eve. It was the art of getting dressed...

    There is a reason why merlot is one of the most popular red wine varietals in the world....

        American oak is used for aging spirits of all kinds and is known for its sweetness...

      It all started for the Fetzer family after tasting produce from the gardens of a biodynamic farmer....

    One of the key benefits of writing about wine is discovering family wineries that you wouldn’t find on...

    As Dallas finally broke it’s 47 days of over 100 temperatures (which sadly is not a record), it’s...

        When you write about wine, you often fall into the habit of opening review wines instead...

          My first trip to Paso Robles was in 2016 on a press tour and I...

          The story of Mela is a non-traditional one of breaking barriers. Let’s start with the...

        It’s been six years since I’ve had the opportunity to visit Paso Robles, a large, diverse...

            The most important driver of Puppione Family Wines may surprise you. It’s about Chris...

        The phrase ‘variety is the spice of life’ was first seen in 1785, in William Cowper’s...

          Fifty-one years ago, Stu Smith made the decision to purchase 200 forested acres on the...

          Since 1886, Freemark Abbey Winery has been one of trailblazers in Napa Valley with a...

          Every decision at Clif Family Winery must answer a question of betterment of planet, people,...

          The story of Oak Ridge Winery is one of pioneers. Not only because it is...

        Earlier this week, we celebrated International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural,...

        Let’s face it – there are a lot of wine writers, and I’m sure most of...

          Has the celebrate every day thing just become too much? February 18 – today –...

          Do you guys hear the sound of progress?  It’s me having published three samples columns...

          This week, I had the chance to dive into the Livermore Valley AVA, one of...

          Close to six years ago, I wrote about Craig Camp, a well-known visionary, wine professional...

        In 2022, I enter my twelfth year of blogging and post for the 659th time.  Today...

          The march on tackling samples continues and today I’m focused on wines that stood out...

        This year I’ve gotten to dive deep with so many winemakers – mostly virtually – and...

        The holidays are often expected to be joyful. After the death of loved ones, you find...

        A monkey and a fish grace the logo of Dashe Cellars and it is a wine...

          Connection is the word I would use to describe my most recent trip to wine...

            Elyse Vineyards – it’s a 33-year-old winery based on trust – a handshake, trust...

          For more than 200 years, Merlot has been a foundational grape in the wine world...

          The perfect wine for pizza.  A phrase often used, but in reality a lot of...

          The wines of Paso Robles have always translated beautifully from the vineyard to the glass...

        It’s been around a year since I posted what I am calling “my accountability challenge” to...

        I recently had a chance, thanks to Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP), to explore the differences...

          When it’s time to celebrate a milestone anniversary, many companies feel a sense of nostalgia...

        For 30 years, Eileen Crane was at the helm as the founding winemaker and CEO of...

          SIMI Winery started with the hard work and persistence of two immigrant brothers.  But it...

          Podcaster invites guest to be on podcast.  Guest accepts.  Date is scheduled.  But life is...

          While working for a wine distributor at Glazer Wine & Spirits (now Southern Glazers) in...

        Gathering for a virtual tasting and uncorking a bottle of wine or two is the closest...

            Kari Auringer didn’t set out to use her creativity and craftsmanship to make wine...

            Growing up, Founder and Winemaker Phil Long of Longevity Wines didn’t have much exposure...

          Rae Wilson didn’t come to Texas with the ambition of disrupting the wine industry.  It...

          It’s been 12 months since the pandemic officially began.  Looking back, I estimate I have...

        Looking from San Francisco “across coast” into Contra Costa County is a lesson in history. It’s...

      It’s sample time and I never knew what a challenge these would be in the time of...

Crab and Chardonnay = Utopia     From blending sessions to vertical tastings to blind tastings, I’ve been blown away...

      The Women of Bacigalupi Vineyards, Photo Credit: Bacigalupi Vineyards   Bacigalupi Vineyards is one of the best...

Stop Giving Merlot the Side Eye   A Trip to Ehlers Estate Many Years Ago   I’m not going to...

  Each Fall, it seems the horror sequel starts again for those who live in wine country.  It’s fire season...

  Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Courtesy of Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans   There exists a small, but dynamic, wine...

    Jon Larson, Proprietor and Winemaker of Angwin Estate Vineyards, Photo Courtesy of Angwin Estates Jon Larson is the...

      Photo Courtesy of Theopolis Vineyards   I still can’t remember at which event I met Theodora Lee,...

      As many times as I’ve covered the Lodi region, each brings an awakening and awareness of something...

      Theresa Heredia, Winemaker of Gary Farrell Winery, Courtesy of Gary Farrell Winery   Pinot Noir is a...

      Last Friday, the San Francisco Wine School gathered some of the top black Winemakers/Winery Owners, paired with...

    As the days roll by, often it seems an exercise in same day, different bottle, as we enter...

  Tom and Ashley Darling, Courtesy of Darling Wines   Tom and Ashley Darling, co-owners of Sonoma’s Darling Wines, have a...

      Stu Smith, the Enologist and Managing Partner for Smith-Madrone Winery, didn’t set out to own premium real...

Best Samples for 2020   Today’s sample column evaluates 69 of the 128 wines that I’ve tasted over the past...

Grilling BBQ and Zins   Grilling, BBQ and Zins are synonymous with Summer and what better time to break break...

  In April, I was supposed to be attending my third annual Wine Writers’ Educational Tour, a media “deep dive”...

A World Changed: But the Jordan Launch Must Go On       It’s hard to believe one year ago,...

    Virtual Winemaker Experience in a Box Kit   The invitation came in to become a “Virtual Winemaker for...

    It’s amazing how one wine can bring back memories of eventful wine country trip exactly one decade later....

  Bibiana Gonzalez Rave and Jeff Pisoni, Courtesy of Alma de Cattleya   Bibiana Gonzalez Rave and Jeff Pisoni, the...

Every day is earth day at Benziger winery Virtual Tasting Line Up with Benziger Wines   This past Earth Day,...

From Prohibition to Pandemic: Mondavi Family’s History of Reinvention Mondavi Sisters: Alycia, Giovanna, Angelina and Riana, Photo Courtesy of the Mondavi...

Revisiting Bartles & Jaymes Wine Coolers: 33 Years Later   My Senior Picture, Redan High School Class of 1987  ...

  Imagine ocean bluffs and a very blue sea.  Throw in wineries and great restaurants.  It’s like you are transported...

  Lord Sandwich from Smith-Story Wine Cellars poses with me, his loyal subject   It’s rare that I write a...

      We began our wine country exploration in Anderson Valley in Mendocino with a tour of Domaine Anderson...

Sarah, Guy and Ella Pacurar   As a mom to a 14-year-old daughter, I love the special bond that she...

    Jason Guerra, Moët Hennessy Brand Ambassador, Heather Queen, Wine Concierge and Master Chef Adrien Nieto   You may...

  The smoke and images were powerful and devastating but did not tell the complete story of what was happening...

  It’s crazy that 2019 has passed in a flash and a new year/decade has begun.  Why not usher in...

  It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years that I’ve been writing the Dallas Wine Chick blog.  As we...

  Me and Vernon Wells from JACK Wines   My first question to Vernon Wells, former Yankees baseball center fielder...

Jean-Charles Boisset and me   Those who know Jean-Charles Boisset, the Vintner, Entrepreneur and Man of Mystery, realize that he...

    This Wednesday is National Zinfandel Day.  It is a day that is decreed by ZAP – the Zinfandel...

Sixmilebridge Vineyard: The Second Chapter of Jim Moroney   Jim Moroney, Proprietor Sixmilebridge Vineyard For forty years, Jim Moroney was...

Jesse Katz, Winemaker Aperture Cellars and Devil Proof Vineyards   A good photographer has an eye for detail that brings...

Six Months of Wine Samples: A Summation of My Favorites It’s sample write-up time again and I held off longer...

  MW Sheri Morano and MW Mary Gorman-McAdams     My Third TEXSOM conference   Masters of Wine Mary Gorman-McAdams...

A Celebration of Friends with J Vineyards & Winery: The Perfect Aperitif The magnum of J Vineyards & Winery Cuvée...

Kelly Fleming, Kelly Fleming Wines Kelly Fleming, owner of Kelly Fleming Wines, original plan in Napa was just to build...

Rob Barney, Vintner, Stressed Vines For Rob Barney, Stressed Vines’ Vintner, drinking wine was once a “safe label” choice.  He...

  Our wine trip continued in Sonoma where we spent time at four places– Arista, Passalacqua, Skipstone and Scherrer Wineries. ...

The Dallas Gang in Napa My birthday trip journey continued with a day in Napa Valley visiting three iconic vineyards that...

The Wonderful Place we Stayed in Sonoma Last month, I had the joy of celebrating a milestone birthday with a...

Our Orsi Family Wine Tasting Line-Up It all started with a story of family and heritage for the Orsi Family...

  For Julio and Amalia Palmaz, of Palmaz Vineyards, the love affair with wine started after years of regular visits...

Mike Thompson, Proprietor of Thompson 31Fifty (third from right) and the Dallas Wineaux When you sit down and talk to...

Weston Eidson, Founder Silver Ghost Cellars and Montagu Wines I told the story about Weston Eidson, founder of Silver Ghost...

In May, Jordan launched its first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon aged 100 percent in French oak barrels.  Imagine sampling the...

Dan Panella,  Oak Farm Vineyards, Rodney Schatz of Peltier Winery and Vineyards and Sue Tipton of Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards ...

San Diego Wine Country – It’s a juxtaposition of the first wine region in America.  It’s a bit Wild West. ...

  Santa Barbara Panelists of Winemakers The winemakers in the room had a combined 100 years of experience.  All with...

What I’m Drinking: A Round of First Quarter (Almost) Sample Favorites – Sample Reviews I found myself behind (even more...

Tom Parmeson, Owner and Winemaker of Parmesan Wines Tom Parmeson, Owner and Winemaker of Parmeson Wines, never aspired to be a Sonoma winemaker. ...

Sitting Down with Christophe Paubert: A Winemaker Legend from Stags’ Leap Winery Christophe Paulbert, Senior Winemaker Stags’ Leap Winery I...

Sitting down with Weston Eidson, founder of Silver Ghost Cellars and Montagu Wines, is a fascinating tale of the intersection...

  In my 25-year career in technology marketing, I spent a ton of time in Silicon Valley.  Yet, I had...

When Tina Morey, the founder of Wine Studio, asked me what I knew about San Diego’s wine region, I was...

Duffy Keys, B Cellars, me and Kent Rathbun, Chef Duffy Keys, Co-Founder of B Cellars Vineyards and Winery, recently came...

The Berryessa Gap website starts out with a strong statement — we are immigrants, pioneers, farmers and entrepreneurs.  What better...