Samples

Areté, it’s a state of mind with deep roots in Greek mythology. It has a meaning of fulfilling one’s potential...

      For years, wine and football have not been a marriage of equals. Fans were mostly offered substandard...

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

    Today marks Earth Day, an annual event demonstrating support for environmental protection.  Earth Day started in 1970 when...

          The idea started with what appeared to be a simple mission – introducing native grapes...

        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...

      A country the size of the State of Connecticut is ready to shine a spotlight on why...

          Time to catch up on a shipment of special occasion samples. I chose the list...

      Kelly Fleming, the owner of Kelly Fleming Wines, has always impressed me with her focus, her wine,...

        Currently, the Texas wine industry has 500 wineries, 340 growers and 5,140 acres devoted to grape-growing....

      Uncovering the wines of off the beaten path regions is one of the joys of wine. The...

    I’m not a traditional follower of all the wine days, but there is something about Cabernet Franc Day...

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

        As one of Italy’s oldest winemaking regions, Campania has a storied reputation for its modern take...

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

    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...

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

      It seems that overnight Prosecco has become a sensation in America. No longer relegated to what you...

      Recently I undertook a fascinating exercise in tasting wines from different regions in Chile. We explored both...

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

      Today I relaunched the new version of the Dallas Wine Chick blog. This one was a labor...

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

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

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

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

          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...

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

          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...

        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...

                Back in the early 90’s, I did PR for a restaurant group....

          It seems you blink your eye and suddenly the landscape changes from Halloween to Christmas...

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

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

        The process at Firriato Wine Company begins with terroir, the identity of the native varietals used,...

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

        For Albino Armani, a true pioneer in Pinot Grigio, I can’t imagine the frustration of 400...

          It’s been a little over two years since my Dallas lunch with Anne Bousquet, co-owner...

        Bourgogne is reclaiming its identity as one of the most iconic regions of France with a...

          After 60 years of success, many companies sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride –...

        The story of Bodegas Pinea Wines began with two childhood friends with a love of Ribera...

        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...

            There is nothing that I love more than a good cocktail, but with so...

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

        Winemaker John Rivenburgh is unabashed in his enthusiasm for the evolution of Texas wines and his...

        I knew that Australia had a storied winemaking history due to its unique climate, complex terroir...

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

          There are many things that I didn’t know about Armenia before I discovered the wines...

            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...

        Nearly 11 years ago, I made my first trip to Washington Wine Country for the Wine...

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

    In wine, sometimes you have a “jack of all trades, master of none” moment.  That moment when you...

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

      I virtually traveled to a new region and winery in Italy continuing the 2020 alternative to what...

    Argentina – it’s a land known for beef, culture, dance and wine.  People have been planting grapes there...

      Bruno Paillard is known for changing the game in the champagne industry, one that almost never sees change....

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

      I didn’t grow up in a wine household.  A special occasion was a bottle of Blue Nun...

      Photo Credit: Mattia Mionetto   Prosecco. It’s often known as key ingredient for mimosas, bellini’s, spritzes or...

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

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

    This Summer, I discovered the region of Lugana, one of Italy’s best kept secrets. This seven mile wide...

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

    Gambero Rosso, an authority on Italian food and wine, is known for the release of its anticipated annual...

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

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

      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...

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...

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

  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...

  Bruno Paillard had champagne in his blood.  He was born in Reims in 1953 to a family that had...

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

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

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

It’s time for my quarterly sample posting and following tradition, there are several wines that merit a separate column prior...

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

It’s time for another sample round up and I found that a theme emerged for me this quarter.  I either...

In May, Snooth and Rías Baixas invited a group of bloggers to gather for a Rías Baixas Virtual tasting. I invited the...

June Round-Up: Spring and Summer Sample Standouts In keeping with my pledge to improve the frequency of my sample posts,...