Rediscover Merlot: The Turning Point
For more than 200 years, Merlot has been a foundational grape in the wine world – from Bordeaux to California – used to make some of the finest wines. The Merlot grape, which translates to blackbird in French, became the most planted grape in Bordeaux and known for its soft, elegant […]
Ushering out the Decade with Stellar Holiday Samples
It’s crazy that 2019 has passed in a flash and a new year/decade has begun. Why not usher in a new decade with a round-up article of a few favorite samples over the holidays? Due to the weather, there is always a rush of samples shipped when the weather breaks in Texas, so it’s […]
Exploring Santa Clara with Winemakers Jason Goelz of Jason-Stephens and Janu Goelz of Alara Cellars
In my 25-year career in technology marketing, I spent a ton of time in Silicon Valley. Yet, I had no idea that less than 30 minutes away lies a hidden AVA that boasts grapes from the 1800s and, at one time, had more acres of vineyards than any other county in California. The Santa […]
A Month to Celebrate Merlot and a Closer Look at Ravenswood Single Vineyard Designate Wines
Did you know that October is Merlot Month? And this is a grape worth celebrating! For the last five years, hundreds of Merlot producers have been mounting a movement to celebrate Merlot, designating October as International Merlot Month. More than 100 Merlot producers, wine merchants, restaurants and consumers will taste and toast online (using #MerlotMe), at […]
A Conversation with Russ Weis: The Silverado Philosophy from Vine to Bottle
Russ Weis, General Manager, Silverado Last week I wrote about the ‘House of Cab Dallas’ tasting that brought together 13 Stags Leap District vintners and owners to debut current releases. As a bonus, I had the chance to sit down with Russ Weis, the general manager of Silverado Vineyards. Russ has a mantra that I have […]