Cameron Hughes An Early Disruptor of Wine
Stories of visionaries who push the boundaries to change industries, especially in wine, are special to me. Since the end of Prohibition, government and state regulations, business policies and middlemen have resulted in a labyrinth of bureaucracy and red tape. Winemaker Cameron Hughes knew there had to be a better way for […]
Special Wines of All Kinds Part Two
As promised, I’m continuing to work through some of the higher-end, interesting, or special occasion samples that I’ve had the opportunity to taste. Today it’s a concentration of sample wines from California. Sparkling 2019 Sonoma Cutrer Grand Brut Rosé – This blend of 70 percent Pinot […]
The Diversity of Campania and Feudi di San Gregorio
As one of Italy’s oldest winemaking regions, Campania has a storied reputation for its modern take on a centuries-old tradition of passion and dedication. The region boasts a cool Mediterranean climate with extreme coastal, as well as high elevation mountain terroirs. In Irpinia, you find more whites with the changing landscape […]
A Paradise Lost and Found Story
It was a tale of travel hell. Just imagine your list of what could possibly go wrong on any given trip, and you’d probably spin the details of our very travel woe driven tale. It all began with a snow storm scheduled to hit Dallas the night prior to our trip. […]
Pausing for A New Holiday Normality
The holidays are often expected to be joyful. After the death of loved ones, you find yourself trying to find normality and joy when you are missing people that were once in the center of family celebrations. This Thanksgiving has been a journey of finding a new center with the […]
Bourgogne: New Generation, New Sense of Identity
Bourgogne is reclaiming its identity as one of the most iconic regions of France with a return to the original name. In the past, Bourgogne adopted an alternate identity for export markets with the use of the ‘Burgundy’ designation for the English-speaking markets, or Burgund for the German speaking and many other […]
Sixty Years of Reflection in Rodney Strong Refresh
After 60 years of success, many companies sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride – especially if nothing is amiss. But if you have a history of innovation, you decide to rethink everything – looking both forward and backward to figure out how to get positioned for the next 60 […]
California Regionality of the Zinfandel Grape
I recently had a chance, thanks to Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP), to explore the differences of various regions of the Zinfandel grape in California. I gathered with three family winemakers to make the virtual comparison. The June “Zinfandel Vineyard Tours and Caves” was moderated by travel journalist, Paul Rubio, […]
The Nights the Lights Went Out in Texas
Thuwmpf. You know that sound. It’s the sound you hear before the deafening silence as your power goes out. All lights, all sound fades to blackness as electronics power down. Usually it is a bit of inconvenience. Maybe an hour – maybe four. This time it was early in […]
Second Half 2020 Sample Roundup
It’s sample time and I never knew what a challenge these would be in the time of COVID. Usually, I invite friends over and pop open a few bottles, and, if my husband is in a cooking mode, then I get to use my pairing skills. When the pandemic happened, the samples […]
Crab and Chardonnay = Utopia
Crab and Chardonnay = Utopia From blending sessions to vertical tastings to blind tastings, I’ve been blown away at the creativity of wineries since the pandemic began. Just when I thought I had seen almost everything, I was invited by Raeburn Winery to celebrate the kickoff of Dungeness Crab season. […]
You Had Me at Pinot: Exploring Wines of Germany
I didn’t grow up in a wine household. A special occasion was a bottle of Blue Nun on the table, which was my first introduction to German wines. I recently attended a You Had Me at Pinot class exploring the diversity of the grape with a Pinot Gris, two versions of Pinot […]
The Curtain Unveiled: Time to Stand Up
The Curtain Unveiled: Time to Stand Up The worst kept secret in the wine industry finally broke in The New York Times in early November. Approximately 21 women accused several men, many in leadership roles with the Court of Master Sommeliers, of sexual harassment, manipulation or assault. Here’s the article in Wine Searcher summing up […]
Stop Giving Merlot the Side Eye
Stop Giving Merlot the Side Eye A Trip to Ehlers Estate Many Years Ago I’m not going to mention that movie. The one that maligned an entire varietal of wine. Granted, it was time for a wake-up call as many Merlots stopped being great due to over planting, but a 2 percent drop […]
Lodi’s World-Class White Wines
As many times as I’ve covered the Lodi region, each brings an awakening and awareness of something new. This time it was an understanding of how world-class the white wines of Lodi can be. Lodi World-Class White Wines Winemaker Mitch Cosentino in motion I’ve had a long history with […]
Zinfandel Wines to Match Summer BBQ
As the days roll by, often it seems an exercise in same day, different bottle, as we enter our fifth month of pandemic living. What hasn’t changed is our need for community and coming together over great wine and good food. What has changed is the innovation that wineries are showing to bring […]
Smith-Madrone: Humble Beginnings, Unforgettable Wines
Stu Smith, the Enologist and Managing Partner for Smith-Madrone Winery, didn’t set out to own premium real estate valued for upwards of $400,000 an acre. His goal was only to find a site in the mountains of Napa Valley versus the valley floor, to make the elegant, balanced, European-inspired wines he enjoyed. […]
Navigating the Senses with Sensi Wines
Vineyard View from my Last Italy Trip When my long-awaited family trip to Italy was canceled last month due to the pandemic, I worked to recreate experiences from past trips to bring a little Italy to Dallas. So when Monique Soltani, Executive Producer and Host, of Wine Oh TV, reached out to ask […]
Bibiana Gonzalez Rave and Jeff Pisoni: Power Couple in Wine
Bibiana Gonzalez Rave and Jeff Pisoni, Courtesy of Alma de Cattleya Bibiana Gonzalez Rave and Jeff Pisoni, the winemakers for Alma de Cattleya and Lucia Vineyards, are examples of a true power couple in wine. These two have been married since 2011 and talked about how they are dedicated to helping the other make better wine. […]
Every Day is Earth Day at Benziger Winery
Every day is earth day at Benziger winery Virtual Tasting Line Up with Benziger Wines This past Earth Day, which was April 22, millions of people around the world will explore ways to help preserve our planet through eco-friendly practices. “Every day is earth day” is the slogan at Benziger Winery and this is […]
From Prohibition to Pandemic: The Mondavi Family’s History of Reinvention
From Prohibition to Pandemic: Mondavi Family’s History of Reinvention Mondavi Sisters: Alycia, Giovanna, Angelina and Riana, Photo Courtesy of the Mondavi Sisters Sitting down with Angelina and Alycia Mondavi from Aloft Wines and Dark Matter Wines, it is clear they understand that in times of a crisis there is opportunity and a time for reinvention. […]
Ponzi Vineyards: Fifty Years of Original Oregon
Anna Maria, Dick and Luisa Ponzi and me At the Wine Writers’ Educational Tours, during my time in the Willamette Valley, I had the chance to sit down with Dick and Nancy Ponzi. They were participating in a panel about what it took to plant vines, harvest grapes and […]
Domaine Anderson Winery: In Pursuit of the American Grand Cru
We began our wine country exploration in Anderson Valley in Mendocino with a tour of Domaine Anderson Winery with Winemaker Darrin Low. In 1981, Jean-Claude Rouzaud of the Louis Roederer family took one look at the remote area and saw its potential in cultivating an American Grand Cru. Prior to Roederer, […]
Fathers & Daughters Cellars: Generations of Fathers, Daughters and Wine
Sarah, Guy and Ella Pacurar As a mom to a 14-year-old daughter, I love the special bond that she has with her dad. There has been much discussion about the special relationships that happen between fathers and daughters. Lately that was highlighted with the #girldad hashtag that came about after ESPN Reporter Elle Duncan […]
Sixmilebridge Vineyard: The Second Chapter of Jim Moroney
Sixmilebridge Vineyard: The Second Chapter of Jim Moroney Jim Moroney, Proprietor Sixmilebridge Vineyard For forty years, Jim Moroney was a champion of free press and led Dallas’ only daily paper through a digital transformation. But as he told me, “When you work for a public company like A.H. Belo Corporation, you have a shelf […]
Storytelling Through A Lens and A Bottle: The Story of Jesse and Andy Katz
Jesse Katz, Winemaker Aperture Cellars and Devil Proof Vineyards A good photographer has an eye for detail that brings all the elements together to convey the right vision. Little did Andy Katz, world-renown photographer, know that his eye for detail in the vineyards would spark a passion for wine for his son, Jesse Katz, […]
Uncovering the Differences in Willamette Valley Pinot Noir AVA by AVA
The Willamette Valley is a region that is planted with 80 percent Pinot Noir grapes and because of that, it’s very easy to have the misconception that Oregon Pinot Noirs are similar in nature. But once you factor in AVAs, clones, soils, temperatures and the seven regions, you’ll find that while the Willamette […]
Breaking New Zealand Stereotypes at Left Field Wines: A Chat with Winemaker Richard Painter
Breaking New Zealand Stereotypes at Left Field Wines: A Chat with Winemaker Richard Painter Left Field Winemaker Richard Painter It only takes one look at Left Field Wine’s website for to understand that this isn’t going to be a typical New Zealand Wine experience. I was invited to lunch with Winemaker Richard Painter (who also […]
Adam Bernstein: Del Frisco’s Hospitalitarian and Dallas’ First Restaurant Recycling Pioneer
Adam Bernstein: Del Frisco’s Hospitalitarian and Dallas’ First Restaurant Recycling Pioneer Adam Bernstein, Wine Director, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse Sitting down with Adam Bernstein, the Wine Director from Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, is like sitting down with an old friend. His passion and love for wine is evident in what he does, […]
One Man’s Quest to Discover His Wine Palate Led to Making His Own Wine
Rob Barney, Vintner, Stressed Vines For Rob Barney, Stressed Vines’ Vintner, drinking wine was once a “safe label” choice. He relied on labels, scores and brand name producers. In 2014, he decided it was time to expand and be more adventurous. Little did he know that would take him down a path of making his own […]
Sonoma: A Day of Diversity at Arista, Passalacqua, Skipstone and Scherrer Wineries: But the Heart of Sonoma Remains Aligned
Our wine trip continued in Sonoma where we spent time at four places– Arista, Passalacqua, Skipstone and Scherrer Wineries. What I loved about Sonoma was my time there showcased the diversity of this region from winemaking styles to customer experience to the philosophy in their tasting rooms. Our first Sonoma stop was […]
A Day in Napa Valley: Three Very Diverse Wine Experiences Showcasing the Region
The Dallas Gang in Napa My birthday trip journey continued with a day in Napa Valley visiting three iconic vineyards that showcased very diverse approaches to winemaking and hospitality – Charles Krug Winery, B Cellars Vineyards and Winery, and Crocker & Starr. Napa Valley is known as one of the most renowned wine growing regions in […]
One Texan’s Journey From Earth to Grape to Glass: Learning More About Reddy Vineyards
It was a natural progression for Dr. Vijay Reddy to take his soil chemistry and farming background and parlay it to a grape grower and then a wine maker with the launch of Reddy Vineyards. Reddy is a fifth-generation farmer who has a background in soil chemistry and farming produce and grain, first in South […]
For the Love of Lodi: A Region All About Multi-Generational Farming, Winemaking and Families
Dan Panella, Oak Farm Vineyards, Rodney Schatz of Peltier Winery and Vineyards and Sue Tipton of Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards Lodi is the self-proclaimed Zinfandel capital of the world, producing more than 32 percent of California’s premium Zinfandel. It is known for diversity – there is a greater variety of wine grapes grown in Lodi […]
San Diego – A Region with a Bit of Wild West, A Bit Mad Scientist, But with a Mission to Make Serious Wine
San Diego Wine Country – It’s a juxtaposition of the first wine region in America. It’s a bit Wild West. A bit mad scientist lab. A bit of a pioneering community. It’s exciting and unexpected. It’s underrated and in desperate need of branding. Finally, it’s one of the most interesting regions that I’ve explored in […]
A Deeper Dive into Santa Barbara: Jackson Family Winemakers’ Perspective
Santa Barbara Panelists of Winemakers The winemakers in the room had a combined 100 years of experience. All with different perspectives on how to farm, manage their vineyards and on their winemaking techniques. But they shared a bond and passion for Santa Barbara and a common owner – Jackson Family Wines. This was the […]
Winemaker Tom Parmeson: The Man Who Started a Second Career on an Epiphany
Tom Parmeson, Owner and Winemaker of Parmesan Wines Tom Parmeson, Owner and Winemaker of Parmeson Wines, never aspired to be a Sonoma winemaker. He successfully worked for 15 years in software development for Halliburton Company, an oil and gas exploration service company based in Houston. But in 2005, he had an epiphany after visiting a tasting room and walked […]
Virginia is for Wine Lovers: A Mix of History, Diversity and Great Wine
This October, I had the opportunity to attend the Virginia Wine Harvest Party, which was a two-day whirlwind media tour that was held in conjunction with Virginia Wine Month, the longest running state wine month. As I mentioned before, it had been 7 years since I visited the region. I had heard some great buzz […]
A Conversation with Tom Gamble: Preserving a Family, Farming and a Legacy
A Conversation with Tom Gamble: Preserving a Family, Farming and a Legacy It’s been about 18 months since I last had the chance to sit down with Tom Gamble, Owner of Gamble Family Cellars, yet constants remained. Tom Gamble remains a farmer first. He talked about never remembering a time when “there wasn’t dust in […]
A Pre-Trip to Sonoma: Day One to Lambert Bridge Winery
Cindy Rynning, me and Jennifer Higgins, Lambert Bridge Winemaker It’s amazing how the world and your intentions can change quickly. Cindy Rynning and I started planning our trip to Sonoma prior to the 2017 Wine Blogger’s Conference with the intent of visiting some boutique wineries, telling their stories and trying out some new social media […]
Exploring the Whites of South Africa: A Virtual Tasting with Snooth and Wines of South Africa
I was invited by the great folks at Snooth to a Virtual Wines of South Africa Class with Mark Angelillo, the CEO of Snooth and Jim Clarke, the party of one who runs the marketing efforts for Wines of South Africa in the US market. A little background on my frame of mind as I […]