Do You Know the Way to Michel-Schlumberger?
Posted in Learn About Wine, Videos on Mar 4th, 2010
Posted in Learn About Wine, Videos on Mar 4th, 2010
Posted in Learn About Wine, Videos on Mar 1st, 2010
Posted in Learn About Wine, Videos on Mar 1st, 2010
Posted in Learn About Wine, Videos on Feb 24th, 2010
The Kunde winery in Kenwood has a big story: 100 years old, 5 generations, BottleShock (the movie) was filmed there and the list goes on. I love everything about this winery. There is a VIP Pass in my guide for a seated wine & cheese tasting for two (mid-week) worth $40. Watch the video.
Posted in Learn About Wine, Videos on Feb 24th, 2010
There’s a great video on their home page. Get off the beaten Napa path & visit, you’ll be amazed that they make about 12 wines each year and only a total of 1500 cases! There is a VIP Pass in my book for a behind the scenes tasting, tour & barrel tasting for 4 worth $40.
Posted in Learn About Wine, Videos on Feb 24th, 2010
Vintner’s Collective is near the marvelous, hip, Napa Waterfront. There is a VIP Pass for a food & wine experience worth $75 in my guidebook. Watch Video.
Posted in Learn About Wine, Videos on Feb 24th, 2010
Learn all about how etching works. Did you know that they can etch one of your special bottles and make it look unopened? Etched Images has a VIP Pass in my guide for 25% off their celebration line. Watch Video.
Posted in Learn About Wine, Visiting Wine Country, Wineries & Wine Bars on Feb 22nd, 2010
“Taming these savage hillsides is folly and all we can do is hope to coax a little civilization out of them. This is man working with nature at its glorious best.” Mike Brunson, Winemaker & Vineyardist. Michel-Schlumberger Winery
Posted in Learn About Wine, Seasons & Holidays, Wineries & Wine Bars on Feb 9th, 2010
I’ve been winery hopping again! The first words out of my mouth right now, are you bottling yet?
Harvest ends in the fall, grapes do their magic in the winter and voilá! some whites are in the bottles as early as February.
So…if you visit wineries in the early Spring, you might get to taste newly bottled wine and you’ll get first dibs on purchasing small lot wine (meaning they don’t make much of it, so it will sell out quickly).
And when you ask the question, are you bottling yet, you’ll learn about wine and a winemaker’s style.
For instance, at Casa Nuestra*, they’ve just bottled a killer Chenin Blanc that has no hint of “bottle shock” which is quite a feat & wonderful to experience. While, at Loxton*, you won’t be able to get a new vintage until probably April/May because Chris Loxton is making a rosé that takes longer in the barrel. (Of course, wines that are aged in barrels for months can be bottled any time the winemaker deems it’s ready.)
It’s an exciting time of year to visit. If you’d like a guide & tips, let me know!
*Links go to my posts about these wineries.
Posted in Learn About Wine on Feb 7th, 2010
Here are 3 tips for finding new wine to love and enjoy.
* While tasting at parties, sometimes it’s easier to take a picture to remember the wine you like.
A related article you might like.