Sonoma County, there are so many reasons why I love you, but this one is the best
On December 29, 1992, I came up the 101 freeway (from SFO) with my husband, two of my three children (the oldest was in her final year at Bowdoin College, so she stayed put), three cats, and one dog. All that was left was for the moving truck to catch up, with all of our […]
Sonoma County has officially been named 2019 Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast
Sonoma County has officially been named 2019 Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast for the magazine’s 20th annual Wine Star Awards. So, what does that mean to the region? Everything… Everything they’ve ever done, by everybody, in every way. The western world is at least trying to catch up with eastern philosophies as […]
Beaujolais 101 ~ Your Primer Through the Lens of Les Vins Georges Duboeuf
PHOTO: Taken in the Beaujolais region of France, at the Georges Duboeuf’s Chateau, in Romaneche-Thorins, France. Georges Duboeuf is the highly regarded founder of Les Vins Georges Duboeuf. These are all of my own images from my trip to Beaujolais, with the exception of Wine Folly’s map. Beaujolais 101 ~ A TOP TEN Primer Pronounced: […]
Carneros Wine Alliance Annual Spring Barrel Tasting ~ 2019
Who can define a regional American Viticultural Area (AVA) better: The collective marketing decisions from a gaggle of people, and a Webmaster who simply needs content? Or, the historian who did the research and development? I always begin my searches with the organizations. In this case, it’s the Carneros Wine Alliance and the Sonoma […]
When It’s Traditional and It’s in Tuscany ~ Day 2
I was the guest of Castello di Meleto in Gaiole ~ In the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany. Hosted by Antonia Caserta (sales manager), their winemaker Matteo Menicacci, and their agronomist Giovanni Maria Farina. Antonia translated, and I was also in the company of Michael Yurch (Bluest Sky Group) and Michael Apstein from Apstein On […]
If You Love Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District, This Event Has Your Name All Over It
An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated, wine grape-growing region in the United States,and has been for the nearly 39 years. The Augusta AVA surrounds the area in and around the town of Augusta, Missouri, which was the first recognized AVA recognized in the US, gaining their status on June 20, 1980. Stags Leap’s […]
Cucina Tipica by Andrew Cotto ~ When you’ve been in Italy, books help the cultural return
BOOK REVIEW: How Andrew Cotto unravels his Cucina Tipica novel is cleverly maneuvered. I just couldn’t put the book down for much else, until I got to “The End.” As I was about to finish his book, my heart was pounding and so wanting an ending I could live with. Cucina Tipica is story about […]
Petaluma Gap Wines ~ Wildly Flavorful
[PHOTO: Dr. Mark Greenspan, borrowed from his Advanced Viticulture Website] From the famed viticulture expert Dr. Mark Greenspan in a Petaluma Gap Newsletter: According to viticulturist Mark Greenspan in this Wine Business Monthly article, “Wind is a significant factor in many regions [including] the Petaluma Gap of Sonoma County… We see thicker skins and more intense color in […]
When Opportunity Knocked ~ Siena Italy Was at the Door
[ALL PHOTO: Jo Diaz, unless noted otherwise. Shop in Sienna, Italy] PART 1 ~ CULTURE LEADS TO WINE AND FOOD In October of 2018, a door was opened for me by Bluest Sky Group, when I was invited to join a group of wine professionals traveling in Italy. We would be exploring the central wine regions of […]
The Benedictine Monks Are Smiling ~ Their Abby is Now Chianti’s Castello di Meleto… a Wine Company
Wine Philology: Wine History I was the guest of Castello di Meleto in Gaiole ~ In the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany. Hosted by Antonia Caserta (sales manager) [PHOTO: Historical image from the Castello di Meleto website] Forget your daddy’s straw basket candle holder, dripping with memories. Castello di Meleto in the Chianti region of Tuscany has gone way upscale sophisticated and […]
