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 […]
Colonnara Viticultori in Cupramontana ~ In the Castelli di Jesi region of Le Marche
[PHOTO: Jo Diaz – Cupramontana Headquarters] To understand wine, first we need understand its culture and people. The first time I wrote that was in 2009, just prior to a trip to Portugal. This thought was just reaffirmed, as I’m newly returned from an Italian adventure, in the epicenter of the Renaissance. This story is about […]
Sonoma County has a Culinary and Wine Paradigm Shift in Windsor, California
There are many winery principals, wine writers, and residents of Sonoma County, California, who have been wondering… When will Chinois Asian Bistro re-open? Chef and proprietor Debbie Shu shares the past and the future… Chinos Asian Bistro, 186 Windsor River Road, debuted October 2008, as a contemporary Pacific Rim dining concept, by owner and restaurateur […]
Beaujolais News from Georges Dubœuf ~ Beautiful Grapes and Magnificent Vines
I’ve had communications with Georges Dubœuf’s wine company. I’ve had a very insightful phone interview with Franck. For two years in a row, I received a bottle of their Celebration of Beaujolais Day — Beaujolais Nouveau — each year with a very festive, very fun tie to celebrate. They’re so cool. Quintessential is their exclusive US […]
World’s Largest BYO Tradition is Coming to Russian River Valley
PHOTO: Andrey Cherkasov This wine and food event is going to be really delicious; and in the process, you’ll learn all about a Paulée Dinner. www.lapaulee.com/ ~ La Paulée is a series of events celebrating the wines and winemakers of Burgundy, alternating yearly between New York and San Francisco. The event takes its name from the traditional post-harvest […]
Napa Valley Vintner Stuart Smith Supporting “No On C” with a Blog Devoted to Preservation
Stuart Smith has gathered in depth background materials for “No On C and Napa County’s environment” at www.stopmeasurec.com. The Webpage opens with what’s most concerning for this measure: “Because Measure C was created in secret, the only public airing of the Measure has been mailings, street signs, ads and letters to our local newspapers. Even […]
Earth Day in Wine Country – Safari West Celebrates a Party for the Planet
When parents bring their children to wine country, any parent worth his or her salt will make sure to include something for the kids. This is just common sense. Expecting wine educators to also reduce their wine ed to a level of a day camp director, while also informing the wine consumers in a captive […]
I feel like I was just knocked out ~ Pocket Fire in Geyserville
What the 12-day, California wine country experience many of us just had: some were longer with more devastation, some were shorter, with minor problems. Bottom line: ask anyone involved in this perfect, epic fire storm, and they’ll tell you that they’ve been traumatized. This is my own exhausting story. During that time, I didn’t have […]
