Herdade do Esporão, New Things to Know About Alentejo and its Wines ~ Part 1 Alentejo
This story is like a return visit to that old friend Portugal's Alentejo (ah-len-TAY-zhoo); the oos and aahs of it all! [PHOTO CREDIT for this story: Jo Diaz, all rights are reserved, unless otherwise noted] The Alentejo wine region was the very first viticultural...
Foppiano: Before, During, After, and Today ~ Mastering the World of Wine
She said, "If anyone can write about Foppiano Vineyards, Jo, you can." This was said to me by my friend Lorraine Raguseo, who's now part of their team through Quintessential Wines. And, she's right. At this point in time, besides the family, I believe she's right....
Domaine Bousquet, Discovering the Uco Valley and Standing on One’s Head
The origin of the Domaine Bousquet family travels back to the city of Carcassonne (karkasɔn), located in the southwest of France. With an elevation of 266–820 feet, roots of civilization run deeply here. With extensive remains of medieval fortifications, see the image...
CANNED WINES ~ Licence IV is So Much More and It’s Called Sustainability
So, this arrived... intriguingly delicious Licence IV. Their French wine products have entered my category of "The Future Is Now the Present." Besides being fun wines, it's one of greatest environmental reliefs for the planet, from the manufactured products to the...
New Voices are so Refreshing ~ Alex Cook, on Suisun Valley with Roger King
I'm seasoned in wine, if you don't know. I wear it as a badge of honor, to have come so far in the past 29 years. I've felt everyone of them. So, when I meet a starry-eyed person, right off the boat... Someone who looks around and says, "Dear Lord, don't ever let me...
Robert Pepi + Steve Kreps = Collaboration Made in Heaven by Angels
[PHOTO: Robert Pepi] Let's start with nonpareil Robert Pepi and bring in (also) his nonpareil partner Steve Kreps. Robert Pepi and Steve Kreps Friends + Different Wine Interests Intersect Creation of Two Angels & Samuel Charles Wines When friends work together in...
When I think of Extraordinary Wine Careers, I think of the affable Kerry Damskey
Kerry Damskey, of Terroirs, Inc. [PHOTO: property of Damskey, Inc. All rights reserved.] Indiana Jones of Wine... Making Gold from Dust! I personally love adventure. I love travel. I love being brave to the point of fearlessness; even sometimes in what I love writing....
Open Letter to the Wine Producers of the World Welcome ~ Another Jo Diaz Musing
My musing again; and, this is mostly directed at USA's wine industry leaders... I was just reminded, by my friend and colleague Dr. Michael Apstein (Boston Globe), about the weight of wine bottles these days. And this isn't new news. It's been going on for years and...
Robert (Bob) Pepi: Series Devoted to Decades in Wine, Including Roots with Steve Kreps
SIGNIFICANT ROOTS Reshaping one's life is very empowering. Travel does it to us. As you know, America is such a melting pot, and having that opportunity to visit one's native DNA land is very special. [Native Americans were the first people to migrate here, crossing...