What is Saperavi?
It is a dark skinned red grape that is the specialty varietal from the Republic of Georgia. Grown in the Alazani Valley on the edge of the Caucasus Mountains, archaeologists have found proof that wine has been produced in this region for over 7 millennia. Wine from this grape...
Hanepoot – South Africa
The grape Hanepoot, also known as Muscat of Alexandria, whose origins hail from Egypt is one of the oldest and rarest varietals in the world. It is a white grape used in the making of a sweet white dessert wine with pronounced honey and raison flavors. Mainly grown in...
2015 Small Gully “Mr. Blacks Concoction” Shiraz/Viognier
Did you ever taste a wine and feel like you hit the lottery? When you consider the price you can pay for a great Syrah (or Shiraz as they call it in Australia) and compare it to this value beast, well, you now know the feeling. Loaded with bold...
What is Oenophobia?
It is the actual fear of wine, that in some people, triggers multiple symptoms. There is also clinical treatment available for patients seeking help from this phobia. Lucky for us non suffering wine lovers, the only thing we fear is bad wine....
2 Buck Chinese
A storefront in Shanghai, China displays their available wines. I was unfortunate to sample a number of the wines from China for research and survived to tell the tale. Bottles from other parts of the world were insanely overpriced, so as they say, when in Rome……....
2018 Domaine de la Bastide Cotes du Rhone Rouge
Just like a good friend who moves away and years later returns back home, the reunion is joyful as past memories begin to flow. You missed them terribly and can’t wait to generate an even greater bond between you. That is my experience with the 2018 Domaine de la...
Did You Know…………. Wine Fact #13
That at actor Tom Cruise’s 2006 wedding, 300 bottles of Barbaresco and Champagne were served. Paltry compared to the wedding of Alexander III of Scotland, where in 1251, over 135,000 liters of wine were popped for the occasion. Maybe not the same quality but I don’t think there were...
Ripe for the Pickin’
With a fresh splash of morning dew, these Cabernet Sauvignon grapes high on Spring Mountain in Napa Valley are ready to be picked and made into wine. They are part of the Pride Mountain Vineyard so you know these guys will be Grade A+ and top notch once they...
Did You Know ……………. Wine Fact #12
In the Grimm’s fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, it states that Little Red took a bottle of wine to her grandmother. Sadly, with this reference to alcohol, over 400 copies of this book sit in a locked storage room at a public school in Empire, CA, banned in...
2018 Carol Shelton “Wild Thing” Rendezvous Rose
With Springtime knocking on the weather map, no need to wait for those warm Spring and Summer nights to enjoy a refreshing glass of rose. Especially when it’s big and racy; fun and tasty. From California’s Queen of Zinfandel, Carol Shelton has hit a home run once again with...