Category Archives: California

Wednesday wine recommendations, 8/30/2017

Posted on August 30, 2017 by

Let’s contrast the Old World and the New this week, with pinot noirs from Burgundy and California’s Central Coast, plus rosés from New York and Spain. And just for good measure, an Australian Riesling. *** = Exceptional, ** = Excellent, … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Burgundy, California, Eastern US, New York, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rosé, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged | Leave a comment

Wednesday wine recommendations, 8/9/2017

Posted on August 9, 2017 by

Just when I thought I’d tasted and recommended enough rosé for the season, along come two that get me excited all over to drink pink. After all, when the heat and humidity settle in, what’s better than rosé to help … Continue reading →

Posted in Bargain Wines, California, Spain, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Grgich Hills celebrates 40 years in Napa Valley

Posted on July 31, 2017 by

Grgich Hills Estate celebrated its 40th anniversary this weekend. The winery was established by Mike Grgich and Austin Hills in 1977, and was Grgich’s breakout after the Judgment of Paris in 1976. That was the famous tasting in which the … Continue reading →

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Tasting SLV and Mouton with Warren Winiarski

Posted on March 16, 2015 by

During my recent visit to California, I had the pleasure of visiting Warren Winiarski, founder of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and a Napa Valley pioneer whose Cabernet Sauvignon won the famous Paris Tasting of 1976. We first met a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Bordeaux, California, Direct Shipping, Wine | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Fifty Years of American Winemaking, All in One Hour on October 29

Posted on October 20, 2014 by

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History is 50 years old this year. As part of the birthday celebrations, the museum’s food and wine history project will host a discussion of “Fifty Years of American Winemaking” on Wednesday, October … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Local Wine, New York, Oregon, Wine | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Summer Wines with Soul & Substance

Posted on July 25, 2014 by

The weather is unusually pleasant for mid-summer this week in the Washington area, leaving me thinking of warm days and cooler nights, those wonderful “diurnal swings” that supposedly contribute to well-balanced wine. But since the 2014 Virginia and Maryland wines … Continue reading →

Posted in Bargain Wines, Burgundy, California, Cheap Wine, Chile, Colorado, France, Wine | Tagged | 1 Comment

50 States of Wine – Le Metro Underground Goes Cross Country

Posted on July 14, 2014 by

Earlier this year, after I wrote about the difficulty of finding the so-called “New California” wines, I was introduced to Aaron Epstein, a San Diego-based entrepreneur and new father who operates Le Metro. Wine. Underground, a subscription direct-to-consumer retailer. To use … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, California, Colorado, Eastern US, Local Wine, Rants, Riesling, Sparkling Wine, Texas, Virginia, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment