Category Archives: California

In Vino Veritas

Posted on June 4, 2018 by

In vino veritas, the Roman author Pliny the Elder wrote. In wine is truth. It’s an old Latin phrase making fun of people who speak their minds under the influence of alcohol. The quote is buried in a rather hilarious … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Food and Drink, Rants, Religion, Wine, writers | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Great Values of 2017

Posted on January 15, 2018 by

This is a new feature I’ll probably do annually for The Washington Post, highlighting my favorite wines of the past year that I gave the “Great Value” designation. I’m deleting the store listings here, so it won’t be such a … Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, Bargain Wines, California, Cheap Wine, France, Germany, Portugal, Rhône, Riesling, Spain, Wine, Zweigelt | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Dutton Goldfield Riesling – Marin County

Posted on December 11, 2017 by

I can’t say I’ve tasted many wines from California’s Marin County over the years. Marin for me is the scenic, Gucci-hippie oceanside territory I drive through on my way from San Francisco to wine country. Marin is not “wine country.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, California, Riesling | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

It’s not about the #wine.

Posted on October 14, 2017 by

This is a slightly revised version of my column published October 12 on washingtonpost.com. As I write this, fires continue to spread across Northern California’s wine country for a sixth day, and it is still impossible to estimate the full … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Wine, writers | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in California, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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