Category Archives: California

50 States of Wine – Le Metro Underground Goes Cross Country

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Dave McIntyre

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

Wines to Defy Winter’s Last Blast

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Dave McIntyre

The calendar says Spring, but Ol’ Man Winter isn’t done with us yet. Tuesday’s forecast for the Washington, D.C., area calls for 1-2 more inches of the white stuff, timed not to give us a day off like that last … Continue reading →

Posted in California, France, Italy, Rosé, Spain, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged | Leave a comment

Take that, Virginia wine!

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Dave McIntyre

Virginia wine took a slap in the face Thursday, in this article in The Washington Post. The article described how newly inaugurated Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) is trying to establish good relations with legislators from both parties by hosting daily … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current Affairs, Local Wine, Virginia, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Bordeaux: Too little, too late? It Depends(c).

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Dave McIntyre

My Washington Post column last week, which I posted here yesterday, generated considerable comment on the web and in emails back to me. Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast’s California reviewer, took issue on his blog with the thought that Bordeaux could ever appeal to U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bordeaux, California, France, Rants, Uncategorized, Washington Post, Weblogs, Wine, writers | Tagged , | 10 Comments

What’s ahead in 2014 for wine lovers?

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Dave McIntyre

New Year’s is crystal-ball season in a lot of respects – not just the ball that drops on Times Square, but all the figurative crystal balls that pundits and wine columnists gaze into to predict what the new year will … Continue reading →

Posted in Argentina, California, Chile, Local Wine, Portugal, Rants, Spain, Too Much Alcohol!, Wine | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Shoot-out at the sparkling wine corral

Posted on December 29, 2013 by Dave McIntyre

Blind tastings can be fun, informative, uplifting, humbling, even humiliating. The ones I enjoy most are those where my involvement is solely as a taster, with no knowledge of what wines are in the mix (I tend to try to … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Champagne, Italy, Pinot Noir, Spain, Sparkling Wine, Wine | 2 Comments

Some top-notch bubblies for the holidays

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Dave McIntyre

If you’re looking to splurge on your bubbles this holiday season, here are a few top specimens worth considering. Cheers! Nathalie Falmet Brut Nature 3 Stars Champagne, France, $66 Nathalie Falmet is the epitome of a small grower – she … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Champagne, Italy, Wine | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Happy Birthday, WineLine!

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Dave McIntyre

The other day I received a notification from WordPress congratulating me that I registered this blog on their service four years ago. That reminded me that Dave McIntyre’s WineLine is actually 14 years old this month. That’s right – I started this … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Food and Drink, Rants, Weblogs, Wine | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Wines of the Week: Gundlach Bundschu, Pedroncelli and more

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Dave McIntyre

Some readers who do not regularly have a chance to read The Washington Post’s Wednesday Food section have asked me to post my columns and wine recommendations here more regularly. So I will try to do that in some form … Continue reading →

Posted in Bargain Wines, California, Italy, Spain, Wine | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Some pioneering California wineries still thriving 80 years after Repeal

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Dave McIntyre

The two curators from the Smithsonian were asking a lot of questions, but Julie Pedroncelli St. John wasn’t taken aback until one of them said, “We’d like some of your stuff.” After more discussion, Pedroncelli Winery, located in Sonoma County’s … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments