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WINE GRAPE HARVEST BEGINS IN SICILY AT TASCA D’ALMERITA
The 2017 vendemmia began on Tasca d’Almerita’s two seaside wine estates From Tasca d’Almerita: The varied climate of the Sicilian ‘continent’ means that our harvesting period lasts around 90 days. The indigenous grape varietals of Grillo and Malvasia delle Lipari in the islands of Mozia and Salina are some of the first to be harvested. […]
THE GODFATHER OF ZIN & HIS PRODIGAL SON
The SOMM Journal August September 2017 The Godfather of Zin and his Prodigal Son by Catherine Fallis MS http://digital.copcomm.com/i/859549-august-september-2017 Check out our recommended Zins here: https://planetgrapewinereview.com/?s=zin
A NATURAL RENAISSANCE – THE WORLD EMBRACES CORK CLOSURES
Check out my recent technical article in The SOMM Journal, August/September 2017 “One of the best efforts I have ever seen.” A Wine Editor “Best article in the magazine.” Another Wine Editor Catherine Fallis MS, Planet Grape LLC
TASTE OUR TERROIR 2017 PAIRING COMPETITION RESULTS
Message from Tami Kelly, Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association TASTE OUR TERROIR 2017 PAIRING COMPETITION RESULTS –700 attended sold out event at Casa Real on July 20 Livermore Valley, Calif. (July 21, 2017)— Judges Catherine Fallis of PlanetGrape.com, Carolyn Jung of FoodGal.com and Laura Levy Shatkin of Napa Sonoma Magazine tasted 20 gourmet food […]
DRY CREEK VINEYARD CELEBRATES 45 YEARS
This message is from Kim Stare Wallace, President, Dry Creek Vineyard, Sonoma, California Today marks our 45th anniversary! On August 24, 1972 my father, David Stare, received the use permit to open the first winery in Dry Creek Valley since Prohibition was repealed. Since that day, we have been committed to producing 90+ point, […]
FROM DISHWASHER TO WINERY OWNER – THE AMERICAN DREAM IS ALIVE IN NAPA VALLEY
by Liz Thach, MW The sun was slowly setting over the Western mountains of Napa Valley as the more than 200 guests at the Mi Sueno Winery celebration sat down to a 4-course dinner at the Michelen star Restaurant at L’Auberge de Soleil. Champagne was poured as Cristina Londono with Telemundo gracefully stood to […]
NEW ACT PROTECTS NEW ZEALAND’S GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS FOR WINE
The SOMM JOURNAL Web Exclusives New Act Protects New Zealand’s Geographical Indications for Wine by Catherine Fallis, MS As vibrant, warm, happy and lively the place, people and wines are, it is only after 25 years of global success that the New Zealand wine industry is locking down place name protection on a global […]
CHAMPAGNE SABERING ON HEADS & TAILS TV
Check out this fun clip of our very own grape goddess, Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, sabering Champagne on the Penthouse terrace of the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill in San Francisco:
ARAGON’S CROWN JEWEL – CARINENA
Cariñena has the distinction of being a town, an appellation and a grape: a tight trio nestled in the Ebro Valley of Aragón midway between Barcelona and Madrid. It became a D.O.P. (Denominación de Origen Protegida) in 1932 making it one of the oldest officially recognized regions in Spain. Cariñena is the only region in […]
NOTABLE WINES: A NEW WINE BRAND SIMPLIFYING THE WINE AISLE
PRIMEWOMEN.COM by Catherine Fallis MS, Publisher, Planet Grape Wine Review Notable Wines: A New Wine Brand Simplifying the Wine Aisle
BUENA VISTA WINERY TO HOST 2017 GALA BENEFITING HDSA
Press Release SONOMA, CA – Buena Vista Winery will be transformed into a Roaring Twenties destination on Saturday, July 1, 2017 when the winery hosts the Great Gatsby Gala to benefit the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA). With a goal to raise $100,000 to support the HDSA mission, the event will honor Jean-Charles Boisset, […]
DOG HIKES IN THE VINEYARD AND PANORAMIC VIEWS AT KUNDE WINERY
by Liz Thach, MW There are not many places in the world where you are invited to go hiking in the vineyards with your dog, but at Kunde Family Winery in Sonoma Valley, California, everyone is welcome. However space is limited because these special hikes with your four-legged companion sell out fast. “We decided to […]
NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS WINE STYLE ON FRONT LABEL
Notable Wines aims to take the mystery out of wine shopping. This spring they launched two Chardonnays, a “Fruity & Crisp” Chardonnay from Australia, and an “Oaky & Buttery” Chardonnay from California, both at $14.99. I was just commenting to a colleague that we often find ourselves observing then rescuing folks in the wine aisle trying […]
PARADISE RIDGE WINERY HOSTS WOW DINNER TO BENEFIT AT RISK YOUTH
by Liz Thach, MW Perched on a hilltop overlooking the vineyards and a spectacular sunset view, Paradise Ridge Winery in Sonoma County is not only an ideal location for winetasting, but also as a dinner and special event venue. That is why it was an excellent location for the most recent WOW (Worth Our Weight) […]
WHAT MAKES THE SONOMA COUNTY BARREL AUCTION SO INNOVATIVE?
By Liz Thach, MW for PLANET GRAPE WINE REVIEW Each year there are a variety of charity wine auctions held across the US, but the one that wins the innovation crown is the Sonoma County Barrel Auction. This is because auction organizers challenge local wineries to craft a unique, one of a kind wine blend […]
BEYOND SAUVIGNON BLANC – PRIME TIME FOR PINOT NOIR IN NEW ZEALAND
Beyond Sauvignon Blanc – Prime Pinot Noir Time in New Zealand Catherine Fallis April 19, 2017 Food and Wine I love former West End actor Oz Clarke’s description of New Zealand’s brash, pungent Sauvignon Blanc, an iconic style created by Cloudy Bay winemaker Kevin Judd. He calls it a “cloudburst, thrilling, shocking, lime zest, capsicum, love […]
CELEBRATING THE FRESH FLAVORS OF SPRING WITH SHAFER VINEYARDS
From SHAFER VINEYARDS in Napa Valley, California Spring has sprung and the aromas and flavors of the season are bright, zesty, and fresh. Annette Shafer offers an all-new round of recipes which deliver the best of this time of year to your table. Enjoy! SPRING HEIRLOOM CARROT SOUP WITH PRESERVED MEYER LEMON SPRING HERB GRILLED […]
COOL COASTAL SIPPER
I like to say that Albariño is Miguel Migs. If you know music, you know this is the cool dude who mixes it up for the dance clubs in SoMa, San Francisco. With notes of apple, pear, lemon, lemon rind and toasted almond, tropical fruit, and occasionally, a vein of chalky minerality, this delicious, dry, […]
LE MESNIL’S RISING STAR
November/December 2016 Glass of Bubbly Issue 15 Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis With a budget of $400 US, or $850, one can easily obtain one of the best Champagnes in the world, a bottle of Salon or Krug Clos de Mesnil. With any luck, the Grand Cru Chardonnay-based bubbly will be expressive, generous and fine, though […]
BOTTEGA LIQUID METALS
September/October 2016 Glass of Bubbly Issue 14 Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis Are you gold, rose or platinum? Like the iPhone 6sPlus, Bottega Liquid Metals offers choices of platinum, gold and rose gold metal coated bottles to showcase their premium Italian sparkling wines. The innovative and eye-catching packaging includes Moscato (platinum), Prosecco (gold) and sparkling […]
SMALL DISCOVERIES
January/February 2016 Glass of Bubbly Issue 10 Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis With its iconic hand painted flower bottle, Perrier Jouet’s Cuvee Belle Epoque, formerly known as Fleur de Champagne, is one of the world’s most recognizable luxury brands, let alone Champagnes. To make their current releases even more memorable, the house teamed up young designers […]
AUSTRIA’S WALTZING VARIETAL
February/March 2016 The SOMM Journal planet grape by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF RIESLING Benchmark old world Riesling is one of the world’s great vinous treasures, and Austria delivers it in spades. Supremely intense, rich, pungent and dry, quite different from the lacy, low alcohol, delicate, minerally, acidic […]
NO MORE GEEK SPEAK
February/March 2017 The SOMM Journal planet grape by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis FOR SOMMS ON THE FLOOR, HOSPITALITY COMES FIRST Food servers have it down to an art, whether by training, instinct or experience. No server would earn big bucks by selling the restaurant’s food with ego-infused technical geek speak. Beyond that, no chef would […]
BEYOND TAPAS
December/January 2016 2017 The SOMM Journal planet grape by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis BASQUE PINTXOS TAKE IT UPSCALE Tapas, simple bites such as cured meats, chorizo sausage, olives, or fried seafood have their origin in Southern Spain. One story claims that King Alfonso X stopped in Cadiz to rest from a long journey and ordered […]
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