Recent Blog Posts
BETWEEN THE COVERS – MUST HAVE BOOKS ON CHAMPAGNE
A Scent of Champagne, by Richard Juhlin, is by far the greatest reference book on the topic. Juhlin is the world’s foremost Champagne expert and has compiled close to 10,000 tasting notes, 8,000 of which are included in this seventh of his works. (Skyhorse Publishing, Hardcover, 396 pages, 2013, US $75). He is gifted with […]
PINOT FEST 2015 – A PUBLIC TASTING OF SEXY WINE
Billed as “The Great Big Bacchanalia,” Pinot Fest is one of the most anticipated wine tasting events of the year. It is rare to have winemakers and winery principles from some of the top names in California Pinot Noir in the same room (technically 3 rooms, but still). Fifty-eight wineries were present. Organized by Pat […]
LODI NATIVE – PURITY AND VINEYARD EXPRESSION PUT LODI ON THE MAP
Lodi is known for many things, high quality wine not amongst them. Things are changing, though, as a group of local winemakers inspired by sommelier/writer Randy Caparoso have looked to their cherished old vine Zinfandel vineyards, many over 100 years old, to produce pure, unadulterated wines which showcase the personality of the land and grape plant vs. winemaker style and […]
NATIONAL HUGEL DAY – ALSACE FAMILY WINES FOR THANKSGIVING
This Saturday, November 14th, is National Hugel Day, self-proclaimed by this traditional Alsatian wine family to shed light on their new releases, a dry white blend, a dry Riesling, dry Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, all of which are ideal for the Thanksgiving table. Planet Grape Wine Review Recommends: APPETIZERS 2014 Hugel Gentil Alsace $15 PG […]
SUNNY SUD DE FRANCE
Planet Grape The SOMM Journal AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2015 It is time to take a look beyond the quaffable Vin de Pays wines of sunny Sud de France. Languedoc Roussillon is a treasure trove of clean, fruit-forward, food-friendly, value-priced wines to pour and to offer by the bottle well below $100. A common thread of […]
ITALIAN WINE STYLE RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS
“For 30 years we came to you with wines similar to yours. Now we are bringing you wines that are easy to recognize as being from their particular region,” said Niccolo Petrilli, Ambassador for Italian Wine & Style Promotions and Area Manager Americas & New Markets at La Collina dei Ciliegi, a winery in the Veneto […]
RING AROUND THE ROSE
Summer goes so quickly. Why not extend the feeling with a little pink fizz to keep the mood sunny? It is highly appropriate for Fall too, as it is one of the richest styles of bubbly and pairs well with meat dishes such as Lamb or Pork. Here are some top picks from our expert […]
BORDEAUX UNDER ONE ROOF
Bordeaux and Port are the most significant benchmark wine regions of the world, both created by a thirsty U.K. market and waterways providing access to that market. While Port consumption remains steady, Bordeaux is enjoying another Golden Era, the first since Robert Parker “discovered” the stunning 1982 vintage. Over 685 million bottles of Bordeaux wines are sold annually, […]
THE FATHER OF MALBEC – ARGENTINA’S JOSE “PEPE” GALANTE
Bodegas Salentein honored winemaker Jose “Pepe” Galante at a private luncheon in the home of Deborah Parker Wong last week here in San Francisco. Galante was the long-time winemaker at Catena Zapata, one of the country’s other big names in wine, and has only just recently joined Bodegas Salentein, completing the 40th harvest of his life […]
PROSECCO THE PLACE
Ca di Rajo Export Manager Luca Ortoncelli and I dined at San Francisco’s Sociale this afternoon. He is in the USA to meet with his importers, journalists, bloggers and friends, like actress Debi Mazar. You see, before he worked in the wine industry, he made films. Hoping to keep his toes in cinema, he has visited Hollywood movie lots […]
ROMAN RUINS, GOTHIC CASTLES AND WINE – TEJO, PORTUGAL
Tejo, the wine region formerly known as Ribatejo and pronounced “TAY-JHO” is well-known in Europe but little-known here. At a tasting earlier this week organized by Joan Brower of the Dilenschneider Group and led by Master Sommelier Eric Entrikin, we learned that the region is a treasure trove of unique and value-priced wines. Made from […]
SICILIA – THE COOKING OF CASA PLANETA
SPQR restaurant on Fillmore Street in San Francisco was the perfect setting for a luncheon of Sicilian food and wines led by the charming and down to earth Alessio Planeta, manager and owner with his sister Francesca and his brother Santi of the family company Planeta. Chef Matthew Accarrino and Sommelier and Italian wine expert Shelley Lindgren are the […]
40 Years a Master Sommelier – Celebrating Richard Dean
On October 13th, 1975, Richard Dean became one of America’s first Master Sommeliers. Forty years later, he still works the floor at Taj Hotel Group’s Campton Place, albeit part time. That is quite an accomplishment for a Master Sommelier, many of whom leave the floor to take high-paying jobs in wine sales and to enjoy […]
ST. TROPEZ SUMMER SIPPER – CHATEAU SAINT-MAUR
The French Riviera is equally as popular with jetsetters and the ultra wealthy as it is with pale-skinned Northern Europeans seeking the warmth and pleasures of sun and sea. One thing they have in common, though, is a thirst for the local Rose wine. Chateau Saint-Maur, nestled in the mountains about six miles away from […]
PLANET GRAPE’S WINE TIPS with MASTER SOMMELIER CATHERINE FALLIS
Pick up pointers on tasting, opening, and decanting wine: BEST OF THE BAY – PLANET GRAPE’S CATHERINE FALLIS AT FRENCH CULINARY INSTITUTE http://bestofthebaytv.com/view/1430
CHAMPAGNE & SPARKLING WINE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2015
The wine gurus have crowned Fior d’Arancio Maeli DOCG by Elisa Dilavanzo, the only Italian wine producer honoured with the gold medal in the London event. The opinion leaders of the sector Tom Stevenson, Essi Avellan MW and Dr Tony Jordan have, for the first time, awarded the gold medal to the Yellow Muscat sparkling […]
GEORGIA: WHERE OLD IS NEW AGAIN
By Guest Panelist Lisa Granik, MW Ancient and modern. Traditional yet fresh and exciting. Of all of the countries whose heretofore unknown wines and varieties are thrilling wine lovers, none has an older tradition than the Republic of Georgia. A tiny country once considered the “Soviet Florida,” due to its warm climate, beautiful beaches, […]
I’m a Balanced Babe and I’m a Master Sommelier…
…I’m a Wine Scholar, Keynote Speaker, Writer & Consultant: Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis Posted on June 19, 2015 by Sarah Baker in Balanced Babe Influencers // 0 Comments This week’s Balanced Babe,Catherine Fallis, is a dedicated and knowledgeable wine expert who holds the most coveted award in the wine industry and the ultimate credential for […]
KUMEU RIVER – FROM CROATIA TO NEW ZEALAND’S FRUIT BOWL
New Zealand’s first Master of Wine, Michael Brajkovich, is also the country’s first producer of world class Chardonnay. His father, Maté (mah tee eh) moved to Kumeu, New Zealand from Zivogosce, a small village in Croatia, in 1937 and married his mother, Melba Sitich in 1958. He and his siblings Marijana, Milan, and Paul, […]
New GOfermentor Technology Makes Waterless Winery A Reality
What if… …you could eliminate oxygen and water completely from the winemaking process while, at the same time, reduce your labor costs and create better quality wines? NEW JERSEY, JULY 18th 2015 – A new technology called GOfermentor, set to revolutionize the winemaking process in the areas of oxygen control and water waste, has been […]
DRY CREEK VINEYARD LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE NEW CORK CONCEPT
Iconic and well-known Dry Creek Vineyard of Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, has released their 2013 Old Vine Zinfandel with a new packaging twist – a label harking back to steamship travel in honor of the age of the vines (95-110 years old), and a cork from the future. According to winery President Kim Stare Wallace, […]
DISCOVERY TO TABLE WITH CHANTICLEER WINES
By Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, aka grape goddess®* CHANTICLEER wines are subtle, understated, compatible with food & capable of aging. You’ve discovered a great wine, visited the winery, scored a spot on the mailing list, and the wines are now in your hands, ready to deliver pleasure to you and your guests. […]
NEW ZEALAND WINE MASTERCLASS WITH OZ CLARKE
Britain’s most popular wine writer, irreverent Irishman Oz Clarke, led a group of San Francisco area writers and buyers including Matt Kramer, Dan Berger, Leslie Sbrocco, Richard Jennings, Rebecca Chapa, Wilfred Wong and more through an entertaining tasting of New Zealand wines this past January. Oz Clarke, one of my favorites for his down-to-earth quotes, like “Gewurztraminer […]
PLANET GRAPE’S GUIDE TO ENJOYING CHAMPAGNE
by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, aka grape goddess® Storage Store Champagne in a cool, dark place away from heat, light, vibrations and severe temperature variations. Champagne is ready to drink upon release, and, for the most part, does not improve with age. Bottles do not need to be stored on their sides. Chilling Before serving, […]
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