Recent Blog Posts

Thanksgiving Wines

Thanksgiving Wines

  Give Thanks for Simple Pleasures   Wine is a simple agricultural product. It has, for centuries, fed, nourished, pleased, and healed humanity, and has graced the tables of all but the tee-totaling cultures. Wine is meant to be consumed regularly with meals, and with pleasure.   Wine doesn’t have to be expensive to deliver […]

Southern Italy Fall Release Report

Southern Italy Fall Release Report

From the hot, dry, challenging 2012 vintage across Italy’s south and islands, look for success stories including the 2012 Cusamano Benuara Sicilia IGP $18, Nero d’Avola with 30% Syrah, a nice crossover style for glass pours and the holiday table.   The 2012 De Lucia Falanghino Sannio DOC $22 from Campania, is a round, creamy, […]

Northern California Fall Release Report

Northern California Fall Release Report

Toast to another great year with the tart strawberry, lemon peel, and Campari-esque nv Scharffenberger Brut Rosé Excellence Mendocino County $18. Despite unusually cool weather throughout much of the North Coast in August, particularly in Napa Valley, 2013 is looking similar to 2012 in both quantity and quality. Lodi and Lake County enjoyed an even, Mediterranean summer, […]

Lake County’s Luscious Reds

Lake County’s Luscious Reds

  Trying to compete with Napa Cab is a common problem for those producing wines in their shadow. Sonoma was the first to experience this, but over time it has successfully distilled a singular message about “coastal” and “cool” and established itself first and foremost as an ideal  place for cool-climate loving Pinot Noir and […]