Ever since I joined the Darcie Kent wine club, I’ve been darkening their door almost more than is socially acceptable. I like to toe the line between “hey, good to see you again,” and “this girl is REALLY back again?!” Thus far in 2017, I have been very successful in this goal. That’s why when it was time for the quarterly release party, I pulled up promptly at noon on Saturday like:
We absolutely love small wineries! The connection between the winemaker and the wine lover is at its most intimate. Every vintage is a new adventure and a fresh glimpse into the evolution of the winery. We returned to Inner Sanctum Cellars for a third year to see where their journey had taken them.
In honor of International Sauvignon Blanc Day, the nice people at Brancott Estate kindly asked to introduce us to their library of Sauvignon Blanc wines. Always up for a new tasting adventure, we gladly accepted their offer and sent our palates off to New Zealand!
An annual highlight of the spring wine tasting season is the Taste of Calaveras. The best food, wine, and art from across the county is brought together for a wonderful afternoon. This year’s Taste was a great way to ring in a new summer of wine!
Spring comes early to California. While most of the country is still dealing with a snowy winter, Northern California welcomes sunshine and warm breezes in early March. Once the chill is off the vineyards there’s just one thing to do: go taste some wine OUTDOORS!
Spring is a great season for wine tasters! The warming weather puts new shoots on the grape vines, and the air is filled with the promise of a new vintage. Wine festivals are another exciting part of the season, including one of our favorites: the annual Taste of Calaveras food and wine event.
California winter is pretty mild by any measure. This winter has been especially full of cold and rain, so the arrival of spring was particularly welcome. We celebrated the arrival of good weather in the best way possible, with a wine club release party at Darcie Kent.
Visiting the Lone Done Wines tasting room is always an adventure. A rapidly-expanding wine list means that each visit offers something new. As we prepared for Valentine’s Day, we visited Lone Dove to taste the latest releases.
It is that time of year again. Time for the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The largest competition of exclusively U.S. wines, this is an annual celebration of American winemaking prowess. This year, over 7,000 entries garnered over 6,000 awards. Here is how some of our very favorite wineries scored:
Success in one field of endeavor does not guarantee success in another. In one case, though, success in the fast-paced, high stress world of Hollywood entertainment led to equal success in the mellow, measured world of Napa wine making. We’re talking, of course, about Rich Frank and Frank Family Vineyards.
As a day of tasting sparkling wine in Napa approached dusk, we knew how to maximize our next experience: the rustic outdoor tasting service at Mumm Napa! Rolling hills, winter-dormant grape vines and the lovely bubbles of Mumm Napa. A perfect way to toast the end of an amazing day!