As we drove up to the ornate metal gates that guarded the entrance to the winery, it was only natural to feel like something special was about to happen. That was certainly the feeling as we approached the A Rafanelli Winery for a private tasting. I must remember to hold the glass with my pinkie […]
Remember the phrase, “Good things come in small packages”? Never was that more true than at the Porter Creek Vineyards and Winery. A big player in the bio-dynamic agriculture business and a producer of really big wines, this tiny winery plays way above its weight. Midway into our day of wine tasting tour with Cliff […]
Tasting on the terrace. Not many things can get me out of bed “early” on a Saturday, but wine tasting is definitely at the top of the list. Katy had scheduled us an appointment at 10am at Gary Farrell, which was down the road from our fabulous studio and up a long hill, but don’t […]
Nestled on a hillside, surrounded by beautiful landscaping and dozens of butterflies, lies Rochioli Vineyards and Winery. Amazing views, comfortable indoor and outdoor tasting spaces, wonderful wines – what more could you want on a warm, sunny day? It was a warm and comfy day, and we were in an excellent mood. We had a […]
Everything in life follows fads and trends. Wine is no exception. We aren’t particularly good at identifying wine trends, but one trend we have noticed, and enjoyed, is the emergence of Montepulciano as a wine of note! Two years ago, I had never heard of Montepulciano. I am no resource for wine knowledge, its just […]
We have been fans of Dante Robere Vineyards for several years, as they poured out of the Eagle Ridge tasting room. After a frustratingly-long construction project, their winery and tasting room finally opened. With much anticipation, we visited their new digs! Jim Perry, owner/winemaker at Eagle Ridge Vineyards has become one of the godfathers of […]
Aside from setting me up for disappointment with every other guy on Earth, my dad has also taught me to enjoy the finer things in life through our dad/daughter dates. In Girl Scouts, we had a yearly Daddy/Daughter Dinner Dance, during which we would exploit our fathers’ affection and dress in matching outfits to dance […]
We have tasted wine in nearly every geography in California. We’ve spent a lot of time in the obvious wine regions: Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, Livermore, Lodi, Calavaras, but we branch out, too. Locating a winery outside of the typical wine areas is certainly not a deal breaker. The Bluxome Street Winery in downtown San Francisco […]
Quick: you have just enough time to visit one more winery before your dinner reservation! What do you do? Our go-to move? Ask another winery. Great things can happen. This time was no exception, because we ended up at Matanzas Creek Winery. The sun was setting, literally, on our Ballooning Over Sonoma tour. We had already enjoyed […]
The Paradise Ridge Winery may be the most honestly-named winery in history. It is certainly on a ridge, and the view is pure paradise. Sipping on some wine,taking in the art, the amazing facility and the endless vistas – what else could you need? Our Ballooning Over Sonoma tour was going quite well. The balloon ride was […]
Sometimes events beyond our control drive change with remarkable outsomes. Belletto Vineyards is perfect example. Starting as the largest vegetable producer in Sonoma county, weather changes and international trade agreements caused the Balletto family to shift their focus to growing wine grapes. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Our Ballooning Over Sonoma tour […]