Regular visitors to the Bliss recognize that most of our wine tasting takes place in Northern California. This is not much of a limitation, given the incredibly diverse range of wines to be celebrated. It is quite exciting, though, to venture out of our own backyard and experience the wines of other regions. Today’s focus: Burgundy France!
In the beginning, there was no Champagne. Well, there was a PLACE called Champagne, but there was no bubbly known by that name. Through happy happenstance, wine makers in the Champagne region of France mastered the art of producing sparkling wine and everything changed. But what is the deal with all of the different terms for wine with bubbles?
We love discovering new wineries, especially the less well-known, smaller ones. We rarely venture too far from home, but we were recently treated to an introduction to quite a few European wineries — without leaving California!
It was a beautiful spring day in Livermore, and we were enjoying some of our favorite Vasco Road wineries. We had time for just one more tasting, and we were excited to learn about the new wines at Occasio Winery.
Livermore has so many fun and growing wineries! Keeping up with them is a challenging and rewarding activity, requiring focus and stamina. A goal that is well worth the dedication. We recently realized that our last visit to Nottingham Cellars was too far in the past. It was time for another visit!
It is great to see a new winery burst onto the wine scene. Even better when the winery gains recognition and respect for the quality of its wine. McKahn Family Cellars is a perfect example, serving great wine in their wonderful new tasting room. We returned to find out what was new!
One of the Livermore wineries successfully making the move from “rookie” to “established” status is Dante Robere Vineyards. Now fully settled into their beautiful tasting room and building a respected library of award-winning vintages, this winery is showing that they have what it takes to take their place among the premier wineries of Livermore.
Sometimes familiarity breeds neglect. Never was that as evident as our coverage, or lack, of our visits to Eckert Estate Winery. We love everything about Eckert Estates: the wine, the vibe, the people. That means that we visit quite a bit, but have somehow forgotten to write about their new wines for far too long!
Wine tasting has its own community of like-minded fans. Over time, connections are made that can lead to even more wine tasting fun. We had a recent example of “six degrees of wine tasting separation” when we received an invitation to attend a party at a new winery called Vidovich Vineyards. That was one great connection!
Making wine is a wonderful blend of art and science! The process has been refined over millennia, with each generation building on the advances from before. Each step of the wine making process has a specific and unique contribution to the whole. Ever wonder why most wines are aged in barrels? Here’s what you should know:
This grape is one of the most widely planted wine grapes in France, yet most American wine lovers have never heard of it. Can you guess its name? You’re right, it is our newest favorite grape: the Pinot Meunier!