Author: Nancy (CSW)

Domaine de Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem featured photo

2016 Domaine de Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem

Today’s Cellar Note brings you the warmth of sunny, southern France in your wine glass. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some sunshine and always look forward to something delicious in my wine glass. We received this wine as a tasting sample. Before we get to the wine, let’s take a look at the label. Domaine de […]

Ironstone Vineyards featured photo

An Ironstone Vineyards Marathon

Both the Kautz family name and Ironstone Vineyards are familiar to me, as they are to many residents in and around Lodi where I associate the Kautz name with farming and viticulture. The sprawling Ironstone winery, located in the Sierra Foothills town of Murphys, is a destination winery. In addition to wine tasting and the wine cave there is a […]

Stella wines featured photo

Stella: Sipping Wine on the Cheap

The two wines in this cellar note challenged my assumptions about grape variety and whether or not a $10 wine can be of interest. I admit I was prepared to be underwhelmed by both of these wines, but in the end I was pleasantly surprised. We received these wines as tasting samples. The two wines in this tasting are part […]

Tawny Port featured photo

Let’s Talk Tawny (Port)

Chilly evenings are made for sipping Port, regardless of the season. Just a splash of Tawny Port is a delicious substitute for dessert after a quick weeknight meal. It works just as well at the end of a meal paired with dessert, cheeses or spiced nuts when you have the time and inclination to enjoy a more involved meal. Today […]

Lodi Wine & Food Festival photo

2019 Lodi Wine & Food Festival

On Saturday, March 30 more than 40 Lodi wineries will be pouring their wines in the Ole Mettler Grape Pavilion at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds on Lockeford Street in Lodi. The Lodi Wine & Food Festival will also include a variety of food provided by local restaurants and caterers along with local olive oil. There will be music and […]

Odfjell featured photo

Odfjell: Organic (and Biodynamic) Wines from Chile

Today’s tasting takes us on a virtual trip to Chile for a sip of three wines made using grapes that are farmed organically and biodynamically. The winery’s story includes a Norwegian ship owner, Norwegian Fjord horses and very old Carignan. Sounds interesting, no? We received these wines as tasting samples. Dan Odfjell (odd-fee-yell) made his fortune in the shipping business. […]

Namibian Wine Tasting featured photo

A Day of Wine Tasting in Namibia

Wine was not the primary reason we traveled to Namibia, but once we discovered there are several commercial wineries located in this arid African county we made it our mission to taste wine from as many of them as we could. It took two trips, but we have now tasted wine from all four commercial wineries in Namibia and visited […]

Ventisquero featured photo

Ventisquero Grey: Two Chilean Red Wines to Compare and Contrast

Winemaking techniques and styles of wine are as varied as the terroir in which wine grapes grow and the personalities of the winemakers crafting those wines. All of that variety is one of the things that is most appealing about wine. Today’s tasting of Ventisquero Grey demonstrates that appealing variability in the most delicious way. We received both wines as […]

"Wine For Dummies", 7th edition by Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan

Wine For Dummies: A Book Review

Wine for Dummies is in its 7th edition. Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan co-wrote the first edition back in 1995 and they have recently completed extensive updates to the 7th edition. We recently received this newest edition of Wine For Dummies for review consideration. This is the first edition of Wine For Dummies I have read. Both Ed McCarthy and […]