Author: Nancy (CSW)

Yangarra Estate Vineyard featured photo

Yangarra Estate Vineyard: Southern Rhône Specialists in South Australia’s McLaren Vale

Yangarra Estate Vineyard is situated on more than 400 acres of creeks and native vegetation in the northeast portion of McLaren Vale, South Australia. The climate in this coastal region 45 minutes south of Adelaide is mediterranean, making it the perfect location for southern Rhône varieties. Today we are sipping two wines from Yangarra, both were provided to us as […]

Australian wine diversity featured photo

A Taste of Australia’s Vinous Diversity

Three wines, of course, cannot comprehensively survey the diversity of a whole continent full of wine. But three wines can be a starting point for the exploration of Australian wine and highlight its diverse regions, grape varieties and styles. And possibly pique your interest in Australian wine. We received all three wines as tasting samples. 2017 Tyrrell’s Wines Semillon, Hunter […]

An Introduction to Michigan’s Old Mission Peninsula AVA

As a wine lover living in California, where the shelves are filled with local wines, it might be easy to overlook the fact that 49 other states in the US also make wine — not to mention the rest of the world. But we are inclusive and curious with regard to wine region and grape variety and recently welcomed the […]

Pasqua Famiglia Pasqua Amarone della Valpolicella featured photo

Pasqua ‘Famiglia Pasqua’ Amarone della Valpolicella

Today’s cellar note has us sipping a wine made in Valpolicella, north of Verona, near Lake Garda in northern Italy. Amarone della Valpolicella is a wine with ample body, intense flavors and a warming finish. It is just what you want to sip on a rainy, cold winter’s evening. We received this wine as a tasting sample.  Valpollicella is located […]

Domaine de la Grand’Cour, Le Clos, Vieilles Vignes, Fleurie

Today’s cellar note continues our experience with Cru Beaujolais. After years of thinking we did not like Beaujolais, we are discovering that when it comes to Cru Beaujolais we are almost never disappointed. We now look for them on restaurant wine lists and instead of dreading that a Beaujolais might be included in a wine club shipment, we look forward […]

Domaine Bousquet Reserve wines and Savory Tray Bake

Domaine Bousquet Reserve Wines & Savory Tray Bake #winePW

This month’s Argentine wine theme for Wine Pairing Weekend pleased me to no end. A few months ago we received tasting samples of the Reserve range of wines made by Domaine Bousquet at their winery in Tupungato, Mendoza. It was an easy decision to feature these wines for Wine Pairing Weekend. We have tasted most of the wines made by […]

Prats+Symington featured photo

A Taste of Portugal’s Sunny Douro

If you can’t pack a suitcase and head off to a sunny location in winter, then pouring a glass of wine that brings the sunshine to you can be a liquid substitute. Today’s cellar note brings you exactly that…not Port wine, as you might expect, but dry red wine made by Prats & Symington in the Douro. We received both […]

Tanteun e Marietta Farouche Rouge, Vallée d’Aoste featured photo

Tanteun e Marietta Farouche Rouge

The minute I stuck my nose in the glass I knew I would love this wine. I had already noticed the translucent ruby color of this wine in the glass. Many red wines that are translucent enough to read through make me happy once I taste them. This lovely 2016 Tanteun e Marietta Farouche Rouge is no exception. 2016 Tanteun […]

Concannon Vineyard Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon

Concannon Vineyard Clone 7: History & Cabernet Sauvignon

There is a story behind just about every glass of wine. Some are more interesting than others, to be sure, and Concannon Vineyard is more interesting than most in terms of history and contributions made to the wine industry. Today we are sipping Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon from Concannon Vineyard that we received as a tasting sample. It is the […]

Champagne Bruno Paillard featured photo

Champagne Bruno Paillard: Make Any Occasion Grand

Champagne is the most luxurious and celebratory of libations and the standard against which all other sparkling wines are judged. This is the perfect time of year to luxuriate with a glass of Champagne and today we are sipping one of my favorites, Champagne Bruno Paillard, which we received as a tasting sample. Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru […]