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Discover Jumilla With A Taste of Monastrell

Monastrell, called Mourvèdre and Mataro elsewhere in the wine world, comprises more than 75% of plantings in the dry, inland wine region of Jumilla located in Spain’s southeast corner. And Jumilla is home to Europe’s largest planting of ungrafted 90-year-old bush vines. What better way to discover Jumilla than with a tasting of wines comprised entirely of Monastrell? The three […]

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A Fresh Look At Rodney Strong Vineyards

Rodney Strong Vineyards has recently undergone a refresh. The most noticeable change to consumers who visit the winery will be in the remodeled tasting room; to anyone who picks up a bottle of Rodney Strong wine it will be the newly designed wine labels. But less visible changes have been going on behind the scenes for some time in the […]

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Esporão in Vinho Verde and Douro: Two Regions, One Winemaker

Winemaker José Luis Moreira da Silva, Zé Luis as he is known more informally, has the challenge of making wine in two Portuguese wine regions. The two regions could not be more different in terms of growing conditions and grape varieties. Fortunately the distance between Vinho Verde and the Douro is not too great, about 90 minutes by car. In […]

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A Quiet Getaway To Sonoma Wine Country

The flower garden beneath our second-floor room is in full bloom. Raspberry bushes bear ripe fruit waiting to be picked. Paisley and Clifford, two relaxed longhorns, graze the pasture just beyond the garden. Close by a flock of chickens scratch and peck among the olive trees, with their nighttime roost (a re-purposed travel trailer) set safely within their fenced area. […]

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Pairing Cheese With Wines From Kenwood Vineyards

Recently I was invited to sit in on a virtual tasting of Kenwood Vineyards wines paired with cheese. During the tasting Kenwood Vineyards winemaker Zeke Neeley gave us the behind the scenes details of each wine we tasted while chef and cookbook author Gaby Dalkin created a cheeseboard. I came away with a greater understanding of the different ranges of […]

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Three of The Many Approaches To Sustainability In Bordeaux

Sustainability initiatives in Bordeaux include a variety of approaches. These efforts must at least preserve, if not restore, the environment and have a positive effect on society. According to the Le Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB, Bordeaux Wine Council), the region began its sustainability efforts 20 years ago. 35% of Bordeaux’s vineyard area were taking a certified environmental […]

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A New Wine From Domaine Bousquet: Gaia Pinot Noir Rosé

Just in time for spring and summer sipping (not to mention National Rosé Day on June 12) we have a delightful rosé from Domaine Bousquet, Argentina’s noted organic winery, to share with you. We received this wine as a tasting sample. This is the inaugural vintage of Domaine Bousquet’s Gaia Pinot Noir Rosé, made using estate-grown Pinot Noir. Since the […]

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“The iPhone Photography Book”: A Review

The iPhone Photography Book by Scott Kelby is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to improve their iPhone photography skills. Scott is an excellent photographer and has written many other photography books. He is also the President and CEO of KelbyOne, an online community of photographers anyone can join. We received this book as a sample for review from […]

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A Spring Meal To Celebrate St. Supéry Sauvignon Blanc

St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery in Napa Valley believes in its Sauvignon Blanc so much that they established #SauvBlanc Day in 2010 to celebrate the variety. This year we are celebrating Sauvignon Blanc Day with St. Supéry and prepared a spring meal to pair with the 2019 St. Supéry Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, which we received as a tasting sample. […]