Still Wines
HIDDEN WINERY’S CABERNET GET HIGHEST BID AT NAPA VALLEY WINE AUCTION
By Liz Thach, MW For wine lovers, getting a chance to attend the famous Napa Valley Wine Auction is often a bucket list item. The festive atmosphere, music, delicious food and wine, and the chance to rub elbows with celebrities is part of the allure, but also being first on the scene to discovery which Napa Valley […]
SUMMER WINES FROM LODI
Lodi grape growers and winemakers produce some of the best Zinfandels in the world. Two hours inland from San Francisco, temperatures climb and the sun shines bright all summer here, allowing grapes to ripen perfectly year after year. But thanks to cooling effects of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, running from the Central Valley directly to […]
DOCTOR WINE’S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ITALIAN WINE 2018
Daniele Cernilli, also known as Doctor Wine, presided over an Italian wine tasting at San Francisco Wine School recently to promote the launch of his THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ITALIAN WINE 2018. Cernilli was one of the founders of Gambero Rosso, the famous Italian food and wine publishing group, and for 24 years edited the Gambero […]
FRANK FAMILY VINEYARDS CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY
By Liz Thach, MW Twenty-five years ago, when he was still President of Walt Disney Studios, overseeing movies such as The Lion King and Aladdin, Rich Frank spent many vacations in the Napa Valley. It was there that he fell in love with the wine industry and began searching for a winery to purchase. As […]
ROMBAUER FOUNDER REMEMBERED
From the office of Julie Ann Kodmur Napa Valley, California, May 11, 2018 —- Koerner Rombauer, the founder of Rombauer Vineyards and a beloved figure in the Napa Valley over the last four decades, died on May 10. He was 83. Koerner is survived by his wife, Sandy, and children Sheana Rombauer and K.R. Rombauer […]
TANGY RIESLING FOR SUMMERTIME SIPPING
Raimund Prum and his wife Pirjo recently visited San Francisco to showcase their Grand Cru family Rieslings from their home in Mosel, Germany. The S.A. Prum family goes back to 1156, making it one of the country’s oldest winemaking dynasties. Today Raimund’s daughter Saskia A. Prum is in charge. The family estate sits on the banks of […]
PASSION FOR WINE
Jean-Charles Boisset was born into a winemaking family in the tiny village of Vougeot, in Burgundy. The Boisset Collection today includes prestigious brands in France and California, including the historic Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma and Raymond in Napa Valley. Jean-Charles and his wife Gina Gallo travel in high society. Marnie Old, born in Winnipeg, Canada […]
FASCINATING PEOPLE IN THE WORLD OF FOOD AND WINE
NAPA VALLEY, CALIF., APRIL 24, 2018 – James Beard Award-winning Napa Valley vintner Doug Shafer, long-time insider in the world of food and wine, has launched a new podcast series, “The Taste with Doug Shafer.” The podcast launches with three episodes featuring entertaining, informal conversations with James Beard Award-winning chef Cindy Pawlcyn whose background […]
REDISCOVERING THE PLEASURE OF NEW ZEALAND SAUVIGNON BLANC
by Liz Thach, MW New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wine is famous around the world for its tropical flavors of kiwi, mango and refreshing grapefruit finish. However, when visiting New Zealand several years ago, I was pleased to be able to taste many of the other white wine varieties they produce, such as exquisitely dry Rieslings, […]
THE MASTERS CHOOSE THE BEST ROSE FROM AROUND THE WORLD
The Masters Choose the Best Rosé Wine from Around the World Tricia H. Conover April 11, 2018 Food and Wine Dry rosé wines are produced around the world in many wine regions using countless varieties of red grapes. Rosé wines have been the fastest growing category of wine consumption in the last few […]
FETZER VINEYARDS – PIONEERS IN SUSTAINABILITY CELEBRATE EARTH DAY
Message from Fetzer Vineyards: This year marks 50 years of commitment to sustainable and regenerative winemaking practices by the historic Mendocino County-based winery, Fetzer Vineyards. In a climate where even the smallest gestures toward a greener environment are of the greatest importance, Fetzer continues to blaze the trail toward Net Positive winemaking. On April 22, […]
FROM SONOMA WITH LOVE
Happy Valentine’s Day! The folks at Korbel Winery in Sonoma, California have released a lovely, peachy non vintage Korbel Love Letter Brut Rose, $13.99, just in time for Cupid’s big day. While delicious on its own, try it with a dash of Chambord, some berries, and a nice warm smile. Watch your person light up […]
HOLIDAY PICKS FROM OUR TASTING PANEL TO YOU
Happy Holidays! Here our some of our panelists’ top picks for 2017: Deborah Parker Wong Bubbles are a year round essential and if you’re planning to trade up for a holiday celebration, Collet, produced by Cogevi, the oldest cooperative in Champagne, has several delicious new releases that won’t break the bank. I love their Art Deco […]
NEW ZEALAND SPARKLER STEALS THE SHOW
PRESS RELEASE CONTACT Jeremy Adsett – Marketing Manager jeremy@hunters.co.nz FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3 November 2017 Hunter’s Wines Awarded Two Trophies at Marlborough Wine Show Hunter’s MiruMiru™ Reserve 2013, and Hunter’s Riesling 2016, 2012, and 2006 come out on top. Two varieties of Hunter’s Wine have been recognised with trophies at the 2017 Marlborough Wine Show, […]
WINE GRAPE HARVEST BEGINS IN SICILY AT TASCA D’ALMERITA
The 2017 vendemmia began on Tasca d’Almerita’s two seaside wine estates From Tasca d’Almerita: The varied climate of the Sicilian ‘continent’ means that our harvesting period lasts around 90 days. The indigenous grape varietals of Grillo and Malvasia delle Lipari in the islands of Mozia and Salina are some of the first to be harvested. […]
THE GODFATHER OF ZIN & HIS PRODIGAL SON
The SOMM Journal August September 2017 The Godfather of Zin and his Prodigal Son by Catherine Fallis MS http://digital.copcomm.com/i/859549-august-september-2017 Check out our recommended Zins here: https://staging.planetgrapewinereview.com/?s=zin
A NATURAL RENAISSANCE – THE WORLD EMBRACES CORK CLOSURES
Check out my recent technical article in The SOMM Journal, August/September 2017 “One of the best efforts I have ever seen.” A Wine Editor “Best article in the magazine.” Another Wine Editor Catherine Fallis MS, Planet Grape LLC
TASTE OUR TERROIR 2017 PAIRING COMPETITION RESULTS
Message from Tami Kelly, Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association TASTE OUR TERROIR 2017 PAIRING COMPETITION RESULTS –700 attended sold out event at Casa Real on July 20 Livermore Valley, Calif. (July 21, 2017)— Judges Catherine Fallis of PlanetGrape.com, Carolyn Jung of FoodGal.com and Laura Levy Shatkin of Napa Sonoma Magazine tasted 20 gourmet food […]
DRY CREEK VINEYARD CELEBRATES 45 YEARS
This message is from Kim Stare Wallace, President, Dry Creek Vineyard, Sonoma, California Today marks our 45th anniversary! On August 24, 1972 my father, David Stare, received the use permit to open the first winery in Dry Creek Valley since Prohibition was repealed. Since that day, we have been committed to producing 90+ point, […]
FROM DISHWASHER TO WINERY OWNER – THE AMERICAN DREAM IS ALIVE IN NAPA VALLEY
by Liz Thach, MW The sun was slowly setting over the Western mountains of Napa Valley as the more than 200 guests at the Mi Sueno Winery celebration sat down to a 4-course dinner at the Michelen star Restaurant at L’Auberge de Soleil. Champagne was poured as Cristina Londono with Telemundo gracefully stood to […]
NEW ACT PROTECTS NEW ZEALAND’S GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS FOR WINE
The SOMM JOURNAL Web Exclusives New Act Protects New Zealand’s Geographical Indications for Wine by Catherine Fallis, MS As vibrant, warm, happy and lively the place, people and wines are, it is only after 25 years of global success that the New Zealand wine industry is locking down place name protection on a global […]
ARAGON’S CROWN JEWEL – CARINENA
Cariñena has the distinction of being a town, an appellation and a grape: a tight trio nestled in the Ebro Valley of Aragón midway between Barcelona and Madrid. It became a D.O.P. (Denominación de Origen Protegida) in 1932 making it one of the oldest officially recognized regions in Spain. Cariñena is the only region in […]
BUENA VISTA WINERY TO HOST 2017 GALA BENEFITING HDSA
Press Release SONOMA, CA – Buena Vista Winery will be transformed into a Roaring Twenties destination on Saturday, July 1, 2017 when the winery hosts the Great Gatsby Gala to benefit the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA). With a goal to raise $100,000 to support the HDSA mission, the event will honor Jean-Charles Boisset, […]
DOG HIKES IN THE VINEYARD AND PANORAMIC VIEWS AT KUNDE WINERY
by Liz Thach, MW There are not many places in the world where you are invited to go hiking in the vineyards with your dog, but at Kunde Family Winery in Sonoma Valley, California, everyone is welcome. However space is limited because these special hikes with your four-legged companion sell out fast. “We decided to […]
