A founding father’s other favorite French wine for July 4th
Thomas Jefferson was the first distinguished American connoisseur of wine. He travelled widely throughout Europe, tasting and collecting wines, and became particularly …
A New Book on Monks and Wine Will Change the Way You Think About the Cote Chalonnaise
This is the book I’ve been waiting for. It fills in many of the gaps in our knowledge of monks and wine against the backdrop of cultural, political and economic influences of the time. It helps us gain a better understanding of the factors driving wine quality that continue to this day. And by adding emphasis on the reputations of Givry and Cote Chalonnaise wines, the authors elevate the image of this lesser-known and under-appreciated region of southern Bourgogne.
Two Words You Must Know in the Burgundy Lexicon
Last week, the Bourgogne wine region also known as Burgundy joined a global coalition of other classic wine regions to protect place name and origin. Now is the perfect time to start calling Burgundy by its French name, as we do for all other French wine regions. Going hand in hand with the authenticity of the Bourgogne name is the authenticity of its wines based on “climat”, the Bourgogne version of terroir.
The Man Behind the Brand: What You Don’t Know About Georges Duboeuf
When I heard that Beaujolais juggernaut Vins Georges Duboeuf was not planning a huge celebration for their 50th anniversary on September 4, 2014, I was truly surprised. But then I met the man behind the brand, Georges Duboeuf. He dispelled all the preconceptions I had about the brand, and of Beaujolais itself…
The Wines of Provence: Fifty Shades of Rosé
About this time every year, I emerge from winter’s cocoon with only one thought: sipping a glass of gossamer-hued, mouth-watering, fruity rosé from Provence. They’re light-bodied, crisp and fruity wines that are always dry. But what I discovered at a Provence Wine Council tasting in SF last week is that these wines can also show beautiful depth, expressiveness and even class that are unique to this region.
Roussillon: The Terroir Lover’s French Riviera
On the very edge of Southern France and bound by an ampitheater of mountains and the sea, Roussillon in some ways is isolated from renown. This is the true South of France.
Judgment of Grgich
Mike Grgich is renowned for having crafted the Judgment of Paris Chardonnay but what sets apart award-winning wines from truly great wines? The ability to age. I recently attended a vertical of Grgich Chardonnay from the 1970s to today, and this is what I found.
Standing On The Shoulders of a Giant: Robert Mondavi
Robert Mondavi left a great legacy to the Napa Valley but one of his most enduring gifts may be the core values he drove into his own team of successors, each of whom have also changed the world of wine in their own way
Building life’s bridges through wine – Project Zin
Food and wine charities are not new. Professionals in the hospitality industry who participate in these events are by nature, generous people, …
Stags Leap District: A Legend in Its Own Time
At a Stags Leap District tasting April 26 commemorating its 25th anniversary as an AVA, vintners shared their perspectives on the evolution of the appellation since the 1970s. Constantly innovating, constantly adapting, vintners continue to move the region forward with but one goal: to preserve the legend of Stags Leap.