Food and Wine Journal: My Dinner with Alison
It was great catching up with Alison Sokol Blosser at Redd Wood in Yountville the other week. This is a “breather” year …
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.
Carneros Cool Factor
Carneros has a cool climate perfect for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But at a recent Carneros Wine Alliance tasting, I learned the region is cool in more ways than one. It’s a region where a confident new generation embraces tradition in a search for authenticity, and the old garde hews to its free-thinking, but no less authentic, ways.
Mount Veeder Appellation – Napa Valley Mountain Wines With a Twist
It poured yesterday in the Napa Valley but it didn’t stop hundreds of fans from crowding the annual Mount Veeder Appellation annual …
The Far, Far West of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Wines
Marcassin, Kistler, Littorai, Peter Michael, Martinelli. These were among the first wines I tasted from the Sonoma Coast and they changed the …
The Taste of Rutherford Dust Found
I’ve written about Napa Valley’s earliest vineyards from St. Helena to Howell Mountain and Stags Leap, but no region’s vintners have had …
The Clones of Carneros
A couple years ago at the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival technical conference, winemaker Greg La Follette spoke about Pinot Noir lovers. …
You know you’re a Zin Head …
Still basking in the glow of the 22nd annual ZAP Zinfandel Festival at the Concourse in San Francisco, I realize I’m a …
Best food and Zinfandel pairings at Epicuria might surprise you
One of my favorite events at the annual 4-day ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers) Zinfandel Fest in the city is Epicuria, an …
Fired-up for Cochon Heritage Fire
Photos by Huge Galdones As much as I love living off the bounty of sweet vegetables from my garden in the summer, I could …
Fuel up at Downtown Napa’s best breakfast joints
Our tiny valley has some of the best restaurants on the entire West Coast, but what jump starts our days of touring …
Downtown Napa restaurants shine in the West End
Culinary cultures and personalities shine in the West End of Downtown Napa. These restaurants may be small, but they are big on …
Napa Valley farmers markets open the season
Opening day for the Napa Farmers Market always feels like summer. It’s sunny, people stroll around leisurely in their shorts and sandals …
Bodega Bay – The Bay Area’s hidden gem for weekend getaways
As weekend getaways go, Bodega Bay doesn’t have the caché of Carmel, the affluent hippie vibe of Mendocino, or the international draw …
Top 7 green things to do on Earth Day and everyday in the Napa Valley
[flagallery gid=37 w=400 h=100 name=Gallery] How green is my valley? National lists ranking the greenest cities in the U.S. usually include …