The New Year brings with it a traditional custom where we reflect back on the past year and resolve to be healthier, wealthier, or to be a better friend or spouse.
Each year I reflect upon my wine experiences and create a few wine resolutions of my own. They aren’t for everyone, but can serve as [...]
Quick! What is the first beverage you think of when celebrating around the holidays?
If you answered Champagne or any other sort of sparkling wine, you are not alone. Though reports vary, each year an estimated two-thirds of the sparkling wine consumed in this country is done so in and around the holiday season. Heck, the [...]
From albarino to zweigelt and Alsace to New Zealand, noteworthy wines are made in all corners of the world. Ahh…how lucky I’ve been to taste through many of the best over the years.
Each has it’s own story, and as a wine writer I embrace the opportunity to put a face on each of them as opportunities arise. [...]
Balance is the new buzzword in the Napa Valley.
The flamboyant style of many Napa wines fashionable throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium seem to have hit its peak of popularity, with the pendulum swinging back toward a more classic and age-worthy fashion.
The hedonist-driven butter-bomb chardonnays and tongue-purpling cabernet sauvignons will always play a [...]
Going green is now more hip than ever, but Bonterra Winery has long believed in organic practices. In fact, their vineyards have been certified organic for more than 15 years.
Their grapes are grown without the use of any artificial fertilizers or synthetic chemicals to build a living soil that encourages natural pest/predator balance. By fostering [...]
Federal regulators today granted Calistoga AVA status.
Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena spearheaded the movement over the last 6 years, culminating in the recent announcement.
The big loser here is Robert Young, Co-owner of Calistoga Cellars. You see, once an area is granted AVA status, wineries may not label with the AVA name unless grapes are being [...]
Once again it is time to announce the annual Mark the Cork Head’s “Favorites” wine awards.
To be awarded a favorite, the wines must be of the highest quality, widely available and affordable. This year’s list includes wines from California and around the world. Each may be confidently purchased knowing you will have a wide spectrum [...]
