Wines for Thanksgiving
The traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey and all its accompaniments makes for interesting, if not challenging, wine pairings. The lean turkey breast meat suggests something white, while the richer...
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Tasting room gift shops for holiday shopping
Late fall is beautiful in the Wine Country: Vineyards are their characteristic shades of red, burgundy, yellow, and gold; long shadows from the low angle of the sun show up early, and recent rains have...
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Ram’s Gate Winery: Food and wine with a view
Serving wine with food is nothing new, but wineries are now taking these pairings to a new level and creating an experience for visitors to their tasting rooms. Food and wine pairings have become so...
View ArticleSonoma Valley picks for wine and food pairing
The wine country is alive and blooming especially so with the fertilizing ash from last fall’s fires. It’s always a good idea to include food while you’re tasting for obvious reasons, so food and wine...
View ArticleSpecial wines for special occasions
Every month, my husband attends a luncheon (guys-only, but I digress) in various Sonoma County locales, from private homes to event spaces. Everyone brings a bottle of wine, and although the menu is...
View ArticleFirst port of call
My first real introduction to port was from my brother-in-law, the most erudite, bohemian, renaissance person I know. Formerly a wearer of three-piece suits on Wall Street, he now sports a long...
View ArticlePop the cork on sparkling wines
There’s never an occasion not to drink bubbles, in my opinion. Part of my rationalization is the glasses — whether flutes or tulips, or the retro coupe, they’re all fun and feel special. Then, throw in...
View ArticleHow climate change is affecting Sonoma and Napa vineyards
While there are some who reject mainstream climate science, the reality of climate change could possibly hit us right where it hurts: our Northern California wine industry. Viticulture, the cultivating...
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Wine and art: A different kind of pairing
“Wine can instill a moment of inspiration or madness. Art can do the same.” —Ai Weiwei Food is not the only thing paired with wine in our Northern California wine country — art is featured in several...
View ArticleWomen in wine: Jamie Benziger of Imagery Estate Winery
If the name sounds familiar, it should. Jamie Benziger hails from the esteemed Benziger Family Winery, notable for its biodynamic, organic, and sustainable farming practices in addition to its...
View ArticleRaise a glass to 2020
It’s a huge understatement to say that 2020 was a rough year, and California’s wine industry suffered multiple crises — the pandemic that closed winery tasting rooms, weeks of brutal heat, and...
View ArticleFun wines for Valentine’s Day
While we brainstormed topics for this month, our film writer, Michael Snyder, commented that there had been precious few good romantic movies in the past four years, musing whether that was related to...
View ArticleCheers to Mom: Wines to celebrate her day
This year is worth a special celebration for Mom because many of us weren’t able to see her last year. So if she loves her wine, be sure to check out these to toast her on her day. And in honor of all...
View ArticleA mixed bag of wine
Few will dispute it’s been one mixed-up world for the last 18 months. In the immortal words of Roseanne Roseannadanna, “If it’s not one thing, it’s another,” whether it be a virus (and a former...
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Sparkling Rosés for holiday celebrations
I’m not a huge fan of Rosé in general, which is a little too hyped and most are just not to my taste — but I’m an unabashed cheerleader for sparkling Rosé. Why? Well, visually for one. The color is...
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