Bonterra Shows the Way with Affordable Organic/Biodynamic Wine
Is Affordable Organic Wine an Oxymoron? I associate organic agriculture / viticulture as being better for workers and better for the health of the property, but it comes at higher cost due to more labor to produce a given amount of food/grapes/wine. Many younger consumers I know are interested in a sustainable approach in the … Continue reading
A Day in Chablis Pt.2 – A Visit to Château de Béru
The Camaraderie of Vignerons My favorite “aha” moment of the day was this: The 2016 harvest was a disaster at Château de Béru. An early killing frost devastated the majority of their vineyards, followed by hailstorms later in the spring. The silver lining to the 2016 weather was a story of the “Camaraderie of Vignerons”. When … Continue reading
A Day in Chablis – Part One: The Town & Chablis Grand Cru
Save Time for a Trip to Chablis When you trip to Bourgogne, save at least a day for Chablis. Physically separate from the Cote d’Or, you might be tempted to leave it for a future trip, but you would be missing a gem. On our last trip to Beaune, I set a aside a day … Continue reading
Explore Lesser Known Bourgogne at Domaine Chevrot & Fils
Explore a Lesser Known Village with Domaine Chevrot & Fils It’s difficult to think of any part of Bourgogne (Burgundy) as anything other than famous, and expensive. However, there are lesser known villages which offer beautiful wines at more reasonable prices. On my recent trip to Beaune, I made a point to spend time exploring … Continue reading
The Cook’s Atelier: French Cooking Experience in Beaune
Market Day Cooking Class at The Cook’s Atelier When you come to Bourgogne (Burgundy), set aside your Wednesday or Saturday for a day with The Cook’s Atelier. And don’t forget to book it in advance! Marjorie and Kendall are the mother-daughter team behind the shop and cooking school, and they will lead you through a … Continue reading
#AlsaceRocks? Yes, and You Must Visit!
Alsace, #Winophiles and #AlsaceRocks June brings our French Winophiles group to Alsace. Thanks to Teuwen Communications and the #AlsaceRocks promotion, we will be highlighting wines from this region. I had the opportunity to visit in the fall, and I fell in love. Maybe you will, too! Schedule Your Visit to Alsace Alsace is under-appreciated by … Continue reading
Drinking Tuesday Night Bordeaux #Winophiles
100 Problems with Bordeaux Bordeaux is stuffy Bordeaux is expensive Bordeaux needs to be aged for 20 years before you drink it I love Bordeaux, but it’s really only for very special occasions Bordeaux is what grandfathers drink, no one under 50 will touch the stuff These are the opinions in a typical American wine … Continue reading
M is for Marselan #WinePW
Wine Pairing Weekend Plays with “M” Wines Our monthly Wine Pairing Weekend blogging group takes on just about any challenge. This month, our host Lori from Dracaena Wines is hosting and we are joining her in her monthly “Winephabet” posts. So, we’ll all pick a wine that begins with the letter “M” and explore the … Continue reading
Hunting for Chinese Wine in Shanghai
Shanghai is a City of Lights I have a project in my “real job” that takes me to China regularly, most often to Shenzhen, Beijing, or Shanghai. (click on any photo to view a full size slide show, hit “escape” to return) Hunting for Chinese Wine in Shanghai Forbes online lists China as the #6 … Continue reading
Castelli Vineyards – Going Their Own Way in Green Valley
Hiding in Plain Sight in Green Valley When I rolled into the driveway at Castelli Vineyards, I saw Emilio in his rubber boots, hose in hand. After greeting me, he asked how in the world I found Castelli Vineyards. Tiny production, no advertising, no media coverage. I explained I’m a Nebbiolo fan and I found … Continue reading
