Paella on the Grill and a Texas Rosé Surprise!

Texas Wines for SummerEarlier this summer, a wine writer friend sent an invitation to try some Texas Hill Country wines aimed at summer enjoyment. It’s been some time since I have tried a Texas wine, so I happily agreed to try a few. Even though Minnesota is nearing the end of summer, there’s lots of … Continue reading

My Jancis Robinson Article on Regeneration at Troon Vineyard

Jancis Robinson Wine Writing Competition 2022Jancis’ annual wine writing competition in 2022 challenged wine writers to consider the topic of Regeneration as related to wine. My article highlighting Regeneration at Troon Vineyard was posted on Jancis’ site today! Troon Vineyard and Regenerative AgricultureAgriculture is a major contributor to climate change and our modern farming techniques … Continue reading

In Praise of Older Rosé

The Immediacy of RoséTradition tells us to drink rosé young, within a year of its’ listed vintage. This is compounded by many rosés being bottled in clear glass to show off that beautiful color. As we get to the end of the summer, what’s a drinker to do? Do you need to finish all your … Continue reading

A Virtual Visit to Catena Zapata’s Adrianna Vineyard

Bodega Catena Zapata Adrianna VineyardThe Adrianna Vineyard is the crown jewel in the Bodega Catena Zapata portfolio. The Adrianna vineyard is located in the Gualtallary geographic indication, one of the highest altitude vineyard areas in Argentina. Gualtallary sits at nearly 5000 ft. altitude and a latitude of 33° S resulting in more intense sunlight and … Continue reading

Crémant d’Alsace: A Candidate for Your House Bubbly #Winophiles

French Winophiles Are Crazy for Crémant d’AlsaceThis month our French Winophiles are collaborating with @DrinkAlsace as we celebrate Crémant d’Alsace, a delicious sparkling wine from the Alsace region in France. Scroll down further in this post for links to all our Winophiles posts! Fast Facts about Crémant d’AlsaceCrémant refers to traditional method sparkling wines from … Continue reading

Deconstructed Tartine & Domaine de L’Astré Pèlroge #Winophiles

French Winophiles Explore Southwest FranceOur French Winophiles love every corner of France from the famous to the under-the-radar regions. This month we are exploring the Southwest of France, known in-country as Sud-Ouest. This region is less well-known in part because it lives in the shadow of Bordeaux. Historically, the city of Bordeaux was an important … Continue reading

Rogue Valley Favorites: Troon Vineyard at the Dinner Table

Troon Vineyard is located in the Applegate Valley, within the larger Rogue Valley region of Southwest Oregon. Truth be told, the reason I chose the Rogue Valley pre-conference excursion was to take advantage of the chance to return to Troon Vineyard and Cowhorn Vineyard, which I had visited previously. The other wineries were a pleasant … Continue reading

Judging at the International Cold Climate Wine Competition

International Cold Climate Wine Competition (ICCWC)The ICCWC is an annual wine competition for wineries working in climates too cold for traditional vitis vinifera, “normal” wine grapes. Cold winters in the northern states often produce temperatures below -25 F for extended periods. These temperatures reliably kill grapevines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and all the other familiar … Continue reading

“Malbec mon amour”: A Love Letter and Much More

“Malbec mon amour”: Grape and Family HistoryAre you a Malbec fan? If so, you’ll want to search out the new “Malbec mon amour“, authored by Laura Catena and Alejandro Vigil. Laura is well known as the managing director at Bodega Catena Zapata and Alejandro is the long-time director of winemaking there. This book will surprise … Continue reading

Explore Rogue Valley Oregon: Weisinger Family Winery

Touring Oregon’s Rogue ValleyWe continue our tour of the Rogue Valley in Southwestern Oregon with a stop at Weisinger Family Winery. Disclosure: I visited Weisinger Family Winery as part of a pre-conference tour of the 2021 Wine Media Conference. I paid for transportation to and from the conference and there was a fee for the … Continue reading