I really dig these Forlorn Hope wines from California. All the ones I’ve had have been satisfyingly weird thrill-seekers. The latest I consumed (with pleasure) is no exception. 2012 Forlorn Hope Story This is a California Chenin Blanc from a vineyard called…wait for it…Story. It’s located in Amador County, which is way east of Napa [More]
I know Sunday’s a few days off but I’m already thinking about brunch. Why? Because of this cider from Domaine de la Minotière in Normandy. (Or rather, cidre.) It was part of a small cache of French cider sent to me as samples by Winesellers, Ltd. (Thanks!) Domaine de la Minotière Cidre Fermier Bio Doux What [More]
To know me is to know I frequent Cure in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, where I’ve lived the past ten years. I love this spot right across from the tennis courts (that mostly serve as bike polo grounds) at Cal Anderson Park. The owners Amy and Eric are really awesome. Whenever I’m there we always riff on [More]
One of numerous fascinating seminars I attended at TEXSOM was “Tasting Focus: Distinguishing Winemaking Choices” led by Master Sommeliers (MS) Matthew Citriglia and Geoff Kruth. Wines were compared in contrasting sets of two. First up? Lees. Lees are the dead, spent yeast cells and other leftover solids that, when in contact with a wine prior to [More]
A pleasure to sit down for a bit of an early morning chat with Sam Neill, Proprietor of New Zealand’s Two Paddocks. We were both in McMinnville, Oregon, for the International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC, where I was an invited media guest and he was the Master of Ceremonies) and conversed in the bucolic backyard of a local [More]
When I attended TEXSOM, one of my goals as far as the seminars I signed up for was to embrace new experiences that would broaden my understanding about the world of wine. Actually, more like shine a light on a place, a person, and a process unbeknownst to me. This is why I chose to attend [More]
I went to one of my favorite spots for wine in Seattle, Le Caviste, to meet up with Dana from Foodie Saveur. Was it hot outside? Yes. Did I drink red wine? Indeed. Dana was so intrigued by my willingness to drink red wine during a day of elevated temperatures she asked me to share [More]
Howdy from Dallas where I’m at TEXSOM, a most excellent beverage conference with a strong wine focus. But one cannot live on wine alone. Which is why I decided to get wild with beer. Not wild like pool-party in the 105 degree heat wild. (Well, it’s actually just a few people chilling and drinking beer [More]
