What do you do with a beautiful, spacious home with a spectacular view that is sitting vacant and unused? Well, if you're Mike Janko, you spend six months renov...
Ira says he's "almost obsessive" about keeping yields to three tons or less per acre. He employs extended maceration and fermentation and is utilizing the talents of Ed Sbragia, winemaker emeritus for Beringer as a consultant.
As a final course, we were treated to a coconut macaroon torte served with a luscious white chocolate Grand Mariner crème. (Now you must be salivating.) What could make this dish more wonderful? A bright ruby Chocolate Strawberry wine that was full of fruit and strawberry aromas, yet on the palate had a mild chocolate taste that was only slightly sweet and did not overpower the delicious dessert
Of all the wines I tasted, the barrel sample of 2010 Pinot Noir from Frostwatch Vineyard & Winery blew me away. I had a nice visit with owner and winemaker Brett Raven and wound up ordering a case of this wine at a special futures offering. Trust me, that's rare for me.
Judi’s journey into winemaking dates back to getting grapes from Joe Hart before Hart Winery was bonded. She says “after 30 something years of tasting commercial wines, I think I can tell good from bad.” Jim simply says, “Go big or go home.”
Some wineries showed off their creative side with works of art created from cork. Once again, I made it my mission to visit all 34 participating wineries and the question I was asked most was 'what was the best?'
On a dreary, rainy morning, Bob, Maggie, Laura and I climbed into Bob's pickup and checked out the incredible views from the vineyards. These young vines are producing sensational fruit and Bob is making superior wines.
Steve chose to give us a taste of what he says is their most popular lunch item: a butter poached lobster grilled cheese sandwich which he says tongue-in-cheek should come with a side of Lipitor. The lobster is poached in water and butter, then placed on toasted sourdough, loaded with bacon and white cheddar and more butter.
By Susan Montgomery
It was a dark and stormy Saturday. The rain was cold and steady, with only intermittent breaks. Temperatures hovered in the mid 40s. Bu...
Tasting wine is one of the things we do and just last week I called a meeting of my trusted companions at The Wine Company in Temecula and that's precisely what...
