I've been spending a lot of time recently exploring the incredible and diverse wines of Sonoma. That also means I've been seeking out the best dog-friendly wineries in the area so our furry travel companion Booker can join us on our adventures. Many wineries in the area welcome dogs in their outdoor tasting areas only, however [...]
My visit to LIOCO Wine in Santa Rosa couldn't have happened at a better time. For the past few months, I've been studying for my Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) certification through the Society of Wine Educators, which has proven to be an extremely challenging, often overwhelming, and very exciting experience. While I've loved learning [...]
Small, back road wineries are my absolute favorite. Even though they may be harder to find, the reward is definitely worth the effort. Aside from the slightly more complicated journey, back road wineries offer an experience you'd never find along the main tasting routes. Many small wineries are family owned with rich histories and deep [...]
As anyone who follows wine knows, 2015 was the year of the millennial and their ever-growing love for wine. According to a recent study, people aged 21-38 drank nearly half of the wine purchased in America in 2015, and they're willing to spend a bit more to try new, unusual varietals. Gone are the days of [...]
It's official... Baja's Valle de Guadalupe wine region has stolen my heart. I recently spent a long weekend in the area, soaking up all the food, wine and scenery the Valle has to offer. One of my favorite stops along the Valle's Ruta del Vino was Deckman's en El Mogor restaurant and the Mogor Badan Winery - [...]
One of my absolute favorite things about the Garagiste Festivals is the opportunity to discover new wines and meet the incredibly gifted people who make them. Even with a few Garagiste Festivals under my belt, I'm always amazed by how much new, little-known wine talent shows up at each event to share the fruits of their labor - some [...]
With the Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure just around the corner, I thought it was the perfect time to write about one of my favorite new Garagiste winemakers, Cholame Vineyard. Cholame (pronounced "Sho-Lamb") doesn't have a tasting room, so you have to catch them at festivals such as the Garagiste Festival, at local wine events, or [...]
I just recently returned from a weekend in Baja near Ensenada and I'm already working on a plan to go back. It had been nearly a decade since my last trip south of the border, so I wan't sure what to expect. What I found when we arrived was a magical place full of beauty, [...]
With longer, warmer days upon us, it seems like Rosé season has finally arrived. Grab a chair in the sun and enjoy one of these bottles on a lazy Summer afternoon. Arnot-Roberts 2014 Rosé The Arnot-Roberts 2014 Rosé is made from Touriga Nacional, which is one of Portugal's finest varietals and is typically used to make Port. [...]
Iron Horse Vineyards in Sebastopol, CA was by far my biggest wine related surprise of the year. I mean this in the best possible way for a couple different reasons. I love Champagne, but I tend to stay away from California Sparkling Wines. While there are some standouts, I find many of them too sweet [...]
Wine-ding Road 