My recent visit to Alta Colina Estate Vineyard reminded me once again of why I love Paso Robles so much. The area has been the center of attention recently in the wine world. This is largely due to the fact that Saxum Vineyards' 2007 James Berry Vineyard just earned the #1 spot on the Wine [...]
Along Grand Avenue in the quaint little town of Los Olivos, CA, there are enough tasting rooms to easily fill an entire weekend. On a recent trip to the area, I decided to stop in town and try the wines of Carhartt Vineyard. Grand Avenue is lined with tasting room after tasting room, each representing [...]
I have to admit that while I was interested in trying the wines of Rubicon Estate in Napa Valley, it wasn't exactly at the top of my list. I assumed that a winery owned by 5 time Oscar winner Francis Ford Coppola and his family would likely be "Hollywood". I anticipated it would be a [...]
In early December - just before the holiday madness began - we flew up to Napa for a long, relaxing, wine-filled weekend. One of the first places we visited on this particular trip was Casa Nuestra Winery & Vineyards in St. Helena. I had read reviews on Casa Nuestra and it sounded exactly like something [...]
Last weekend, we left sunny southern California and headed up to Seattle to explore the wine country in Woodinville, Washington. Woodinville is an easy 30 minute drive from downtown Seattle along lush forests and over long, floating bridges. I had never been outside the city and was blown away by how beautiful the area was. [...]
When we arrived at the Demetria Estate Winery, I was convinced we were no longer in California. This gorgeous winery transported me to a villa in Tuscany with sweeping views of the vine-covered hills and an outdoor tasting area where visitors are encouraged to linger, sip wine, and soak up the beautiful scenery. Demetria Estate [...]
Often it's the people you meet on wine trips that you remember just as much as the wine. This was certainly the case with Brian Benson Cellars. Since second generation winemaker Brian Benson is the only employee at his winery, there is a very good chance he'll be the one pouring for you at his [...]
My first experience with Chronic Cellars happened many miles from the sprawling vineyards of Paso Robles. We were up in Mammoth Mountain enjoying a tasty apres snowboarding dinner at a restaurant called Petras Wine Bar & Bistro. I noticed a white wine on the menu called La Muneca (meaning "the doll") from Chronic Cellars that [...]
On a recent trip to Paso Robles, I finally got to try the wines of Booker Vineyard. I've been reading reviews on Booker for years and couldn't wait to taste the wines myself. Booker produces very limited quantities of their wines, which are known to sell out fast. Very fast. In fact, the only way [...]
Tucked up in the hills of Napa Valley at the end of an unpaved, rocky road where I dare to guess very few - if any - wine tour buses or limousines have ever ventured lie the wine caves of Road 31. Here in rented space in these remote caves, artisan winemaker Kent Fortner hand [...]
Wine-ding Road 