I’m a sucker for quaint, vintage architecture, especially when it’s poised in beautiful gardens and vineyards. We found exactly that at Blue Farm. While it was the wine that brought us here, the fabulous property was a surprise bonus. Anne Moller-Racke is the amazing woman behind the wine. She founded Donum and brought it to the world class level it is today before planting 7 … Continue reading Perfectly Picturesque
Just a short update…… Through Covid picking up releases has been pretty darn boring – No tasting, no socializing. This spring they’re back and it was fun to have Morgan Twain-Peterson pouring for us. Everyone showing up for pickup seemed relieved and delighted to get to have an interchange once again with the winemaker and wine friends while tasting the new releases. Of special note … Continue reading Spring Pickup at Bedrock
Napa has a handful of wineries that are as old as the hills. Larkmead is one of those wineries. Its history is as remarkable as its wines. Larkmead is located on the valley floor just south of Calistoga. 110 acres of planted vineyards are on the property as well as facilities for making the wine, storage and wine tasting. It’s a gorgeous property. After a … Continue reading An Institution
When you truly enjoy wine and visit the wine country for decades it is hard to resist the desire to make it home. We did and we love it. However, some who move here plunge in a bit deeper and take on the challenge of wine making. Laurie & Dean Gray along with partner Steve Nordhoff did just that and started Riverain Vineyards in Rutherford, … Continue reading Riverain
There is a new complex in Healdsburg off Westside Road that is quietly opening this summer called Bacchus Landing. We stopped in last week to have a look. There isn’t much signage in or around the facility to direct you but there are in fact a few businesses open and happy to see visitors. In the huge and empty courtyard of Bacchus Landing we met … Continue reading New in Healdsburg
This is an excellent read on a very unusual year for California wines…….. These wines, which make up a case, are not only delicious — they tell the story of what happened with wine in this tumultuous year. By Esther Mobley | Dec. 15, 2020 | Updated: Dec. 16, 2020 2020 has been an earth-shattering year for the American wine world. And it would have been even without the … Continue reading 12 California Wines That Define 2020
Armida Winery has one of my favorite Sonoma views. It’s set on a hillside off Westside Road just south of Healdsburg. Their view is across the vineyards of the Dry Creek Valley, past “J” and Rodney Strong Vineyards to Chalk Hill, Fountaingrove, and in the far distance, Mt. St Helena. It’s gorgeous and the perfect spot to relax, open a bottle of their wine and … Continue reading Armida
We don’t really need an excuse to go tasting but in this instance it was kind of celebratory. Our daughter was visiting and finally done with a self imposed quarantine so a day out seemed like a perfect reward. Bedrock Wine Company was our first appointment. I’ve written about Bedrock previously (link to post) but not about tasting at their facility in the town of … Continue reading 2 Steps Back……..
East of Sacramento in the foothills of the Sierra Mountain Range is gold country. In the 1840s the precious metal was discovered there. The area quickly prospered through the gold rush. At the same time vineyards were planted and wine was produced. The gold ran dry before the end of the century but the Zinfandel vines have endured. This is a terrific, scenic part of … Continue reading Gold Country!
August 2020 – A Paravel UPDATE – We had the pleasure of having Jon Jones join us for a birthday dinner celebration in Santa Rosa. Jon brought his wines to pair and share making the dinner and the evening one exceptional event. Jon poured his 2019 Mendocino Poor Ranch VYD Old Vine Zinfandel Rosé while he told us the fantastic story of how he discovered … Continue reading “Music to your Mouth”
John's Wine Cellar 