When I began buying wines in the early 1980’s at Square One, I remember being interested in and intrigued by Australia. It was, to the USA, relatively new in terms of being available domestically but outside of the wines of Rosemount and Lindemans, at the time, hard to track down. When regional wines began to trickle in, the Hunter Valley, perhaps due the late and great Len Evans living there and being a relentless advocate, was a first to take a toehold in the USA. And a flood of Chardonnays, seeking to sate the thirst of an emerging appetite for Chardonnay in the USA, led. The wines were good and occasionally very good but not life changing stuff. I put them aside, in my mind’s palate, and ultimately moved on to other areas that would follow and that were, to me, more captivating- the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Margaret River, and the Yarra Valley. Continue reading »

The more they stay the same. Or so it appears… somewhat.

Always anticipated, Restaurant Wine, a formidable on-premise publication driven and written by MS/MW Ronn Wiegand, has come out with its annual ‘Top 100’ on-premise wines and brands served. While there is some news… well, it looks pretty much the same, at least as far as who is in the rankings. Ronn takes on this ample project annually and in so doing ranks wines and brands based on total 9-liter cases consumed across the entire spectrum of American restaurants licensed to serve wine, from the casual segment to fine dining restaurants and from bars and lounges to hotel banquet departments. Continue reading »

OK, I am giving in. Somewhat reluctantly I would add too.

My giving in has to do with giving you a few key dates/locations/events that folks can come see me do the wine/food thing if they are so inclined. I am not one to advocate for myself and say ‘hey, come to my events…’ but enough folks have asked of late sooo…

with some level of modesty…

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I find myself driving from San Francisco down the 101 South, past Gilroy a few times a year, usually on my way to Monterey for some event or another. As I pass by the larger-than-life sign for ‘Garlic World’ I am perennially reminded of this small city’s true claim to fame- the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, an epicurean ode to all things garlic- wine to ice cream and just about anything else in-between.

On a recent radio appearance, I was chatting on air with a caller who said that this fete was an annual pilgrimage and asked what wineries in the area I would visit. OK, so I must admit that I have never made the stop at Rapazzini Winery for garlic wine and have blown by the San Martin winery without so much as slowing down. Nothing to say and/or pleading no contest. So, I had little to reply less informing the listener of the need for continuing south and heading for one of Monterey County’s many estates. Continue reading »

I have to say that I was both troubled and frustrated by a recent article I read about the state of the state in Champagne, France. This part of the world, about 90 miles northeast of Paris, is home to what is arguably the world’s most revered if not most cherished bubbly and the de rigueur accompaniment to most all great celebrations globally. Being a delimited area, there’s a supply and demand factor surrounding pricing which ebbs and flows based on a few factors including, the world economy, what there is or isn’t to celebrate and… well, maybe just a little bit of greed? Read on… Continue reading »