I usually know what I want to drink with any particular dish I am eating. I say usually. Occasionally I either can’t quite figure out what would be best, or I just plain don’t care! This often happens when I grill a great burger and want a nice red to accompany it. Lately I have [...]

Schramsberg long ago established themselves as the preeminent California Champagne maker with such offerings as their Reserve and J Schram bottlings. The new Mirabelle Brut Rose NV continues the streak of great wines, just with a significantly lower price. A rosé with serious intentions, this has a delicate pink hue and floral strawberry and spicy [...]

Last week, the boss (read: wife) and I hosted a wine tasting at the house for a few close friends. We only stipulated under $30 and red….cold and rainy, no whites allowed. As often happens, we ultimately ended up with 6 Cabernets, and our Spanish blend (our friends do love their cabs). Lo and behold, [...]

David Ramey is one of the founding fathers of modern Napa and Sonoma winemaking. Having help establish Chalk Hill, Dominus, and Rudd Estate, he was an early champion and developer of indigenous California yeasts. He applies all this knowledge to his own line of wines now, with nary a miss in any. Take the Ramey [...]

Last night I had the pleasure of drink the best bottle of Chardonnay in my wine drinking life! I will set the stage a bit…I made a fantastic Blue Cheese/Onion soup with a very ripe Stilton. To go with the soup, I found a fun recipe for a fancy 3-cheese, roasted tomato, oven-bake, triple-decker sandwich [...]

Time for a  fun white. The second you glance at the bottle you know you are getting into something light-hearted when you pick up a bottle of Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc. From the pastel colors to the lemons on the label (appropriate) to the twist top, this bottle feels like a summer picnic. Luckily it is [...]

Sterling Vineyards Pinot Noir Vintners Collection 2007 is a great little value Pinot Noir from a fine, established wine maker. Clear deep ruby, with complex, vibrant varietal aromas of briar fruit and ripe black cherries, with hints of vanilla. The fruit jumps out of the glass, with big black cherry flavors from entry to finish. [...]