Two more Santa Barbara County producers I visited last month whose wines greatly impressed me possess winemakers who are highly respected by their peers.
With the new developments at these three Santa Maria producers, I expect the appellation's profile will soon be rising.
Santa Barbara is making some of California's most interesting, compelling and balanced wines.
Are you looking for a versatile wine you can enjoy with all kinds of casual food? France's gigantic eastern appellation -- the Rhône -- may be a better value than you might think.
Sta. Rita Hills is definitely starting to fulfill its promise as a source of characterful, balanced and terroir-driven wines, from flavorful Chardonnay and Viognier to minerally and complex Pinot Noir and Syrah.
Here in California, a few pioneers started planting Rhône varieties in the late 1980s. So which of these Rhône grapes, or blends, do well in California?
Petite Sirah is, along with Zinfandel, one of California's heritage and most distinctive grapes. It can produce wonderfully complex, rich, black fruited wines, often with floral, blueberry, tar, licorice and peppery dimensions.
The standard joke in the wine business the past couple years has been, "What's the difference between syphilis and Syrah? You can get rid of a case of syphilis." I, for one, think it's high time that Syrah got some love.
In our series "What the Heck Is ..." we share with you foods and/or ingredients that people should know more about. This week we're bringing your atte...
I was quite disturbed to recently see a bill introduced into the Maine Legislature effectively placing ownership of tips with the owner of the establishment -- and not with the server.
Only in its second year, it seems like World Pneumonia Day might be moving from spark to blaze -- engaging governments, child health organizations and advocates in an effort to spotlight the leading killer of children.
Could getting rid of a case of wine help get rid of cases of pneumonia? This is the idea that came to me last week when New York Times wine criti...
Each year as the temps drops to unbearable lows, I take solace knowing that I can open bottle after bottle of big, warm, jammy California red wine to snuggle up with and keep me warm.
Many people think of Italian wine as Chianti Classico, but truth is, there are about 1,500 grape varieties in Italy--more than any other wine growing area in the world.
If you think pink wine is for frail old ladies who don't know anything but (gag) White Zin, it's time to think again. Rose has stealthily made a comeback over the last few years.
Since the menu is fairly eclectic between the diner fare and the dozen or so fresh fish and seafood items flown in daily, pairing was going to be a little tricky.
Since more and more people are eating organic food, it's only natural they would also want to explore organic wine.
