Red wine:  there are so many varietals and so many personal preferences.  Yet if red wine has one common denominator it is that it is good, pure and simple.   Whether your preference is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Pinot Noir or other varietals, when red wine grapes are made into a blend, the wine has the […]

Cooler temperatures continue to taunt the Bay Area this month as the wind whips residents into shape and renders them fully cognizant that summer is two months away.    While residents long for warmer temperatures, the late wintery spring rains have seemingly subsided and have allowed the sun to cast its rays upon Napa Valley.   With […]

No matter where one finds oneself in California, one senses a movement to eat locally and consume wine locally.   This concept, while increasingly popular is largely rooted in common sense.   Produce simply tastes better when the time lapse from “vine to dine” is as small as possible.    While Northern Californians often like to assume a […]

Pair take-out with sparkling wine.   It flat out does not get any more casual than this.  Before any devout winos recoil in horror, let me qualify that statement to say that such a pairing should embody a degree of culinary thoughtfulness.  In the early articles of this web publication, I paired Mexican cuisine with sparkling […]

For those who love Cabernet Sauvignon, sometimes the palate longs for variation yet not deviation from the strong nature of the varietal.   If you seek a red wine that still maintains the stoically strong backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon yet offers a unique spicy suppleness, look no farther than a Cab-Syrah. Hall Winery, located in St. […]