Often I will mention that autumn is my favorite time to feature and drink Cabernet Sauvignon but an equal front runner is winter.  If you have been reading my articles over the past few years, rarely will I feature the Cabernet Sauvignon that is presently for sale in the winery’s tasting room as I like […]

Cabernet Sauvignon is a varietal in Napa Valley that is simply king of the valley.   Certainly there are countless other varietals that do well here, but it is the combination of soil and climate that allows this grape to flaunt its thick skin and show what it is made of.  The grape is perhaps the […]

Petite Sirah is one of those grapes that many wine drinkers find obscure but for those who know California wine well, they know that this varietal nearly finds a native home in Northern California and that it captivates the consumer and vintner alike.  The grape originally was introduced in 1884 from France into California as […]

The obvious answer is grapes.  A vineyard, however, is so much more as it ties to a specific place, a specific soil composition and a specific climate.   Those elements combined with the skilled hand of an artful winemaker can produce a bottle of wine that is so unique that you will recognize that vineyard’s fruit […]

  Over the course of the past three years, I have made a concentrated effort to pair wines largely from family-owned wineries in Napa Valley with quality cuisine that is casually manageable in the home kitchen.  This is the heartbeat of the culture of California cuisine and California wine.  The two go hand in hand, […]