Sangiovese derives its name from the Latin —Sanguis Jovis— meaning “the blood of Jove”. A mainstay of Italy, it’s a medium-bodied dry red wine with a range of flavors that include red cherry, black plum, sun-dried tomato, cigar box, black tea, smoke, anise, and thyme; great acidity and a nice level of spiciness typify it. […]
What’s in a name? Many wineries bear the name of their founder, like Frick, Foppiano or Trentadue. Others are named for a region or landmark, like Alexander Valley Vineyards, Dry Creek Vineyard, Russian River Vineyards or Mill Creek Vineyards & Winery. Then there are those names that make you wonder, what’s the story? Here are […]
Port style and Late Harvest wines have sweeter profiles than other wines. Port, is traditionally made with Portuguese grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz. Alcohol, usually grape brandy, is added during fermentation, which fortifies the wine. Late harvest wines are made from grapes high in brix/sugar content that are left […]
Here are the top 10 reasons to attend the Wine Road’s Barrel Tasting, the weekend of Friday, March 3rd through Sunday, March 5th. Reason 1 – Rare Opportunity This is a rare opportunity to taste and learn about wines being served directly from the barrel. Some wineries will also be pouring a previous bottled vintage […]
Sparkling wines are not just for holidays and celebrations, they make a fine choice for everyday meals and pair exceptionally well with a variety of foods. Sparkling wines come in a range of sweetness levels the most popular style is Brut with less than half a gram of sugar per glass. Extra Brut and Brut […]
Ready to experience a fabulous winter wine tasting along the Wine Road? Then it’s time to buy your tickets to the Wine Road’s 30th Annual Winter Wineland event! As I reviewed this year’s program, I was struck by how lucky I am to live here and be able to attend the Wine Road events. Why […]
Trying to find the perfect holiday gifts can put a damper on the spirit of the season. Once I figured out that wine was the best gift for almost everyone on my list, the holidays got a lot easier. Still not convinced? Let me share some ideas with you! Business to Business Gifts How many […]
Viognier is a full-bodied white wine originally from the Northern Rhone Valley in France. Viognier differs depending on the climate be it cool or warm. Cool climate wines tend towards bright citrus notes, while warm climate wines exhibit deeper floral notes and ripe stone fruit flavors. Depending on the style, California Viognier can walk the […]
Warm sunny days and crisp cool evenings signal the waning of summer and the magic of autumn arriving. October along the Wine Road means stunning colors in the vineyards, a few less people as summer vacations come to an end, and the quality of light in the late afternoons makes for picture perfect photographs. Besides […]
Gewürztraminer is a medium body, dry white wine lighter than a Chardonnay and heavier than a Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigo. Gewürz means spice in German and the grape hails from Alsace the French wine region bordering Germany. It’s a cool climate grape that exhibits great aromatics and texture with refreshing spicy flavors such as lychee, passion […]