Vinotastr kits with the 1-2-3-4 strips shown plus the front of the instructions.
Wine Tasting Tips Vinotastr: Defining your Palate Preferences

A visit to a wine bar or wine shop can be daunting with what appear to be endless choices. You know you like red wine, but not all red wines. You’ve often wished there was a way to figure out what you like without randomly buying bottle after bottle until you find the wines you […]

Rebecca Germolus / Nov 16, 2023
Recipes written large on an open book with various ingredients forming a frame around the open book.
Pairings In Pursuit of the Perfect Recipe (and Pairing)

My husband and I love to cook, and are always scouting for new recipes, especially those that pair well with wine. But websites that don’t bombard you with pop-up ads and other annoyances are increasingly hard to find. However, I can recommend two terrific ad-free recipe resources: the Wine Road Podcast and the Wine Road […]

Rebecca Germolus / Aug 2, 2022
Varietal of the Month Sauvignon Blanc: Varietal of the Month

Widely planted and universally loved, Sauvignon Blanc is well known for it’s spiky, lively acidity. Flavors range from lean, green and grassy to creamy with notes of passion fruit and fleshy peach depending on climate and how the wine is aged be it in stainless steel or oak.  Zesty, zippy and zingy –Sauvignon Blanc has swing […]

Marcy Gordon / Feb 18, 2022
Malbec on the wine road
Varietal of the Month Malbec: Varietal of the Month

Malbec originated in the Cahors region of France and is one of the building blocks of Boudreaux blends. But Argentina is where the grape developed it’s following and found it’s place in the foothills of the Andes and high elevations sub regions of Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. If you like Cab Franc, […]

Marcy Gordon / Nov 19, 2021
Zinfandel bottles lined-up against a toy fire truck
Varietal of the Month Zinfandel: Varietal of the Month

It’s getting hot in here! So let’s open up all the Zin’s! Although Zinfandel originated in Croatia where it’s known as Tribidrag—the grape is embraced as All-American and has been grown and cultivated in California since the 1800’s. This medium-bodied dry red wine has a range of flavors that include raspberry, blueberry, red and black […]

Marcy Gordon / Jul 2, 2020
Car Hop Wine Shop web page
Wineries Reconnect to Wine Country

Ready to reconnect to Wine Country? Is your wine supply a bit depleted after weeks of sheltering in place, aka SIP? I’ve found my wine cellar is missing many of my favorites after the holidays, and now weeks of SIPping at home. My plans to stock up got put on hold when I couldn’t visit […]

Rebecca Germolus / May 5, 2020
Bottles of Rose wine lined up on a bench with a white lily in the background
Varietal of the Month Rosé: Wine of the Month

Strawberries cherries and an angel’s kiss in springMy summer wine is really made from all these things Those are the opening lines to Nancy Sinatra’s song, Summer Wine written by Lee Hazlewood. And how apt the lyrics are in capturing the essence of Rosé. Fresh, bright, fruity and floral it’s the raison d’être for the […]

Marcy Gordon / Apr 14, 2020
Grenache bottles on a fence with flowers in the background
Varietal of the Month Grenache: Varietal of the Month

Grenache or Granacha as it’s known in Spain, is a medium bodied red wine with moderate acidity, and bright red fruit and strawberry flavors. The tannin structure can range from light and smooth to more pronounced and firm depending on the climate in which it is grown. Grenache is a wonderful and versatile varietal all […]

Marcy Gordon / Mar 24, 2020
petite sirah bottles on a glass table with wth a green rug in the background
Varietal of the Month Petite Sirah: Varietal of the Month

While Petite Sirah might sound like a diminutive version of Syrah, it’s a distinct variety also known as Petite Syrah or Durif, named for the French botanist Dr. François Durif. Petite Sirah is not a hybrid but true Vitis Vinifera — its parents are Peloursin and Syrah.

Marcy Gordon / Sep 28, 2019
bottles with trees in background
Varietal of the Month Gewürztraminer: Varietal of the Month

Are you stuck in a white wine rut? Do you stick to the tried and true Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris, with perhaps a Riesling here and there? If so, it’s time to expand your white wine horizons and Gewürztraminer is a delicious place to start. Gewürztraminer is a medium body, dry white wine […]

Marcy Gordon / Sep 3, 2019