Napa Valley wineries

Article: John Alban on the Evolution of Hospice du Rhone and Surge in Rhone Variety Popularity

This is part two of my interview with John Alban of Alban Vineyards...

Article: Drink to Africa's Health

On Sunday, May 6, the Charles Krug-Peter Mondavi Sr. Family Winery will host a benefit wine auction and concert. Proceeds will go to the Foundation...

Article: 2009 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Syrah Napa Valley

Cornerstone’s Stepping Stone label is intended to offer wines that are ready to drink upon release but don't compromise regional and varietal typicity. The 2009...

Article: 2010 Alpha Omega Syrah Krupp Brothers Vineyard Napa Valley

Alpha Omega first opened the doors of their hip yet inviting

Article: 2009 Tudal Tractor Shed Red

Tudal Winery is an old-timer compared to most Napa Valley wineries. Its start came in 1974 when Arnold Tudal and his...

Article: 2009 Pride Mountain Vineyards Syrah Sonoma County

Pride Mountain Vineyards sits atop Spring Mountain. Both the winery and it’s vineyards straddle the Napa-Sonoma County line. In fact, Pride has two separate production facilities, two sets of b...

Article: Premiere Napa Valley 2012 in Photos

Premiere Napa Valley 2012 took place on February 25 at the Culinary Institute of America's Greystone Campus in St....

Article: Wrap Up on the Antonio Galloni Interviews

My in-depth interview with Antonio Galloni was published in three parts this week. (

Article: In-Depth Interview with Antonio Galloni, Part 3

In case you missed them, here are

Article: An Exclusive, In-Depth Interview with Antonio Galloni of Wine Advocate

Antonio Galloni became a key contributor at Robert Parker's The...

Article: New Wines and Intriguing Blends from ZAP 2012

I attended the 2012 ZAP Grand Tasting on January 28. It was a good event. There were more than 200 wineries on hand, almost all of them pouring multiple wines. The new...

Article: Delicious Bites and Sips from the ZAP Epicuria Food and Wine Pairing Evening

When sommeliers talk about wines that pair well with food, Zinfandel doesn’t usually make the top ten list. Nonetheless, there are many foods for which it’s a great...

Article: 2009 Black Sears Estate Zinfandel Howell Mountain

Black Sears is a Howell Mountain vineyard and winery. Its owners, Joyce Black and Jerre Sears purchased...

Article: 15 Wine Events for Friday through Sunday, January 20 - 22, 2012

We've had beautiful weather for months it seems. Now, it's finally getting cold and a trifle damp. That has me feeling crabby. Dungeness crabby to be exact. Wineries appear to be feeling it...

Article: Get Ready for ZAP! 2012, January 26 - 28

ZAP!, the annual festival that celebrates Zinfandel wine, will be painting the town purple January 26 -...

Article: 20+ Wine Events for the Weekend, January 13 - 15, 2012

Now that all the New Year's hoopla is over and the consequent hangovers are past, Northern California wineries are celebrating winter. Those wineries that don't have snow — and most d...

Article: 09 Meiomi Pinot Noir, 09 Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir and 08 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon

Yesterday I reviewed three...

Article: Kick Off the New Year with these Wine Events this Weekend

This weekend is actually a little quiet due to remaining bowl games, lingering fatigue and New Year's resolutions involving abstinence. So, you can ease your way into 2012. Frankly,...

Article: 7 New Year’s Resolutions for Expanding Your Wine Horizons

New Year’s resolutions are often made but rarely kept. They are usually positive goals we create to improve ourselves or our lives. But resolutions frequently involve stopping behavior that...

Article: Spotlight on the Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA

The Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA became effective  on November 28, 2011. It is a 4,570-acre region, roughly two-thirds of which is in southern...