Last week, we took a quick spin through Napa Valley. This week, we continue our Passport to Wine series with a visit to Napa Valley’s Big Brother to the west, Sonoma County. I say “big” because Sonoma is about 75% larger by land mass than Napa Valley and includes several specifically distinctive appellations, including a dry inland region and a coastal region. So, we’ll tackle Sonoma Valley in two parts, beginning this week with a few of the more notable wineries around the bucolic city of Healdsburg.
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Last week, I wrote an online column recommending wine pairings for Thanksgiving. Many of my well-thought out wine recommendations were in the $15 per bottle price range. However, after reading some of the online comments, I came to two conclusions; first, I have a thick skin. Second, many people would like to see recommendations for wines in the $10-or-less range.
Thanksgiving is by far and away our favorite holiday since Cindy and I get an opportunity to spend the day together cooking great food and then sharing it with family and friends. But it is the same wonderful food that can also cause a little heartburn when it comes to selecting the right wine to enjoy with dinner. The traditional Thanksgiving meal includes so many different types of dishes that end up competing for space on your plate and on your palate.
After returning to a democracy and free market economy in the 1980s, it was – as if out of nowhere – that Chile re-entered the international wine scene.
Next Tuesday is Veteran’s Day, a time to pay tribute to and honor those who served in our country’s military service. Many Americans will find ways to celebrate and remember the sacrifices made on our behalf by those in uniform in a manner that’s personal and meaningful.
Finding a good wine for Halloween isn’t always easy. A spooky label is a good start — and there are plenty of wines we can recommend with spooky labels. And while these labels may look scary, but there is no trick to these delicious wines. A treat, to be sure.
I have hand selected four wines that represent a phenomenal value for French wine – and all of them have two things in common: First, they are all forty dollars. Second, they all drink like wines that cost twice the price.
The red wines from the renowned appellation of Chateauneuf du Pape (literally “New Home of the Pope”), located in the Côtes du Rhône region of southern France, are legendary for being both fabulous and fickle. Fabulous, because the flavors, depth and complexity these wines are capable of achieving can provide you with one of the most memorable wine experiences you’re likely to have. Fickle, because trying to figure out exactly at what age the wines will provide that experience can drive you nuts.
