wine predator………….. gwendolyn alley

on the prowl for wine, food & adventure est. 2008

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Daily Archives: December 17, 2020

December 17, 2020

Rastaban: Legendary Biodynamic Brooks Pinot Noir Paired with Duck

4 Rastaban

I’m here to tell you today about a Pinot Noir named Rastaban. But first I have to tell you about Hera and the legend of Ladon the Dragon. Continue reading →

Thank you for commenting & sharing! Cheers!

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Wine Predator Gwendolyn Alley, winner JancisRobinson.com 2022 Wine Writing Contest

WINNER, Jancis Robinson Wine Writing Contest
FIELD COORDINATOR, Slow Wine Guide
MEMBER, US WINE TASTING TEAM
GRADUATE, VinItaly Wine Ambassador Course

After starting my Art Predator blog November 2007, I began Wine Predator and attended the First Wine Bloggers Conference in Sonoma in 2008, followed by the second in 2009.

In November 2009, I went to the European Wine Bloggers Conference then to the Alentejo Region of Portugal on a wine tour sponsored by Enoforum WInes.

In 2010, I won a scholarship to attend the Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla as well as a pre-conference trip to learn more about Washington wine.

In 2011, I explored by VW van the wine regions of the Northwest: Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Northern California. I also spoke about wine and food pairing at the International Food Bloggers Conference in Santa Monica.

In 2012, I participated in the Wine Bloggers Conference in Portland where I gave an Ignite!Wine presentation.

In 2013 I won a scholarship to attend the Wine Bloggers Conference in Penticton, Canada; I also participated in a press trip to Lake Chelan, Washington.

In 2014, I attended WBC14 in Santa Barbara and the Wine Tourism Conference in Paso Robles, CA.

In 2015, I continued my wine education by attending numerous industry events in LA as well as participating in various online tasting events with wines from around the world.

In 2016, I presented at both the International Food Bloggers Conference in Sacramento and the Wine Bloggers Conference in Lodi (where I was the concluding speaker of the conference).

In 2017, I published over 100 posts, many with an emphasis on food and wine pairings. I attended the International Food Bloggers Conference in Sacramento and the Wine Bloggers Conference in Santa Rosa. Press trips took me to LA, Lodi, San Luis Obispo, Napa, Lake, El Dorado, and Mendocino counties.

In 2018, in addition to attending industry wine events in LA, I joined the LA Wine Writers group for luncheons and a week long press trip to Oregon. With help from Sue Hill, I published almost 100 articles.

In February 2019, I graduated from the VinItaly Italian Wine Ambassador Course in LA.

In July 2019, Sue Hill and I competed in the US Wine Tasting Championships. Our second place finish put us on the US Wine Tasting Team to compete in France in October 2019.

In 2020, I participated in many ZOOM tastings with wines from around the world, I attended the virtual Wine Media Conference, and we published over 150 blog posts.

In 2021, I joined the Slow Wine Guide team of writers covering regions in the Sierra Foothills, Lodi, the California Central Coast, and Southern Oregon. In August 2021, I presented at the Wine Media Conference in Eugene, OR.

In 2022, I again served on the Slow Wine Guide team. In September 2022, I won the 2022 Jancis Robinson Wine Writing Contest. In October 2022, I spoke about and moderated a panel about Slow Food and Slow Wine in Lombardy, Italy. I also attended the 43rd OIV Congress in Baja, California.

We publish, on average, two blog posts a week with most of them featuring food and wine pairings as well as tasting notes and information about the winery.

Areas of interest and expertise include biodynamic wine, regenerative agriculture, food, travel, geography, and culture. I have undergraduate degrees in Literature/Creative Writing and Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz, and graduate degrees in Education, English, and Ecopsychology; I teach writing at the college level. Sue Hill has a degree in Liberal Studies and a Masters in School Administration; she's an administrator and a teacher at an elementary school.

Who knows where we will prowl next? You can reach me by email: gwendolynalley AT yahoo DOT com.

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I found a new friend Kelly Michelle Costello! We found the most fun place to stay in Rome— Mancini Shabby House & Spa Roma!! Will share more on that soon! We found our host owner Silvio at Osteria degli stolti — and we had dinner there too! So good! And we found a local Lazio wine from Kora of Nero Buono grapes to love!
Late lovely lunch at Clotilde with Lugana winemaker Giovanna Prandini and her family. Located near the Parthenon, The restaurant plans to carry her wines — her sparkling would be so goooood with these regional specialties: fried artichokes in a mint cream sauce with nutmeg and bacon!! Omg ! And then their cacio de Pepe has spirals of fried zucchini! The square pasta is made fresh in house. Just wow. Went with a white wine blend with Malvasia and trebbiano from
Rome is in the region of Lazio which is not as well known for wine as other areas. However, on the flight ftom LAX to Rome yesterday, I sat next to an Italian film director who suggested I look for wines that say Castelli Romani. I went to local grocery store and I found them! I went with a different wine however for my late lunch early dinner yesterday at the hostel on our little balcony. Then I had some Roman style pizza here at the hostel--they have gatherings here most night with free food and affordable beverages! I had an aperol spritz for $5. This hostel is very clean, and everyone is so nice! Just wish they had room for me for tonight too! Still sorting that out.
Saw a bunch of fountains mostly functioning.
On my way to Rome! Packed plane for a 12 hour flight! Thanks Claudia Miklas for the ride to LAX and for the photos! Ps I’m the only one in a mask…
Focus on fun food pairings with Japanese inspired and influenced cocktails and cuisine plus a sense of the place… comfortable yet a bit outlandish. Strange Beast — Definitely a restaurant to experience! Also amazingly extended hours. Too often everyone else is is closed! They keep the kitchen open late! Perfect for people in the service industry, travelers, or locals out late and looking for satisfying sustanence. Inspired and exciting flavors, check them out!

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RSS Art Predator: on the prowl for that which engages the whole soul

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  • about wine predator aka gwendolyn alley
    • European Wine Bloggers Conference & Portugal Wine Trip 2009
    • links
    • North American Wine Bloggers Conferences: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016; International Food Bloggers Conferences: 2011, 2016
      • European Wine Bloggers Conference 2009
      • WBC 2008
      • WBC 2009
      • WBC 2010
      • WBC-Or-Bust: WA Wines
    • NW Wine Road Trip 2011
    • Wine Staycation 2008
  • best of…
  • sample policy

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