Get Sideways at World of Pinot Noir with a Dusty Nabor PN from SB’s Sta Rita Hills AVA
You’re invited to get Sideways the first weekend of March at World of Pinot Noir held annually at the beachside Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara and immerse yourself in Pinot Noir from the U.S, France, New Zealand, Chile, Spain, Austria, Australia, Germany and more. Of course I don’t mean to literally get Sideways and dunk yourself in a pool of pinot, but with thousands of wines being poured over the weekend of February 29–March 2, 2024, certainly there’s plenty of pinot noir to taste over the weekend with more than 250 producers pouring pinot during two grand tastings, four seminars, four dinners, four lunches, and more.
Bruce Freeman outside the Clos des Amis winery in 2021
Over twenty five years ago, Wall Street journalists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher realized there was a problem common to many wine lovers: they would hold on to special bottles waiting for that very special occasion to open it up. This is a problem because not all wines are built to age and not everyone has proper storage for their wine meaning that the wines can go bad before they are enjoyed. So the couple invented one of the first “wine holidays” — and named the final Saturday in February “Open That Bottle Night.” About that same time, Bruce Freeman was experimenting with wine making in his Ramona Street garage located off Ventura Avenue in Westside Ventura using fruit he helped farm and people gave him in exchange for a case or two of the completed wine. A professional artist and an inventive person Continue reading →
2021 Samuel Louis Smith, Sandstone Terrace Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains; watercolor table by Sam Smith
In 2014 as a micro-négociant, Sam Smith started his own label Samuel Louis Smith Wines which focuses on higher elevation, cool climate, organic sources. Smith’s unusual path to winemaking started in Bakersfield, where he grew up making art, and learning languages. He continued studying French and Spanish at UC Santa Barbara, but a semester in Bordeaux taught him about wine; later he completed the UC Davis winemaking certificate. He’s worked in wineries around the world including some famous ones in the Rhone, and his day job is as the winemaker at organic Morgan in the Santa Lucia Hills working with owner and founder Dan Lee. His father helps with financial aspects of his business, and Sam Smith does the art for his SLS labels himself. I interviewed him for Slow Wine Guide; while he waxed poetic he was waxing the corks. Here are some excerpts from our conversation. Continue reading →
In the heart of winter, and in between storms, we dream of sunny summer days, and being home on the range or at least Rhone Rangers. Three upcoming events help us achieve our Rhone Ranger dreams at least. First, if you keep reading, you’ll find we have three Rhone wines from Kukkula which will be pouring at Sunday’s Rhone Rangers Experience event in Paso Robles; more details below. We also celebrate one of the original Rhone Rangers, Fred Cline, with two of his wines in this article. And everyone can get in on the Rhone action tomorrow because Friday February 16 is Syrah Day. Finally, keep in mind that Hospice du Rhone which is usually held in April in Paso Robles this year will be in Walla Walla, Washington. Continue reading →
Lustau East India Solera Cream Sherry and “pop tarts”
You probably know by now that sweet treats do not meet cute with dry wines whether red, white, orange, rose, or sparkling. But sherry? Sherry loves just about everything! Girl Scout cookies and wine? Sherry! Halloween candy and wine? Sherry! Valentine’s Day desserts? Sherry, the fortified wine made from white grapes grown in Jerez, Southern Spain comes in several styles, and oloroso or cream sherry is the one you want for dessert. Continue reading →
The Selin Cellars label is eye catching — especially at this Valentine’s time of year. A heart is immediately apparent, and then a glass inside the heart, and finally, wine in the glass. When you look more closely you’ll see the glass is made from two hands “cupping” a tear drop. When I asked owner and winemaker Peter Selin about the label, he explained that he wanted an homage to his mentor and “brother from another mother” Chris Taddei of Taddei Family Wines and Super Sonoman.
“The heart represents the passion and love that goes into the wine and our families and the heart is open at the top and bottom to allow that love to flow in and out of the process and our lives,” says Peter.
MONTE CRISTO Menu for 6 Rosé Wines from California
For a dozen Rosés for Valentines and Galentines, we have a gorgeous bouquet of pink wines for you to try! But how to choose? While there may be a tendency to think pink wine is all the same pale color and character, there is a range of hues determined by the grape and winemaking techniques– and not all Rosés are in a clear bottle to show off the color since clear bottles don’t protect the fragile liquid within as well as dark ones. Just like with red wines, different grapes and winemaking provide a range of colors, textures, and flavors for your Rosé bouquet. Continue reading →
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 