Guess who is a nominee for the Wine Travel Awards? (Hint: Vote Gwendolyn Alley!)
Big news, friends and fans of Wine Predator! I’m nominated for the 2024 Wine Travel Awards in the Wine and Food Influencer category of “The Brightest Journey”! Public voting is open from now until March 31st, and I would be so grateful if you could take a minute to vote for me. It’s fast, it’s easy and it’s here: just click the link to my profile where you can vote for me.
Paradise in Tuscany: Organic Farming at Antonella Manulli’s Fattoria La Maliosa
“During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the courageous women who have helped our Nation build a fairer, more just society,” asserts President Joe Biden in his 2024 Women’s History Month proclamation. “Throughout history, the vision and achievements of powerful women have strengthened our Nation and opened the doors of opportunity wider for all of us. Though their stories too often go untold, all of us stand on the shoulders of these sung and unsung trailblazers.” In conclusion, he proclaims that he calls “upon all Americans to observe this month and to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.”
Here on Wine Predator, this March we will once again focus on women in wine, stories told and untold, sung and unsung, contemporary and historic, here in the United States, and from Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, and Portugal! Continue reading
Get Sideways at World of Pinot Noir with a Dusty Nabor PN from SB’s Sta Rita Hills AVA
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
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 