Author: threestringswine
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Lodi’s Verdelho Three Ways
As part of my journey to discover Lodi wine at the 2016 Wine Blogger Conference, I was very fortunate to be hosted by St. Jorge Vineyards. St. Jorge is a breathtaking vineyard and estate in Lodi’s Mekolumne River AVA, which whisk you away to the Mediterranean beauty of Portugal. Vern and Jenise Vierra have been making Portuguese wine…
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Passion and Points: The Story of HALL Wines
Sometimes, Napa gets a bad rap. No, really. The world-famous valley in California, notable for producing some of the world’s most exquisite Cabernets, is sometimes talked down upon. Recently I was in an off-the-beaten-path wine region of California and a local wine producer commented that you wouldn’t find him on a beach in Hawaii cashing…
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Lodi: Where The Old World is New Again
I first heard about Lodi, California, from Jon Bonné, author of the The New California Wine (2013). Bonné highlights some of the hot winemakers making a “new” restrained version of California wines, such as Tegan Passalacqua from Turley Wines, known for making Lodi Zinfandels from some of the oldest vines in the country. While I…
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I’m Certified: The Top 3 Things I Learned From WSET 3
Having spent the better part of my weekends and evenings over the course of three months reading a British textbook devoted to wine, I wonder, what did I gain? Sure, I have a new fancy pin, and am one step closer to being a “Master of Wine,” but I’m not looking to change careers through…
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Wine and Baseball: Two of the Finest Found at AT&T Park
On our last trip to Napa (August 2015), we decided to spend one night in San Francisco to see our beloved Nationals get revenge on the Giants for the 2014 NLDS. I was excited to visit AT&T Park, located right on San Francisco Bay in the heart of downtown. And I was thrilled to watch…
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Four Cabs from Four Regions: Which Came Out on Top?
Cabernet is the “king” of grapes in many people’s opinion. Rich and intense in flavors, Cabernet Sauvignon often typifies the “international” varietal of wine, and is grown in every major wine growing country in the world. So when I read about some exciting Cabs from the new world, I had to try them and invite…
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Spring Time Wine: What to Drink Right Now
DC is simply gorgeous in the spring. After a long and grey winter, Washingtonians are watching for the precise moment the cherry blossoms will peak. I realized it was that time of year when all of the happy hour menus list some sort of “cherry blossom” inspired cocktail. In reality, cherry blossom peak is when…
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Vegas Vino: Drinking Wine in Sin City
People travel to Vegas to gamble, see a show, eat amazing food, and indulge. They don’t go to Vegas to drink wine. I didn’t see one cool, modern, well-stocked wine bar, yet Vegas has twice as many Master Sommeliers as New York City. Vegas is a mix of high-rollers willing to spend $2,000 on a…
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Paso-bilities Part II: More Wine, Coastal Hikes & a Hollywood Castle
While hubby and I really enjoyed our day tasting in Paso Robles Willow Creek AVA, no visit to California is complete without exploring the natural beauty and culture of the area. Here’s a highlight of the best of our trip: Coastal hikes. The beauty of wine tasting in Paso is that the area extends west six…
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Rhône of the Americas: Paso Robles
What’s the best way to escape DC in the doldrums of winter? Jet off to a place that is the exact opposite. Hubby and I ventured to the central coast of California for wine tastings, breathtaking hikes, and delicious food and drink. For the first day of wine tasting, I honed in on one AVA…