Category: Two Strings
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Going Native: Four California Zins that Somms Love to Drink
Zinfandel is the third most popular grape grown in California, a wine predictably offered by the glass in most restaurants and a dozen examples can be found in most grocery store aisles. But if you ask most somms to rank it among their preferred varieties, it probably would not rank in the top five. Most […]
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#savelugana: Beautiful Wines of Northern Italy
While attending the WBC 2018 in Walla Walla, Washington, I had the pleasure of experiencing wines of a region over 5,400 miles away – Lugana DOC, Italy. The Turbiana grape is a white grape that is related to the more well-known Italian grapes of Trebbiano and Verdicchio. It is grown just south of scenic Lake […]
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On the Edge: Pinot Noir from the West Sonoma Coast
The wines from the West Sonoma Coast are very special. They possess an elegance that is found in only the most serious Pinot Noirs from California. Their flavor profile leads with floral fruit – not overly sweet or ripe, but aromatic, delicate, and smoothly balanced with confident acid. If you explore where these wines are […]
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California’s Best Pinot Noir: Explore Anderson Valley
One of the aspects of California wine I enjoy the most is the variety of wine produced in the state. You can go from hot and flat AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) that produce fruit-forward deep reds to high-elevation spots with a cooler climate for growing austere white wines. For every wine lover out there, there […]
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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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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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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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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 […]