Tag: Sonoma
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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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Spellbound by the West Sonoma Coast
Extreme winds, sea salt air, blanketing fog, rocky cliffs, orange sunsets, and clear view stars. Vast, remote, singular. These are the words that come to mind when I think about the winemakers I met at the West of West Sonoma Coast WSC tasting in Washington, DC. Each one carried the vineyard with them; they were…
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Carneros spotlight: Sonoma’s Etude Winery
Straddling both Napa and Sonoma counties, Carneros AVA grows some of the most concentrated Pinot Noirs in California. Often more voluminous in flavor than their Coastal counterparts, Carneros Pinot Noir typically has a deep berry (red cherry) flavor, hint of herb, and are made in a style that utilizes oak treatment to balance the intensity…
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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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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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Wine Trippin’: Plan the Perfect Wine Country Weekend
With the new year upon me, I am eager to get out of the grey cold of DC and into beautiful wine country. Hubby and I have been to northern California five times and several times to the wine region in Virginia as well. Both are stellar destinations, but I am a California girl at…
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Shop DC: Where to Buy Your Favorite Small Producers
After learning more about wine (and by learning I mean drinking), I wanted to know the story behind each glass. What was the winemaker’s philosophy, the history of the estate, or source of their grapes? As I learned more about winemaking techniques and styles (thanks Jon Bonné), I wanted to try wines from labels that…
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Turkey Time: Three Alternatives to Pinot Noir for Thanksgiving
Oh yes, now is the time for you to buy the most important part of Thanksgiving dinner – the wine, of course! Why not start there and build your meal around what’s in your glass? Pinot Noir is a classic pairing with turkey. Here’s a little bit beyond the obvious. Darting Pinot Meunier, Trocken Durkheimer…