As June winds to an end, our days are seemingly longer accompanied by rays of light painting the sky with varied warm hues until long into the evening.   Aromas of ripening stone fruit and strawberries fill the air and the garden landscape is dotted with brightly colored blossoms of various vegetables yet to come.  Flowers [...]

Share on Facebook

Pinot Noir, the finicky red wine grape which grows well in the Burgundy region of France struggles to find its home in Napa Valley.   Taking into account that Pinot Noir grapes need warmth and moisture, there has been some success in the Carneros American Viticultural Area of Napa Valley and the majority of aficionados gravitate [...]

Share on Facebook

Memorial Day weekend looms ahead and May for many areas of the country (including Napa Valley) has been fraught with cooler temperatures and lingering rain.   Yet this week most of the country has suddenly been gripped with steamy hot summerlike temperatures and even Napa is hurrying to join such weather festivities and anticipating quickly reaching [...]

Share on Facebook

Sparkling wines and the holidays go hand in hand.    Determining which Bubbles to break out for your guests and on which holiday can be daunting, particularly if you are looking to do something a bit unique.    As Thanksgiving approaches, it is timely to remember that there is one type of sparkling that is particularly appropriate [...]

Share on Facebook

Diamond Mountain, located on the western northern end of Napa Valley on the Mayacamas Range, is one of the taller peaks bordering Napa Valley and is home to famed Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.   Diamond Mountain is a highly regarded American Viticultural Area (“AVA”) and is recognized for producing deep, expressive fruit that can hypnotize your palate [...]

Share on Facebook

Napa Valley is buzzing with activity as it prepares for Harvest.    While the wineries are harvesting grapes, residents are harvesting their vegetable gardens for heirloom tomatoes, lettuces and other vegetables.    Whether the day is spent toiling in a vineyard, crushing grapes at a winery or tending to a backyard vegetable garden, a cool glass of [...]

Share on Facebook

Ever heard that phrase “it’s an oldie, but a goodie”?    Some things in life simply transcend time:   such as, a classic vintage car on a warm August afternoon, a carefully planned picnic with time-tested recipes, roadside grape vines before harvest and a good bottle of an old vine wine.  Regardless of when you choose to [...]

Share on Facebook

Driving through the Carneros Region of Napa County easily triggers feelings of romance.    Despite the sun’s warmth on your skin, you are cooled by gentle maritime breezes, the air is tinted with aromas of ripening grapes and for as far as your eye can see, you are surrounded by rolling hills populated by endless vineyards.  [...]

Share on Facebook

Here in Napa Valley we have been experiencing a cooler than normal summer.    This week alone, our daily high temperature is approximately ten degrees cooler than average.   As any other traditional lover of summer weather, I am longing for those warm lazy days and transitioning over to drink my traditional favorite summer wines.    But today [...]

Share on Facebook