No matter where one finds oneself in California, one senses a movement to eat locally and consume wine locally.   This concept, while increasingly popular is largely rooted in common sense.   Produce simply tastes better when the time lapse from “vine to dine” is as small as possible.    While Northern Californians often like to assume a […]

Throughout the summer and fall, articles have appeared seemingly left and right pondering the outcome of the 2010 growing season and what it will mean for Napa Valley wines.   Residents, hospitality staff and winemakers alike sat and nibbled their fingernails in nervous anticipation of 2010 harvest and collectively shivered through an unseasonably chilly summer.   While […]

This past week Napa Valley has received the gift of unseasonably warm temperatures with seemingly never ending warm rays of sun.   The leaves on the grape vines have peaked and in certain American Cultural Areas (“AVAs”) such as Yountville and Carneros, autumnal colors literally carpet the landscape.   Wandering in among the vines, (as depicted in […]

Of course the answer to the title of this week’s article is “yes”.   Your eyes did not deceive you.   Italy, despite its prowess with all things Sangiovese and Super-Tuscan, does grow grapes specifically to produce Burgundy style red wines.  Before you race to your corner wine shop ready to stump the local clerk or armed […]

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 […]