by Jamie Knee
The holidays are upon us, and it’s a time of delightful chaos. There’s the turkey to roast, gifts to hunt down, parties to attend, and family clamoring for an invite to the American Riviera for the holidays. As a local Montecito wine specialist, clients often turn to me to curate their wine pairings for festive dinners. It’s a magical time of year, and let’s be honest – the last thing you want to worry about is what wines to serve at your holiday party. As your personal sommelier, the “Petite Wine Traveler,” I’m here to ensure your holiday dinner and party wines are nothing short of pure joy. Thanksgiving, the holiday that kicks off the holiday festivities, is first up. As far as I’m concerned, this holiday, a favorite among many, deserves a sparkling start. There’s ...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
When it comes to winemaking, you may not think of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). So imagine my surprise to learn that NASA not only has an interest in the wine industry, but is actively involved in fighting wine grape disease. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory teamed up with researchers at Cornell University and elsewhere to test whether one of NASA’s pioneering optical instruments could detect a grape disease called Grapevine Leafroll virus that causes billions of dollars in annual crop damage. They used NASA’s next generation Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-NG) flown via airplane over 11,000 acres of vineyards in Lodi, California and artificial intelligence/machine learning to review the data. Lodi is a major producer of...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
Nova Scotia, Canada may not be on your radar when thinking of wine tourism. You may want to reconsider that, especially if you’re going to be in Atlantic Canada, also known as the Maritimes. Called “Canada’s Original Wine Region” because the country’s first vineyard was planted there in 1611, Nova Scotia’s wine region is an emerging wine tourism area established around 40 years ago. There are about 25 wineries, most of which are small family-run boutique places. Many of them are clustered in the Annapolis Valley, which is only about an hour from Halifax, the province’s capital, so it’s an easy day trip from that city. Nova Scotia is accessible via land, sea, and air. My mother Benita and I ventured to the wineries in Annapolis Valley as a shore excursion while on a ...
by Claire L. Torbeck, Dipwset And Certified Sommelier
As part of a road-trip around France, I planned a short stop in Sancerre to taste the wines and learn more about the producers. While the landscape greeting us was miles of gently rolling hills dotted with farms and small towns, the sight of fields of rapeseed was breathtaking (canola oil is a vegetable oil made from the pressed seeds of rapeseed). It looked like millions of fluorescent highlighters had been dumped in the fields. Blooming during April and May, we caught the crop at its brilliant best! Drawing close to our destination, the landscape began to change, vineyards popped up and we began our climb up the hill to the town of Sancerre. It is stunning as it rises from the plains of the Loire Valley as if to proclaim its position as lord of all it surveys. Clearly it was a strongh...
by Bernard Kenner
Shochu (pronounced show-chew) is Japan's leading spirit and ranks second to beer in alcoholic drink popularity in its homeland. Its flavors are varied and as a result, might seem hard to pin down, but that variety is what makes it so very special and allows it to be paired and enjoyed in many ways. Unlike bourbon, single malts or most other distillate spirits whose flavors cluster around a typical center, the primary carbohydrate source is not limited to a narrow range of mash bills. That and a unique Japanese process makes shochu, especially honkaku (authentic/artisanal) shochu such an intriguing drink. A multitude of vegetable starch sources (53 are permitted) can be used because the sugars needed by fermenting yeasts are made available by exactly the same process that allows sake ...
by Mike Reifeiss
Have you considered joining a wine club but are unsure it’s worth it? How do you know if a wine club offers enough benefits to make you want to join? Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a novice who is beginning to learn the difference between a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Pinot Noir, a wine club membership has many perks for you, and a hand-picked winemaker’s selection isn’t the only benefit of joining a club. It also comes with other perks such as: • The opportunity to sample new releases you won’t likely find at your local wine shop. • Receiving wine recommendations you may not have thought of trying yourself. Aside from the allocation of wine, wine club memberships will usually offer an array of winery and vineyard experiences. To learn more, we invite you to c...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
We all have political, non-profit, and other organizations we like to support. Many in the wine industry do, too. For instance, California-based Bar Dog Wine, part of the Vintage Wine Estates family of wineries, is, perhaps not surprisingly, very into dogs. It supports dog rescue shelters, and awards grants to them throughout North America in partnership with the Petfinder Foundation. The winery’s website and the internet provide further details of these activities. Similarly, Oregon’s Firesteed Winery, also part of the Vintage Wine Estates family, was recently inspired by its name and horse logo to begin supporting retired working horses by partnering with Dreamer Horses to give them homes, according to Jenna Duran, Vintage’s VP of Marketing. Firesteed is in the process of u...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
Ah, Tuscany! One of our favorite destinations. This is some of the best wine in the world. The region also has such a rich history – and some of the best wine tasting experiences for a wine aficionado. We’ve written about some of these great times before. On our latest trip to Tuscany, we were introduced to three wonderful wineries that blended all three: great wines, ancient pasts, and unforgettable guided wine tasting experiences. So we just had to share! 1. Villa Sant’Anna Villa Sant’Anna, located in a medieval village in the hills outside of Montepulciano, has been in the same family for more than 220 years, and is operated by fifth-generation owner Simona Ruggeri Fabroni and her two daughters. Simona herself gave us a tour of the century-old underground cellars, and...
by Claire L. Torbeck, Dipwset And Certified Sommelier
This well-run competition, judged by industry experts, is well respected among consumers and winemakers alike. All wines are tasted blind by the judging panel(s), first individually and then final results as a consensus. The medals awarded boost consumer confidence as judges have no affiliation with the wineries and score simply on the merits of the wine in the glass. As such, these awards are coveted by the wineries and boost consumer interest in their award-winning wines thereby increasing sales. The competition also provides an opportunity for valuable feedback from judges who evaluate based on various criteria such as aroma, taste, balance, and complexity. This feedback can help winemakers refine their techniques, improve their wines, and understand how they measure up against ...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
A lot of us support charitable organizations that help improve the lives of others. So wouldn’t it be great for your cause to receive a $25,000 donation to help it further – and for you to receive $10,000 just for submitting the nomination? That’s exactly what Sonoma-based Murphy-Goode Winery is doing. It has launched A Really Goode Cause, a nomination-based, nationwide search for three non-profits that will each receive a $25,000 donation. And the three individuals that nominate the chosen non-profits will also each receive $10,000. Murphy-Goode Winery is not a stranger to gift-giving. In 2021 and 2022 it ran “Really Goode Job” campaigns that provided $10,000 per month salaries for four individuals looking to join the wine industry. This new campaign will help non-...
