A wine to perfectly complement a meal, all the while, evolving in the glass to heighten the food experience itself. This is what you will find inside a bottle of Balletto Vineyards. Balletto Estate Vineyards are located in the coolest, southern most tip of the Russian River Valley where a ceaseless ebb and flow of Pacific Ocean […]
Wines & Views to Gawk At In Sonoma County, CA
Come Visit & Slow Down for Awhile… A fitting slogan for the pace and lifestyle at Gundlach Bundschu Winery in Sonoma. In the 1800’s when Jacob Gundlach first found himself down the long winding road towards the property, he fell in with the setting immediately and decided to… Stay for Awhile… Present Day – The family […]
Lynmar Estate Picnic Food & Wine Serendipity
Each season ushers in a bountiful new crop of food from the garden. There is a wine for that. People who love to eat are the best kinds of people. Here in Wine Country, when we eat together, we also like to drink together. Take away the conventional dining room & insert a view of […]
SonomaChat 25th Twitter Chat Anniversary Oct22
I want to start with a Thank You for participating in #SonomaChat… I appreciate the continued support. of our twitter community. This Wednesday, October 22nd, is our 25th Chat…YAY! We ALL love a good celebration… and with those SF Giants playing so well, I couldn’t resist… THIS WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22nd from 5-6pmPST #SonomaChat 25th Anniversary […]
Sonoma Valley CRUSH at St Francis Winery
Each year, the changing colors of the leaves in the vineyards signal a start to harvest. Not only is this a great chance to taste through the wines of last season, it is also a time for many winery guests to sample fresh pressed juice or tour a “crush” pad. I learned to use a […]
Visit Carmel Valley & Historic Holman Ranch
As you drive up the mountainside and down again into Carmel Valley, California, your views shift & you can focus on a quieter side of life. As I headed down the California Coast for a 3 day trip in Carmel, my stay started with two nights in Carmel by the Sea where things are also quite historic. Enjoying sunsets, beaches, and shopping galore, the experience […]
Benziger Winery Biodynamic on SonomaChat
Biodynamic Wineries are something that I am still learning about and I was thrilled to have Benziger Winery host our most recent SonomaChat with their “Pinot Experience”. Not only was the hospitality level at top notch but the whole event took place in the historical family home with Chris Benziger himself seated at the head of […]
MacPhail Winery at The Barlow on SonomaChat
The terrific Jim Morris of Macphail Wines Guest Hosted #SonomaChat at the new tasting room open in Sebastopol, California at The Barlow. Macphail Family is another fave Pinot Noir of mine, hand picked and hand sorted is the best way to go if you ask this girl and James and his family winemaking styles really go the extra […]
Iron Horse Vineyards on SonomaChat
What Cuvee are YOU?! That was the question for our #SonomaChat with Joy Sterling, one of the family members and owners of Iron Horse Vineyards in Green Valley Wine Country, California. THE BIO – From the website or Click HERE Iron Horse Web – Iron Horse is one of Sonoma County’s most beautiful, small, independent, […]
Red Car Wine Tasting Room SonomaChat
Red Car Wines has a tasting room along Graton Rd in Sebastopol is another favorite place to stop for me. Ken Wagonner, a close friend and social media Guru, and me have stopped by and visited during the holidays for a fun filled tasting line up and I had visited them previously when I was introduced […]
Laurel Glen Vineyards on SonomaChat
#SonomaChat was hosted by Laurel Glen Vineyards located in Glen Ellen, California in June of 2014. They were our very 1st Guest Host on Twitter, partnered with Patz & Hall Winery in Sonoma, CA. Our big thanks to Bettina Sichel for her hospitality, big pours and smiling face. It is always a pleasure to see […]
Patz & Hall Sonoma House Wine on SonomaChat
When I first heard that Patz & Hall were opening a new tasting room, I was more than excited. I have been a fan of their Pinot Noir for many years! Having the tasting room as close as Sonoma, California is terrific as I am able to visit often and also have a sip or […]
Chateau Diana in Dry Creek on SonomaChat
Sunflowers in bloom and rows of vines beyond. Sounds like a good place to sip wine if you ask me. Chateau Diana on the Dry Creek Road tour of Wineries in Sonoma County is alovely spot and I had the pleasure of visiting recently when Teri hosted a SonomaChat from the patio and tasting room. […]
St Francis Winery Food & Wine Pairings
“Wine is meant to be with food – that is the point of it.” -Julia Child I remember my first experience pairing food and wine together while on a tasting room tour of Wine Country. Before this, I had simply gone wine tasting with a few friends and stopped at a restaurant in between. We […]
Kaiken Malbec Mendoza, Argentina – Somm Chat
Wine lovers like to share their knowledge, talk, sip & swirl with others who also appreciate the art that goes into making a bottle of wine. For us real wine geeks, there are weekly chats on twitter for Wine & for Sommeliers. Featuring wine experts, winemakers, master sommeliers, CSW’s, etc.; it is a plethora of knowledge […]
Lucky Wine Kids Rock Cline Cellars Field Trip
Growing up in Wine Country is such a extraordinary experience for a child. Recently I had the pleasure of accompanying 30 exuberant (to say the least) 4th graders on a field trip to Cline Cellars and their California Mission Museum. The evening prior to the Mission field trip, I had glanced at the form to see […]
How To Taste Wine For The Novice
I am often asked, how do you taste wine like a pro? Living in Wine Country, I must say I have heard many an opinion on this subject. Follow my wine tasting notes below but remember to schedule a visit to the right winery as well and do research prior to your visit. Some people, myself included, […]
Amapola Creek Winery Makes A Fierce Cabernet
This year for the Annual Sonoma Reserve Wine Event, I decided to enjoy the small batch tour of wineries which were all off of the beaten path. Right decision. Most of the spots we visited on this day were located on steep terrain with wonderful views and also a difficult climb for the vehicles. The […]
Hands-On Gourmet SF Cooking Wine Country Style at Jacuzzi Cellars Sonoma
Spring has sprung in Wine Country California. I had the pleasure of attending a Hands On Gourmet Private Cooking Party & Team Building Event at Jacuzzi Cellars in Sonoma Wine Country recently and meeting Executive Chef, Stephen Gibbs. And what a backdrop. From weddings, to corporate events to bachelorette parties… Jacuzzi Cellars in Sonoma County, most […]
Winery Celebrating 25 Years of Family Ownership
Recently I had the pleasure of sipping on a wine that was bottled when I was a very young lass. Opening a vintage bottle at a dinner party celebrating 25 years of family ownership at Rodney Strong Vineyards, just seemed appropriate for Wine Country. A 1977 Alexander’s Crown Estate Bottled Sonoma Vineyards Cabernet Sauvginon, it […]
Napa Pine Ridge Winery Celebrates 35 Years
Whenever I visit Napa, I know I can count on one of my mainstay girlfriends to recommend great spots to stop, sip & enjoy. Jacqueline is a beautiful women both inside and out… and the girl also knows her wine…making her even more attractive. “If you have to ask if it’s to early to drink […]