Have you heard of Yolo County? It’s okay if you haven’t; the area is not a household name yet. But if producers such as Berryessa Gap continue to put out distinct wines that offer the same kind of value as the following quartet, it won’t be too long before Yolo County is on the tip of people’s tongues. About six months ago, I wasn’t at all familiar with either Yolo County or Berryessa Gap wines. Around that time, I was asked to participate in a virtual tasting of some current releases from Berryessa Gap, and I was intrigued. By the…
Author: Gabe Sasso
Quality, consistent value and continued innovation are all descriptions that fit Simonsig. They’re a South African producer of note that has been getting it done in proper fashion for over five decades now. In fact, last year marked 50 years of winemaking for the Malan family. Starting in 1968, they’ve been making wine outside Stellenbosch under the Simonsig Family Vineyards label. A couple of years later in 1970, they introduced their first red. They’ve continued to push the quality envelope over time and widen their portfolio with complementary offerings when and where they fit in well. Their flagship wine remains…
I recently spent a week tasting wine in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. On my last trip there a few years ago, I visited a number of regions, but this time my focus was exclusively on Colchagua Valley. Over the course of my time there, I met winemakers, viticulturists, chefs and more. This full immersion into one region allowed me to understand not only what they’re doing today, but what they were doing yesterday and where they’re headed tomorrow. Growing site-specific wines while using various combinations of organic, sustainable and biodynamic farming practices are things that stand at the core of what…
The holiday season offers a ton of gift giving opportunities. Sometimes it’s as simple as putting something under the tree or buying someone a Hanukkah or Kwanzaa present. But there are other situations where you’ll want to be ready with a bottle of wine. One example is when someone drops by with a tray of cookies or an unexpected gift. You want to be able to reciprocate in those instances, and a bottle of wine is always in style and appreciated. Additionally, this time of year offers a lot of opportunities to dine with loved ones. Being invited to someone’s home…
Jed Steele has been making wines for 50 years. His career started at Napa Valley’s famed Stony Hill. After a number of stops along the way, he founded his eponymous label more than 25 years ago. Located in Lake County California, which sits north of Napa Valley, they source fruit in their own region as well as from other areas in the state. Over the last handful of years, I’ve tasted quite a few of the wines from Steele and Jed’s other label. What I have found is a plethora of well-made wines that offer good or better value across…
If you’re driving down Old Redwood Highway in Healdsburg looking for ACORN Winery, you just might miss it. The winery sits about halfway between Rodney Strong on one side and Foppiano Vineyards on the other. The sign is on the smaller side, and ACORN is tucked down a somewhat long access road that at first doesn’t seem like it’s headed anywhere. Pretty soon, though, you’ll find yourself surrounded by vines, and then you’ll see the winery itself in front of you. If it feels like you’ve reached the Promised Land, it’s because you have. Betsy and Bill Nachbaur have been…
I recently spent a week visiting Beaujolais with the Georges Duboeuf family and a couple points were driven home quite vividly. First of all, the diversity within Beaujolais from village to village and cru to cru is stark. Georges Duboeuf works with a multitude of growers and producers so their portfolio alone offers a real cross-section of the bounty of Beaujolais. Secondly, the Gamay grape is generally low in tannins and thin of skin, so how well it can age is a bit of a surprise. But over a week, I had the opportunity to taste a fair number of…
One of my favorite things about wine is trying new things. Whether it’s a producer I’ve never tasted, a grape I haven’t had or a region I don’t have familiarity with, exploration is exciting. That said, there are times that, for a variety of reasons, I want something I’m familiar with. Maybe it’s simple comfort or because I’m pouring the wine for someone else and want the security of a known quantity. Whatever the reason, at those times, one of the producers I look too is Silverado Vineyards. Located in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, Silverado Vineyards was…
The time has finally come in the United States where wine store shelves are overflowing with Rosé. Something you had to seek out just a handful of years ago stares you in the face no matter where you shop. Choice is, of course, a good thing, but it’s also hard to know what to choose. Here’s a look at a dozen current vintage Rosés culled from more than five dozen that I tasted recently. And as a bonus, I’ve included a quick look at a fun book about Rosé that you’ll have a hard time putting down. Leyda 2017 Pinot…
Chances are that if you’re familiar with Italian sparkling wine, it’s probably Prosecco. With good reason – there’s tons of it, the entry point is pretty low in price and there are examples that range from completely dry to near sticky sweet. Unfortunately, a lot of people are left thinking that these wines predominately made from the grape Glera are the be-all and end-all of Italian Bubbles. I’m here to put the lie to that notion. Italy, in fact, has several sparkling wine traditions and regions. While they each bring something interesting to the table and offer some producers of…