Over the majority of the last two decades, Americans have come to learn that wines from South America in general — and Chile in particular — can often provide great value. As time has passed we have also seen the increase in quality of premium wines from Chile, as well as a large proliferation of them on our shelves. The variety of styles and grapes utilized has also increased exponentially. Whereas at one point Chile was simply a place to look to for bargain wines, it’s now a country to look to for innovation and diversity in a wide-ranging array…
Author: Gabe Sasso
When you visit any wine region, there are certain stops that become classics for one reason or another. In Napa Valley, V. Sattui Winery is one of those places that people return to again and again. In addition to some tasty wines they welcome large groups and have a diverse deli section available to pick up cheeses and other snack foods. They offer picnicking on their grounds, and a wide variety of wine tasting options. In short, V. Sattui is an incredibly warm and welcoming place to visit. V. Sattui’s history goes back 125 years, and has been in place…
While I believe that any wine can conceivably be consumed year-round, certain grapes and styles lend themselves to a particular season. Case in point: Moscato screams “spring” to me. Perhaps it’s the eternal optimism and happiness in the fun flavors that Moscato provides, or the bit of warmth I associate with the inherent sweetness. In any case. along with lovely dry Rosé, I find myself first reaching for Moscato each year right around the time I push my clock forward an hour. So here for your drinking pleasure is a look at three examples of Moscato. It’s not often that…
Bob Pepi started gaining recognition as the winemaker at Robert Pepi Wines, the winery that he and his dad founded. In the mid ‘90s the family sold that winery, and since that time Bob has been making wine all over the world both for his own labels and as a consultant for a Who’s Who of wineries. In Argentina he’s responsible for all the wines that Bodega Valentin Bianchi exports. In his native California, he works with names like Angel’s Secret, Andretti and numerous others. For his own label, Eponymous, he makes use of long-established relationships, connections and his vast…
The very first time I went to Dry Creek Valley in California’s Sonoma County during the early ‘90s, it was with a very specific goal in mind. My intent was to visit Pedroncelli Winery. Whatever else I accomplished that day was of secondary concern. I’d been drinking their Mother Clone Zinfandel and liked it so much I wanted to go to the source and sample their other wares. Little did I know then that Mother Clone served as my gateway not only to Pedroncelli specifically, but also the world of Zinfandel and Dry Creek Valley as a whole. That first…
As we’ve grown sharply as a wine drinking nation over the last couple of decades, our choices have also increased. The number of outlets selling wine is way up, and the options we have when we get there, are in pointed contrast to what was available just a few years ago. The temptation in our culture is also to chase the hot new thing. Sometimes that leaves little room to reconsider or reconnect with something we already love. In this case, that something is the Robert Mondavi Winery. There was no greater ambassador for both California wines and the importance…
Over the last five years, New Zealand wines have made a lot of headway in the United States. Not that long ago it was really just the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs that got attention. And those wines deserve notice, as New Zealand produces some distinct examples of Sauvignon Blanc that resonate with wine lovers. Pinot Noir led the charge when it came to grapes from New Zealand getting attention other than Sauvignon Blanc. However, there are plenty of other varietals also doing well there, and it’s good to see them on our shelves adding to the choices we have when…
Paso Robles, which is located half way between San Francisco and Los Angeles, is one of the most exciting wine regions in California today. The variety of grapes being grown there and the number of new producers popping up means there is always something new to taste from this growing region. I recently tasted through a number of current releases from Clayhouse Estate, which were a microcosm of the diversity at play in Paso. This time out, I’ll take a look at three of my favorites from that producer. The Clayhouse Estate 2010 Cuvée Blanc was produced from fruit grown…
I have been fond of wines from Argentina for more than 15 years now. I first recall being blown away by the Cabernet Sauvignon values that hit our shores in the 1990s. Over time, more and more wines from Argentina landed on our shelves in a variety of styles and price points. The overriding theme is that Argentina over-delivers on QPR (Quality-Price Ratio). The Zuccardi family in Argentina has been making wine since 1963 and they have more than 2,800 acres under vine. They’re committed to sustainable farming practices and making natural wines. Their latest project is the Santa Julia…
On a recent trip to Napa Valley, one of the producers I was eagerly anticipating my visit with was Benessere Vineyards. They’ve been around since 1994, but are in the midst of a rebirth with new winemaker Jack Stuart. While there I had the opportunity to spend some time with Stuart, and — among other things — taste the wines with him. He’s been on board at Benessere for roughly a year and he’s ushering in the winery’s next era. For more than 20 years he was the winemaker at Napa Valley stalwart Silverado. The focus at Benessere is on…