When I write about European wines it’s fairly common to come across producers with a rich history, passing down vineyards for several generations. But most producers in the US have a much shorter history. Concannon is an exception to that rule. Established in 1883, Concannon is the oldest continually operating winery in California under the […]
Boxed wine seems to be taking on new shapes lately with both the shape of the containers and the quality of the wine inside. There are several wines on the shelves these days in what’s been named Octavin packaging. It’s an eight-sided box (an octagon) and is really just a new shape for bag-in-a-box packaging. […]
This past week I took part in a Taste Live event featuring Stepping Stone wines from Cornerstone Cellars. Taste Live events are wine tastings where numerous wine bloggers and media from around the country all taste the same wines and share their thoughts via Twitter. Cornerstone Cellars is a Napa Valley, California producer and is […]
You may recognize the logo on this bottle from those tasty Clif Bars you’ve seen, and yes they are related. The folks who make Clif Bars also produce wine, and what I’ve tasted has been pretty good—including this one. We previously reviewed their The Climber Red, which was also good. The Climber White Wine is […]
I have a secret to share. Every time I grab a bottle of Rosé I start singing a song in my head. It’s the music of Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper” but the lyric is changed to “Don’t Fear the Rosé.” I don’t know how that started or why I keep doing it. […]
You might be surprised to find out how many of the wine brands you see on the shelves come from the same company. There are a few giants in the wine business, plus thousands of small wineries. One of the giants whose brands you’ll come across in just about any grocery store that sells wine […]
It’s a quick review tonight—not that any of them are exceptionally long. I like to get right to the point. So, let’s get there. The 2006 Main Street Winery Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, with grapes from Lake County (54%), Monterey County (24%) and Santa Barbara County (22%). […]
The general rule here is that most reviews are for wines that are $20 and under, but I have to admit that that’s not all I drink. After all, how could I legitimately compare bargain wines to higher-priced ones if I never tasted those. And every now and then I get samples sent to me […]
A lot of fun has been poked over the years at boxed wines. And rightfully so. Most of the wine sold in boxes over the past couple decades has been disgusting. But that’s starting to change. It’s not the container, it’s the wine… and there are a few producers now putting some tasty juice into […]
There’s not a lot of back story to this wine. It’s Turning Leaf, which is one of wine giant E.&J. Gallo’s many brands. You’ll find it in just about any grocery store that sells wine. It’s mass produced… so there’s lot’s of this stuff out there. There is not a quaint story about a family […]