Blog 

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Domaine Carneros 2022 Cuvée de la Pompadour Brut Rosé

I sat down with Remi to catch up, record a new Wine Soundtrack interview, and enjoy a bite to eat. The Domaine Carneros 2022 Cuvée...

30 September, 2026

Frerejean Frères: A New Champagne House Arrives in California

More than two decades after one of my first wine dinners with Claude Taittinger, a Champagne dinner with his nephew Rodolphe Frerejean Taittinger brought my...

29 September, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Vinyl Vineyards 2023 “Jota” Iberian Blend, Geneseo Sub District, Paso Robles AVA

Good wine, good food, good company, and good music - that is all you need for a memorable evening. When my brother put some meat...

23 September, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Pali Wine Co. 2025 Wild Series Skin-Contact White Wine, Central Coast

Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir. They may not be the first two grapes you would think to put together. Gewürztraminer brings intense aromatics and floral notes,...

16 September, 2026

The Magic and the Math: How a Tech Engineer Is Building a Winery for the Long Game in Paso Robles

As the old saying goes, to make a small fortune in wine, you must start with a large one. Starting a winery, building a brand,...

15 September, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Thumbprint Cellars 2024 NuVo of Cabernet Franc, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma

I put my thumb on the perfect wine this week. As I poured the wine, the first thing that caught my attention about the Thumbprint...

09 September, 2026

Lodi: The Wine Region Hiding in Plain Sight

When you think about California wine, where do you think most of the grapes are grown? Most people would say Napa. After all, Napa is...

08 September, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Alamati Wines 2025 North Canyon Vineyard Albariño, Santa Maria Valley

With the summer heat still going strong, a trip to the farmers market had me craving something cool and refreshing. The beautiful heirloom tomatoes caught...

02 September, 2026

Le Vigne Winery: An Unexpected Wine and Cheese Destination in Los Angeles

What does a California cheese company dating back to 1946 have in common with an award-winning winery in Paso Robles? The answer is family and...

01 September, 2026

A Taste of Time: A Sta. Rita Hills Retrospective

Most people go to a store, buy a bottle of wine, and consume it within a few hours or days. But when you work in...

27 August, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Brassfield Estate 2023 Viognier, High Valley AVA, Lake County

This past week, I traveled to Lake County to interview Jonathan Walters, VP of Winemaking and Vineyard Operations at Brassfield Estate Winery, for the Wine...

26 August, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Donum 2022 Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

For years, wine drinkers have joked about the "ABC" of wine: Anything But Chardonnay. I have always preferred a different interpretation: Always Bring Chardonnay. That's...

19 August, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Unico Zelo 2024 Fresh A.F. Riverland, South Australia

When it is hot and humid A.F. outside, you need a wine that is Fresh A.F. And that is exactly what I brought to dinner...

12 August, 2026

“Farm Like The World Depends on It” – Why Paso Robles Growers Are Choosing Regenerative Organic Farming

Recently, I spent a week visiting the six Regenerative Organic Certified® wineries in Paso Robles. When I checked into my room upon arrival, there was...

11 August, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Charles Krug 2025 Limited Release Napa Valley Chenin Blanc

When people think of Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon is almost always the first wine that comes to mind. But long before Cabernet dominated the landscape,...

05 August, 2026

Do You Really Need a Different Wine Glass for Every Wine? One Gabriel-Glas Does It All.

If you Google the question, "Does the wine glass really matter?" you'll quickly find that the answer is yes. Most experts agree that the shape...

04 August, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Post & Vine 2022 Carignane, Testa Vineyard, Mendocino

A few weeks ago, I shared a Post & Vine Carignane from Contra Costa County that reminded me just how compelling this underappreciated grape can...

29 July, 2026

Bar Xuntos: A Taste of Spain in the Heart of Santa Monica

You do not need a passport or a plane ticket to escape to Spain (although that would be nice!). Instead, head to Santa Monica's Bar...

28 July, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Kanpai Wines Hi No Tori 2023 Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon, Meadowbrook Farm Estate, Napa Valley

As much as I love introducing my friends to new wines, I also love when they, especially those who are not in the wine industry,...

22 July, 2026

The Habit Burger & Grill Launches Habit & Co. with Chef Jet Tila’s Korean Street Food Menu

For more than 50 years, The Habit Burger & Grill has been known for one thing: fresh, made-to-order chargrilled burgers. While those burgers remain at...

21 July, 2026