Blog 

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Ex Post Facto 2024 Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills

When it comes to weeknight dinners at home, I often reach for Pinot Noir. It is one of the most reliable food-pairing grapes - versatile,...

14 January, 2026

Red Hills Lake County: Mountain Cabernet with a Sense of Place

I will start with a confession: I had not tasted wines from the Red Hills Lake County AVA. And to add another confession, Cabernet Sauvignon...

13 January, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Cascina Val Liberata 2022 Anarkoide Grignolino, Monferrato, Piemonte, Italy

When my friends invited me over for dinner, I offered to bring wine. So, I had to ask what was being prepared. Although I didn't...

07 January, 2026

Please The Palate January 2026 Newsletter

I can’t believe another year has passed, but I’m ready to turn the page. 2025 was a challenging year on many levels. With continued shifts...

05 January, 2026

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Laurent-Perrier Héritage Brut

New Year’s Eve calls for a wine that reflects both celebration and intention, something timeless, precise, and quietly confident. Laurent-Perrier Héritage fits that moment perfectly....

31 December, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Doctor’s Orders 2022 Grenache-Syrah, Toro Canyon, Santa Barbara County

At first glance, this wine tells one story. It is a vibrant purple in the glass, with color and sediment clinging stubbornly to the cork....

24 December, 2025

When Nebbiolo Speaks: What Blind Tasting Revealed About Place

By the second day of blind tasting, I had found a rhythm to tasting the wines. Five wines at a time were poured. We knew...

23 December, 2025

Listening to Nebbiolo: Learning to Taste Without the Label

Blind tasting at Nebbiolo Prima was a different experience. It was not a single flight or a short judging session. Over several days, I would...

22 December, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Cascina Val Liberata 2021 Cenerina Slarina, Monferrato

I love discovering new grape varieties, and Italy, especially Piemonte, never stops delivering. I consider myself familiar with many of the region’s indigenous grapes, including...

17 December, 2025

Vinomio: Where I Always Come Back in Vercelli, Italy

Vinomio opened three summers ago, in 2023, and it instantly became my favorite place to go. Whenever I am in Vercelli, I make my way...

16 December, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Forteto della Luja Pasucrà 2024 Piemonte Moscato Secco DOC

Moscato is usually synonymous with sweet, which is why I was so surprised when I tasted Forteto della Luja’s Pasucrà. It is a wine that...

10 December, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Covenant 2023 Landsman Cabernet Franc, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma

With Cabernet Franc Day approaching on December 4th, this week’s choice is a celebration of one of California’s most distinctive red grapes. The Covenant 2023...

03 December, 2025

Bellenda: Prosecco, Reimagined

Most people think of Prosecco as one thing: a cheerful, easy-drinking sparkling wine, perfect for brunch or celebrations. And, Prosecco DOC, which comes from the...

02 December, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Dunites Wine Co 2024 Albariño, San Luis Obispo Coast

When Tyler Eck, owner of Dunites Wine Co., told me about the most memorable wine he had ever tasted, he recalled a Rhône wine he...

26 November, 2025

Moscato d’Asti: Think You Know It? Think Again.

What do you think of when you hear the words Moscato d’Asti? Do you think: Sweet? Simple? Low alcohol? Not Your Thing? Well, you may...

25 November, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: BoaVentura de Caires Winery 2020 Venture Red Wine – Iberian Blend

Family, heritage, and bold flavors come together in the BoaVentura de Caires Winery 2020 Venture Red Wine, an Iberian-inspired blend from Livermore Valley, California. Named...

19 November, 2025

Beneath the Forest Floor: White Truffle Hunting in Piemonte and Umbria

For years, truffle hunting lived high on my travel bucket list. I imagined the misty forests, eager dogs, and the buried treasures of Italy's culinary...

18 November, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Barton & Guestier Cotes de Provence 2024 Limited Edition “Tourmaline” in Collaboration with Isaure Atelier

Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a beautifully crafted rosé. The Barton & Guestier Côtes de Provence “Tourmaline” 2024, the...

12 November, 2025

Brughelli Wines: Precision and Patience in Santa Maria Valley

We drove up to Santa Maria to meet Michael Brughelli for lunch at Au Bon Climat in the Santa Maria Valley, where he makes his...

11 November, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Peltier Schatz Family 2017 Teroldego, Estate Reserve, Lodi

Deep, bold, and layered, the Peltier Schatz Family 2018 Teroldego is a standout expression of a variety rarely seen outside Northern Italy. Sourced from two...

05 November, 2025