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Three Expressions of Ribolla Gialla from Tenuta Stella

Ribolla Gialla is one of those quiet grapes. It is not flashy or bold with loud aromas, but quietly confident and mineral-driven. Native to Friuli...

04 November, 2025

Exploring Wine on the North Side of Etna: Eleven Wineries to Check Out!

The north face of Mount Etna has a pull that’s impossible to resist. The volcano may rumble and puff, but it is the vineyards scattered...

30 October, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Monte Rio Cellars 2023 French Colombard, Lodi

French Colombard is a white grape you do not often see on a wine label. It is more commonly used in blends or brandy production...

29 October, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: San Rucci 2022 Ruche, San Benito County, Central Coast

Ruché, pronounced Roo-kay, is a nearly-lost red grape from Piemonte, Italy that was rescued in the late 20th century when a local priest revived his...

22 October, 2025

Shared Notes: From Wine to Coffee

A few years ago, I was in Sonoma and met with winemakers Bibiana González Rave and Jeff Pisoni. Over sushi, they told me about their...

16 October, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Cantine Virgili 2024 Inciostar Lambrusco Provincia di Mantova I.G.T.

I was immediately captivated by the nose of the Lambrusco with its aromatic rush of dark fruit, violets, and spice. Fittingly named Inciostar, meaning “ink”...

15 October, 2025

Milo: Finding Focus on Etna’s Eastern Slope

Attending the annual Etna Days was both thrilling and daunting. On the first day, I walked into a room filled with more than 500 wines...

14 October, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Villa Simone 2023 Frascati Superiore D.O.C.G Riverva

While attending the Simply Italian wine event in Los Angeles this week, I participated in a seminar about a region of Italy that I was...

08 October, 2025

Please The Palate October 2025 Newsletter

Summer is here and with it comes the 14th anniversary of Please The Palate. I am proud to be celebrating another year of business, especially...

07 October, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Alma Rosa 2021 Attente Red, Sta. Rita Hills

On a visit to Alma Rosa Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley, I was looking at a rack of wine bottles, recognizing the dark blue...

01 October, 2025

Foraging and Cooking at Fattoria La Maliosa in Maremma, Tuscany

From the first time I visited Fattoria La Maliosa in Maremma, I was captivated. A natural winery in the truest sense, La Maliosa is a...

25 September, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Stolpman 2023 Ballard Canyon AVA “La Cuadrilla” Red Blend

In wine, and in life, it is easy to forget that community is at the heart of everything. The best wines do not just reflect...

24 September, 2025

Wine Beyond the Glass: My Two Days at Avignonesi

After a long international flight, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Rome to Montepulciano, and only enough time for a quick shower, I was ready for my...

23 September, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Joseph Jewell 2023 Elk Prairie Cabernet Franc Humboldt County

When you think of Humboldt County, wine probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind (timber or marijuana might be). Located on California’s rugged...

17 September, 2025

Legends and Icons: The Families and Pioneers Who Shaped Sonoma Wine

The wine regions in California were not born from convenience, privilege, or accident. They were carved out by people with hard work, grit, and the...

16 September, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Cuatro Dias 2023 Orange Moscato, Paso Robles

The word Moscato makes you think the wine will be sweet. The aromatic nose will also imply the same. But The Cuatros Dias 2023 Orange...

10 September, 2025

Into the Fog: A Visit to Fort Ross Vineyard

A couple of months have passed since my visit to Fort Ross Vineyard in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA, yet the memory clings to me like...

09 September, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Two Shepherds 2023 Natty Pets Sparkling Orange Wine

I spent much of the summer on the road. But with a few days at home finally, I carved out a late afternoon to sit...

03 September, 2025

The Story Behind the Label: Ironstone Vineyards in the Sierra Foothills

Stroll down the wine aisle, and the shelves stretch endlessly with a sea of labels competing for your attention. Sometimes it is the familiar logo...

02 September, 2025

Cabernet Franc Finds Its Champion in Livermore Valley With Steven Kent Winery

In June 2025, the Livermore Valley wine region officially declared Cabernet Franc as its signature grape variety and formed the Cab Franc Guild, an organization...

28 August, 2025