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Building a Festival: Lessons from Fest Forums

The first time I had the idea of creating The Festival of Forgotten Grapes, I knew it would be a challenge. I have planned events...

18 February, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: WillaKenzie Estate 2022 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, Oregon

When someone mentions Oregon wines, what grape comes to mind? Pinot Noir? After all, Pinot Noir is the most planted grape in Oregon, making up...

12 February, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Maculan Torcolato 2022, Breganze DOC, Italy

Sweet wines always seem to get a bad rap. They are often overlooked and underrated. But there is no shame in loving a beautiful, sweet...

05 February, 2025

The North Adriatic – Twelve Regions, Three Countries, One Destination

On a recent trip to Italy I visited the North Adriatic. The North Adriatic refers to the northernmost part of the Adriatic Sea. When I...

04 February, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tizona by Bokisch 2021 Old Vine Carignan, Mule Plane Vineyard, Lodi

You know those nights when you have very little food in the kitchen and you need to find something to eat for dinner? That was...

29 January, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Pali Wine Co 2023 Chenin Blanc, Pali Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills

With the horrendous fires that spread across Los Angeles last week, I, like many others, have been preoccupied. My priorities were making sure my family...

22 January, 2025

Crush On This: Five Fun Facts About Tempranillo

When we think of Tempranillo, many think of Spain and tapas! But there are so many other fun facts about this interesting grape. In this...

16 January, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tirriddis Blanc de Gris Traditional Method R. 4, Rattlesnake Hills, Washington

On a recent trip to the Yakima Valley, I met with the founders of Tirriddis, a Washington State traditional sparkling wine producer, to interview them...

15 January, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: The Walls 2021 Stanley Groovy, Red Heaven Vineyard – Red Mountain AVA

The label caught my eye. It is a hand-drawn man sitting in a chair. It is Stanley Groovy. He is a character that embodies the...

08 January, 2025

Please The Palate January 2025 Newsletter

Happy New Year! Happy 2025! Looking back at 2024, there was a lot of travel. I traveled a total of 135 days, which was 1/3 of...

07 January, 2025

Crush On This: Five Fun Wine Facts About Petit Verdot

Petit Verdot is a high-quality, late-ripening Bordeaux variety. But how many other facts do we know about Petit Verdot? In this episode, we discover five...

26 December, 2024

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Omega Road Wines 2023 Torrontés, Silvaspoons Vineyard, Alta Mesa, Lodi

This week I opened up a bottle of Torrontés, the signature white wine of Argentina. But the wine was not from Argentina. The wine was...

25 December, 2024

Diversity in a Glass of Malbec with Nieto Senetiner wines from Argentina

A couple of months ago I enjoyed a lunch with Nieto Senetiner wines from Argentina. Tasting five difference Malbec wines, I discovered the diversity of...

24 December, 2024

Love Bubbles? Here Are Four Affordable Italian Sparkling Wines For Your Holiday Table

Sparkling wines are thought to be wines of celebration. While I am a huge proponent of drinking sparkling wine year round, there is more sparkling...

19 December, 2024

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: River Road Family Vineyards and Winery 2023 Pinot Meunier, Russian River Valley

I have said it once, twice, and probably more. But I will say it again. I love Pinot Meunier (still wine). I have yet to...

18 December, 2024

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Berlucchi Franciacorta Riserva Palazzo Lana Extreme Pinot Noir 2011

While spending a month in Italy, I made a quick overnight stop in Franciacorta this past week to visit Berlucchi Winery, the region's first and...

11 December, 2024

Let’s Go Wine Tasting in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, the "city vines", has a long history with wine. Even before California became part of the United States, Los Angeles was poised to...

10 December, 2024

Crush On This: Five Fun Facts About Mourvèdre

Mourvèdre, also known as Monastrell and Mataro, produces red and rosé wines of depth and character. But more often than not, Mourvèdre is best known...

05 December, 2024

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tenuta Sette Cieli 2019 Scipio, Toscana IGT

Cabernet Franc is one of the most widely planted red grapes in the world. This is in part thanks to Cardinal Richelieu who lived in...

04 December, 2024

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Vented Fermentation 2021 Queen & Boots Aglianico, Paso Robles

Aglianico, often called the "Barolo of the South",  is an Italian grape that is grown mainly in Basilicata and Campania. But there is a small...

27 November, 2024