Blog 

Inside the Mountain: A Visit to Terra Costantino on Etna’s Eastern Slope

You do not just visit Terra Costantino; you descend into it. The winery is built ten meters underground, deep in the belly of Mount Etna....

27 May, 2025

A Toast to Oregon Chardonnay on Chardonnay Day!

Chardonnay Day is a time to celebrate one of the world’s most beloved, and divisive, grapes. There are those who sing its praises and those...

22 May, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Champagne Billecart-Salmon’s Nicolas François 2012

After spending 10 days in Italy, I landed back home in the afternoon. Normally after a long day of travel, the plan would be to...

21 May, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tenuta di Castellaro Lipari 2021 Corinto Nero, IGT Terre Siciliane Rosso

Italy is home to more than 350 officially recognized indigenous grape varieties, with more than another 1500 still to be recognized. It is a vast...

14 May, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Los Pilares 2023 Sparkling Red Wine, San Diego County

I recently took a day trip to San Diego to visit the vineyard of Los Pilares in Julian in San Diego County. I came home...

07 May, 2025

Gérard Bertrand and the Meaning of Multidimensional Wine

Gérard Bertrand is not just one of the most renowned winemakers in France - he’s a visionary in biodynamic winemaking and a global ambassador for...

06 May, 2025

In the Glass and On the Ground – Four Wineries in Western Sicily

Last year, I wrote about my first taste of western Sicily’s wine scene. It was a trip that took me from Palermo to Marsala and...

01 May, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Trivento 2023 Reserve White Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

I’ve always been fascinated by white wines made from red grapes. They often capture the aromatics of their red counterparts, but with the texture and...

30 April, 2025

Sicilian Native Grapes and the Wines They Make

In my story the other day, I offered a look at Sicily’s dramatic landscape, its viticultural legacy, and the remarkable transformation of its wine industry....

29 April, 2025

Sicily in a Glass: An Introduction to the Island, Its History, and Its Vines

With a plan to return to Sicily this May, I’m remembering my trip last spring. It was my second time to the island, but this...

24 April, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Derby Wine Estates 2023 Black Malvoisie, Derby Vineyard, Paso Robles

When I first saw the bottle, I had never heard of the grape "Black Malvoisie". But in fact, Black Malvoisie is an old name for...

23 April, 2025

A Legacy in Every Glass: Dinner with Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga of San Leonardo

Behind every great wine is a great story. And some stories stretch back centuries. I recently had the extraordinary pleasure of dining with Marchese Anselmo...

21 April, 2025

Beyond Nouveau: Digging Deeper Into Beaujolais

You hear Beaujolais and odds are your mind goes straight to Nouveau. That pop of fresh Gamay released every November, racing to market as the...

17 April, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Phelan Farms 2023 Mondeuse, SLO Coast

Oh mon dieu Monduese! How have I not enjoyed you before? An under-the-radar red wine variety, it just recently hit my radar! So little is...

16 April, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Slamdance Kooperatieve Wines 2022 Red Table Wine, Wine of California

When it comes to a wine blend, the sum is greater than its parts. But what caught my eye were the parts of this wine....

09 April, 2025

Please The Palate April 2025 Newsletter

Spring is here and I am coming up for air after having just completed the 2nd annual Festival of Forgotten Grapes. I spent most of...

03 April, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tablas Creek 2022 Vaccarèse, Adelaida District, Paso Robles

There are hundreds upon hundreds of unique grape varieties. In California, 93% of what is planted, is planted to 9 primary grapes. More than 100...

02 April, 2025

Discover Two Unforgettable Wine and Food Pairing Experiences in Downtown Santa Barbara

Wine and food on their own are delightful, but when paired together, they can elevate each other in unexpected ways. A sip of wine can...

27 March, 2025

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Roark Wine Company 2022 Pocket Full of Stones, Santa Barbara County

Studies suggest that 60-70% of consumers make their wine purchasing decisions based on the label. This means that the label's design, color, font, imagery, and...

26 March, 2025

Cultivating Community: The Power of Women in Santa Barbara Wine

March 25th is National Women and Wine Day and to celebrate, I am sharing the story I wrote for The Tasting Panel Magazine (May/June 2025)...

25 March, 2025