WINE

O.Fournier, which opened a winery in Mendoza, Argentina in 2001, purchased the property in Ribera del Duero in 2002. O.Fournier is owned by brother and sister José Manuel Ortega Gil-Fournier and Natalia Ortega Gil-Fournier. Their logo is an Argentine ostrich that was derived from a sacred native cave painting. Inside the ostrich (which represents earth) is a cross (which represents the Southern Cross, or the sky) and together they create unity.
16 March, 2014
Torremoron is one of those wineries that is founded on centuries of history. Their name is derived from the 18th century underground cellars where wine was stored after it had been pressed. Consequently the location of these cellars was named Torremoron. Still today, this winery uses a wine making process that can be traced back to medieval wine making practices. Originally founded in 1957, this cooperative was launched by 57 viticulturalists who began cultivating the vineyards near the north bank of the Duero river. Throughout the 1980s they made bulk wine. By 1990, the winery underwent major renovations and incorporated state-of-the-art wine making technology in order to enhance the quality of their product. Although the vineyard has some vines that are up to 100 years old, the bulk of the vines are between 30 to 60 years old. Keeping quality in mind, Torremoron follows their grandparent's traditions and principles of hand harvesting, ensuring the up-most respect and preservation of the grape.
03 March, 2014
Sometimes all you need is a weekend getaway to escape the weekly grind. My recent getaway to Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort in Solvang, California, the heart of wine country, was the perfect destination. After a long week, we left Los Angeles after dark, and after traffic, to drive up to Santa Barbara. Two hours later we drove down a dark country road and found the driveway into Alisal Guest Ranch.    We settled into our private guest cottage, one of 73 in total. With no telephones or televisions, it was a well-needed escape from reality. Only a few minutes from the touristy streets of Solvang, Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort is a secluded hideaway that has been a full-service guest ranch since 1946.  From horseback riding and a petting zoo to two 18-hole championship golf courses, a huge spa and fitness center and tennis courts to a 100-acre spring-fed lake for kayaking, canoeing and fly fishing to, of course, wine tasting, there are activities for everyone!
28 February, 2014
Since February is Black History Month what better way to recognize it than with a dinner highlighting some great California wines made by African American Winemakers? Did you know that there are more than 7,000 wineries in the United States but only 20 of them are owned or made by African Americans? According to Roberta Rinaldi of Wine Noir, a meet-up group and broker for wines made by African Americans, history tells us that African Americans first appeared as vineyard workers for Thomas Jefferson, who liked French and Italian wines. But there is a limited amount of history known up until 1997 when Iris Rideau, who is of Creole heritage, started Rideau Vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley, becoming the first African-American female winery owner in the United States.
27 February, 2014
"Chablis is chardonnay, but not every chardonnay is Chablis." - Rosemary George    So many times you hear people say "I don't like Chardonnay" or "ABC - Anything But Chardonnay." Usually this is because when they think of Chardonnay, they think of creamy, unctuous wine that tastes more like a wood chip or buttered popcorn. Now, I am not a fan of this style of wine either, but I always say not to make a generalized blanket statement saying you don't like an entire category. Why? Because not all Chardonnays are butter bombs. Take Chablis. Located in the northern part of Burgundy, France, Chablis is a cool climate that consists of rich limestone soil, producing wines with more acidity and a "flinty" (or "steely" or "mineral") note. Most Chablis is completely unoaked and vinified in stainless steel tanks. There are four classification levels: Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru and Chablis Grand Cru.  
26 February, 2014
While most of the country has been suffering through an exceptionally cold and never-ending winter, here in Los Angeles, we have been reveling in the summer-like days. Of course, I am not trying to rub it in to anyone as after all, what comes with our abnormally hot weather is a drought and risk of fire and earthquakes. But, nonetheless, on a Saturday in January, in our sundresses and sandals, we returned to Santa Anita Park, California’s legendary racetrack, for their first California Wine Festival at the Sunshine Millions California Cup.  
24 February, 2014
Each year the Tre Bicchieri tour comes to the US to showcase the best wines from Italy. So, I flew up to San Francisco for this year's tasting as it is a great opportunity to taste some of the best wines from Italy all in one place! Gambero Rosso, an Italian food and wine magazine founded in 1986, publishes the annual Guida Vini d'Italia. The wine ratings are based upon blind tastings by independent experts. Ratings are built up on the number of glasses (or bicchieri) awarded to a wine. This is then indicated in the wine guide with a number of stylized glasses next to the wine's name. The highest rating is Tre Bicchieri (three glasses).
  • Three glasses indicate "extraordinary wines".
  • Two glasses indicate "very good wines".
  • One glass indicates "good wines".
24 February, 2014
Aside from all of the history and beauty of Granada, there is one more thing that makes it unique......FREE Tapas! Granada is one of the last spots in Spain in which tapas are served for free when you order a drink. Tapas come in a variety of sizes and can be hot or cold. And, with each successive drink, the tapas get more elaborate. 'El tapeo' is what the Spanish call going from bar to bar to eat tapas and it is one of the best ways to get to know Granada. It's a great way to try out the specialties while exploring the streets. Tapa crawling is much more than having a beer, it's an art. It's a way to understand the Granadian way of life, to understand the people and their traditions. Tapas Crawls can happen in any area of the city and I started mine on the Campo de Principe in the Realejo, Granada's old Jewish Quarter. Stop 1:
21 February, 2014
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