WINE

Gambero Rosso recently announced the Tre Bicchieri, or “three glasses”, winners for the "Vini d'Italia 2013" wine guide.  First published in 1987, over 45,000 wines were tasted by more than 60 judges to make it into the 26th edition.  Of the awarded wines, eleven wines within the Dalla Terra portfolio received a Tre Bicchieri® honor. Congratulations! Dalla Terra means "of the earth" in Italian.  Founded in 1990, owner Brian Larky, who was the winemaker at Ca'del Bosco in Italy, selects wineries that best represent the regions of Italy.  What makes this portfolio of wineries all the more unique is that Dalla Terra Winery Direct® is a direct importer.  Distributors are able to buy directly from the producer, which eliminates the national importer and thereby keeps the price a little lower. I had the privilege to taste these wines and meet the representatives earlier this year at a tasting.  Here is a list of the winning wines by region:
15 October, 2012

IN A MID-SUMMER BARBECUE, SANTA BARBARA WINE COUNTRY GOES WHOLE HOG Over a hot August weekend, wine and barbecue lovers joined vintner Doug Margerum for three days of food...

09 September, 2012
Tucked into the hills of Bel Air sits the 16 acre winery, Moraga Vineyards.  Not open to the public, I was invited recently to tour the property and taste the elusive and sought-after wines. Exiting the 405 at Moraga and driving up the street, it doesn't seem possible that a winery exists in this area. The streets are lined with houses that sit side-by-side and are visible from the street. But, I parked in front of the given address and walked up the driveway where I was greeted by vineyards that continued up the hill to the winery.
22 August, 2012
The third Sunday of each month from 4 to 6pm, K&L Wine Merchants and Campanile Restaurant host a Wine Tasting Series, featuring a different region of wines. For $25 you can taste a great selection of 30-40 wines, along with small bites.  A fun way to spend an afternoon and also to get a good understanding of what the featured region has to offer. A recent afternoon was spent tasting Washington State wines. 99% of wine grapes grow in the Columbia Valley, the largest viticultural region in Washington. It includes the AVA's Red Mountain, Yakima Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills, Horse Heaven Hills, Snipes Mountain, and Lake Chelan. Predominately planted to Riesling, Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, there are 6,851 vineyard acres planted under the Columbia Valley AVA.
14 August, 2012
The best way to learn about wine is to taste wine.  But, it's understandable if you would prefer to taste before you commit to buying one. That's why one of the great things wine retail stores offer are regular wine tastings that focus on a region, producer or varietal. For anywhere between $5-$25, you can taste a selection of wines and if you find one (or more that you like) you can buy it on the spot!   In a city like Los Angeles, you can most likely find an in-store tasting on any given night/day of the week. Here is a list of some of the local stores in Los Angeles that offer tastings.
02 August, 2012
Where is Boca you ask?  Boca DOC is in Piemonte and is one of the smallest and Northernmost appellations of Italy.  Produceing Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Uva Rara, it is one of the most unique terroirs in the world. Influenced by the 2nd highest peak of Europe (Monte Rosa), the wines are vastly long aging, intriguingly earthy and splendidly complex. A recent seminar was conducted by Professional Sommelier, Master Taster and North American Sommelier Association (NASA) Vice President Diego Meraviglia, a native of this region.  We were in for a great treat, tasting these great Nebbiolos, known locally as "Spanna". The Terroir of BOCA
18 July, 2012

A visit to San Francisco isn't complete without a meal at the popular modern Vietnamese Slanted Door. Opened in 1995 on Valencia Street, the famous restaurant moved in 2004 to their current location in San Francisco’s Ferry Building. The restaurant may not be new but this foodie haven is still in high demand and advanced reservations are highly recommended.

The space at Slanted Door is vast and yet always full.  The large lounge and glass bar is where to go without reservations. If you can find a seat, you can order from the full menu. There is an outside patio for those rare warm San Francisco days.  The dining area has boothes and tables and you will regularly see large groups of both locals and tourists seated around them. To start off a meal at Slanted Door, grab a cocktail at the bar.  The Cocktail progam is managed by Bar Manager Erik Adkins.  Erik is one of the top talents in San Francisco and his cocktails are refined and executed with precision.  He ultilizes fresh, local ingredients to create cocktails that demonstrate a link to agriculture.
09 July, 2012
As you get ready to warm up the barbeque and chill down the beer for your 4th of July parties, think about opening a bottle of Madeira to enjoy with your friends. Why Madeira?  Well, did you know that Madeira was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, the founding fathers of the United States?  In fact, when they signed the Declaration of Independence, they toasted with Madeira. What is Madeira?  Madeira is the wine named for an island, and an island named for a wine.  Understanding Madeira is not an easy feat.  The winemaking process, grape varietals and wine styles are not like other wines that you are familiar with.
02 July, 2012
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