8 of the world´s top Pinot-Noir-growing regions

Wine varietals carry their own unique stories, and Pinot Noir is a testament to their finesse as well as the artistry of their makers. It's the grape that demands perfection, that thrives in only the most delicate of climates, and that gifts us wi

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A quick guide to rosé wine, plus five to savor

PickPic


Summer is right around the corner, and that means - among other things - rosé, that pink, light, refreshing variation on white wine which icorporates some of the color from red grapes skins but not enough to qualify as a red wine. And

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6 scintillating sparkling wines from Europe

Raise a glass to the world of sparkling wine! French Champagne is the most famous, of course, but there are many types of bubbly wine enjoyed around the world, and some of the best/most nobale hail from Europe. Whether you're celebrating a spe

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The wine country around Solvang, southern California

Fess Parker Winery


And speaking of vineyards, Solvang is also surrounded by more than 125 wineries producing some of the world's best vintages and many accepting visitors for tours and tasting; among of the most popular are half-century-old Firesto

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Discovering wine and more in New York State's Finger Lakes region

Luke Petrinec/Steuban County CVB

As a member of the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), I was fortunate to attend a webinar on the Corning and the Southern Finger Lakes presented by Kevin Costello, president and CEO of

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Saying 'G’Day' to some fine Australian wines

 

 

Some weeks ago, our Southern California Wine Council greeted 2022 with a tasting of five wines from the Land Down Under which are exported to the United States.  Four of these wines are produced by Eight at the Gate in the Wrattonbully wine co

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Prost! Munich's beery Oktoberfest is back!

Holzijue/Pixabay


From September 17 to October 3, the legendary celebration of German beer, cuisine, and culture in Bavaria's capital is returning after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unsprprisingly, it's necessary to make your ar

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A toast to a European beer powerhouse: the Czech Republic!

Jekurantodistaja

Ach, du liebe! It’s that sudsy time of year again, as Germany’s Oktoberfest begins anew later this month. When many of us think “beer”, Deutschland naturally springs readily to mind – and for some, perhaps also Belgium, known

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The climate crisis is hitting the wine industry hard

 

 

A sobering look at how frosts, heatwaves, and wildfires are having a devastating effect on wine regions in various countries from The Guardian. To read, click here.

 

 

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All is bright for Southern California Wine Council's holiday tasting

 

Our Southern California Wine Council welcomed the holiday season by tasting and pairing four whites and four reds from the Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), just over an hour east of San Francisco.  With a climate consisting of wa

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Wines deep in the heart of Texas: Becker & Fall Creek Vineyards

Becker Vineyards

It all began when the Becker family began searching for a log cabin to renovate for their Texas Hill Country getaway from their main residence in San Antonio. Inspired by travels abroad where they developed a passion for wines, t

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The winning wine country of Paso Robles, California

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New Zealand's Mount Beautiful WInes

Mt. Beautiful Wines were showcased at our recent Wine Review Council in Temecula, California. Although some of the reviewers were familiar with these wines, this was my first introduction to this New Zealand grown and produced wine.  After a two-

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Hungary's Furmint adds another dimension to white wine

Furmint is Hungary’s answer to other less mainstream white wines gaining prominence lately, such as Austria’s Grüner Veltliner. Most widely grown in the Tokaj-Hegyalja Wine Region, this white grape variety's name is derived from the word froment (w

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California's Thornton Winery hosts annual jazz festival

The Thornton Winery in Temecula, southern California is now hosting the 29th edition of its “Champagne Jazz Series,” and while I might seem like a relative “newcomer”, I have been fortunate to attend shows for the last seven years, enjoying jazz i

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Good wine in Mexico? You bet, amigos!

What, surprised? Yep, it’s true that Mexico’s about more than tequila and beer. In fact, vino here dates back to the 16th century, when vines were brought over from Spain – so never mind Argentina and Chile, Mexico is where this hemisphere’s wine he

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Tasting wines from Moravia, Czech Republic

Moravia has been growing wine since at least the 200s AD, thanks to Roman legions who camped aside the white limestone formations of the Carpathians.  This Czech region is now producing wines comparable to very good wines from its European neighbors

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Falling into the bubbly with a tour through Champagne

It's harvest time in Champagne again - not to mention a most agreeable time of year to visit this lovely and historic region some 100 miles east of Paris, with its main townsReims (whose landmarks include a Roman triumphal arch and a lovely 13th-cent

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Tasting Italian wines from Italy & New Mexico

Our Southern California Wine Review Council recently enjoyed wines made with Italian grapes from both Italy and New Mexico.  Reviewers were assigned wines and then tasked with creating food pairings to share with the group (we often find food pairi

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A dazzling display of Verdicchio by Italy's Garofoli Winery

Garofoli Winery, one of the oldest family-owned winemakers in Italy's Marche region, dates back to 1871 and still specializes in 100-percent single vineyard Verdicchio, a drier white varietal ranging from still to sparkling renowned for distinctive

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