Southern California's Temecula Wine Review Council, of which I am a member, recently gathered for a food pairing and wine tasting of two red wines, Zinfandel and Gamay Noir, from two wine regions, Lodi in northern California and Willamette Valley in
I am a member of the Temecula (California) Wine Review Council, and at a recent council tasting of Missouri wines, I was surprised to learn that the first officially recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA) was Augusta, Missouri, dating back to 1
When even wine connoisseurs think of Latin America and the fruit of the vine, Argentina and Chile of course immediately spring to mind. But to their east, in Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, lies a slightly smaller and les
For the most part, we quite rightly associate wine grape production with fairly temperate climates, whether in Europe, North America, Africa, Australia, or wherever. But those few wine-growing regions which can still count on freezing temperatures e
The Duboeuf family has been producing wine in the south of France for more than four centuries, but it wasn't until 1964 that Georges Duboeuf launched Les Vins Georges Duboeuf.
Duboeuf's perpetual quest for high quality grapes adheres to his ances
Downtown Eugene, Oregon is decidedly more laid back and outdoorsy than much larger and more renowned Portland to the north. The University of Oregon's extensive in-town footprint and streets packed with local non-chain shopping make it a pedestrian
Sometimes “smaller is better” when it comes to crafting limited amounts of premium wine. Serious wine lovers and connoisseurs are focusing their palates towards small producers who craft superior wines in small lots, us
Annually in March, Mendoza celebrates Vendimia (the wine harvest) and this includes an official event ‘Fiesta de la Vendimia Gay’ (Gay Vendimia) held on the second Saturday of the festival. It is the largest LGBT event of its kind in Argentina and la
Carrie Wynkoop loves discovering and sharing great Oregon wine. But when she began her explorations over 20 years ago, she joined one wine club after another but was unable to find any exclusively focusing on Oregon, even though the state is a top
The Valpolicellain Italy's Verona province is renowned for ancient palaces, fabled villas, architectural jewels like the Stelle Hypogeum Church, and Valpolicella wines that inspired Ernest Hemingway to writeAcross the River and Into the Trees. Pres
The diverse country at the bottom of the African continent has been making quite a quality name for itself in winedom in recent years – these daysSouth Africais the world’s ninth-largest wine producer – although winemaking here dates back to the 17
Established in 1858, sixth-generation family-owned Gundlach Bundschu Winery is located on the southwestern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountain Range in the Sonoma Valley's southernmost point. The winery's very own 320-acre Rhinefarm is situated on terr
A vast valley protected between two mountain ranges, northern Spain's La Rioja features terrain, wind conditions, and soil that differs from one village to the next. The River Ebro flows through it all from west to east flanked by the Cantabria Moun
Chile’s signature grape varietal arrived just before phylloxera hit Europe in the mid 19th century. With the country's new wine region just getting established, a few Carménère cuttings were imported and planted in the valleys of Santiago among Merlo
Sunshine you can count on, an Ice Cream Trail, a brew trail, historic Old Towns, and the oldest wine-growing region in the U.S. (surviving Prohibition)—these are some of the special treats awaiting visitors to the Northern California Tri-Valley are
A small city at the lower end of northern California, Paso Robles dates back to the Spanish mission era of the 18th century, and wine making may have here as early as 1797, but it wasn’t until six wineries were established throughout the 1940s that t
When even most wine connoisseurs think ofLatin Americaand the fruit of the vine,ArgentinaandChileof course immediately spring to mind. But to their east, inBrazil’s southernmost state ofRio Grande do Sul, lies a slightly smaller and lesser kn
From a country that exports the most star soccer players and sets the bar for lavish Carnival celebrations the world over, it's easy to overlook Brazil as a major wine producer.
Encompassing nearly 2,500 miles along Brazil’s eastern border, six mai
Throughout the year, the calendars of wine lovers are filled with all manner of momentous dates, of harvests, vintage releases, festivals, and more. And since the 1980s, few have been more heralded than the annual third-Thursday-of-November release