WINE

Oenophiles, cheers to you!

This is dedicated to wine experiences so good you could die happy at first sip, a blend of posts, photos, videos, news and more.

Photo: Diane Wagner

~~~~~

~~~~~

Wine Folly VIDEO: Examining Cabernet Franc

Wine Folly is a great way to learn about wine. I like its irreverent approach – just its name gets you smiling. Watch this video and you’ll see how the woman at the helm, Madeline Puckett, is as bold as a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with wine knowledge as rich as Wine Country soil. Here she sheds light on “the other Cabernet” (Cabernet Franc) as she compares New World (Napa) with Old World (Loire Valley). [read more]

~~~~~

Living in Napa means wine immersion.

I reside in Napa. As a wine lover, it’s my civic duty to know as much as possible about all types of vino. That means studying up. So I asked some of my wine friends like Peter Zachar (Insta: @PeterZachar) and got several tantalizing ideas. [read more]

Photo: Diane Wagner

~~~~~

Bouchon Wine Dinner: Burgundy Elegant

DeathbedFood Burgundy Wine Dinner Echoes French Laundry Experience

Head Sommelier, Alex Weil

Recently, I was invited to cover the Burgundy Wine Dinner held at Bouchon Beverly Hills. They have been doing dinners to celebrate the various wine regions of France, pairing food with the wine of the region – with the first being a Loire Valley dinner.  This, their second one, was for the Burgundy region.  Its six courses, paired with white and red Burgundies by Head Sommelier Alex Weil, came as close to a French Laundry experience for me as, well, my French Laundry experience in January 2006! [Read more]

~~~~~

Cook’s County was SERIOUS about wine! {Photo: Diane Wagner}

~~~~~

New to Napa! Where should I go?

Moved to Napa this summer. What wineries should be on my list?

I moved to Napa about a month ago. Like many people before me, I want to pursue one of my life-long dreams of being in the wine industry. If Mr. Big from “Sex & The City” did it, I can too.

I grew up in Marin, the county to its south. I started visiting Napa around age 10, picnicking at Cline. As I got a little older, I sipped at St. Supery and had a once-in-a-lifetime lunch at French Laundry. I’m rusty with the Valley because I lived in Southern California for decades. So now that I’m here in the Motherland and can explore Napa as never before, I need your advice. Where should I go? [read more]

~~~~~

Tips From Spago’s Wine Director

Spago’s wine list is killer. Its wine director, Phillip Dunn, knows his wine and manages a 3,000 bottle award-winning wine selection with prices ranging from $35 to $12,000! In Patrick Comiskey’s LA Times piece about Spago’s wine program, Dunn shares some smooth tips for restauranteurs and plain ol’ wine lovers like me. [read more]

Photo: Diane Wagner

~~~~~

Photo: Diane Wagner

~~~~~

Photo: Diane Wagner

~~~~~

MORE

Ram’s Gate Winery Makes Sonoma’s Carneros Region Sexy

How Social Media Paired Me with Jordan Old World Wines

Cline Cellars’ Cashmere Supports Great Cause – and Tastes Great!

Celebrating Naked Wine at Chef Jose Andres’ The Bazaar

The Best Non Expert Champagne Tip Here!

Learning About New Cabernet Stars

Wine & Artisanal Caramel Pairing Inspire Holiday Gift Idea

Sparkling Chocolate Truffles Glitter for Mother’s Day

Peninsula Beverly Hills & Jordan Wine: Extraordinary Dining at Bandera Pricing

Learning About The Wines of Santa Barbara

~~~~~

Justin of JUSTIN {Photo: Diane Wagner}