Category: California
White, Red Wine Values for Continued Hunkering in 2021
Some celebrants usher in the New Year with a little bubbly and an expensive vintage wine or two. Based on requests from some friends for lower cost wines to get through the first quarter of 2021 under a pandemic budget, we took...
Read MoreIn Search of Good Red Wine Blends — Traditional to Creative
One strategy for calibrating your palate is to taste wines made from the same varietal grape and decide on styles you like. This is best done blind, where a co-conspirator buys the wines and another puts them in numbered brown...
Read MoreSauvignon Blanc, 20 Wines from $9 to $42
The following 20 wines were tasted during the past six months and offer a range, from easy-sipping party and wedding reception wines, to stylish, crisp and complex wines to match with shellfish and seafood. We found a decent...
Read MoreSummer Whites: Easy Sipping Party Wines, Plus a Few Complex Classics
The following white wines rose to the top of our tasting leaderboard the past three months, scoring for overall quality of the wines and values delivered. Most are widely available, except for classics from the cellar and...
Read MoreValues from Four Nations in BBQ Wines
With Americans firing up the home barbecue and indoor grills more than ever before, we searched for good values in hearty BBQ wines to enhance the fun. We would typically suggest adding to beach parties and picnic fare as well,...
Read MoreValues in New World Pinot Noir
In seeking gastronomic relief from the high-alcohol fruit bombs attacking our palates from all over the world, we often turn to something more friendly with food – Pinot Noir. Wines from this fine red wine grape can be enjoyed...
Read More18 Chardonnays for Spring and Summer Sipping
The following wines were selected from tastings over the past three months for a combination of quality, style and price. Sources were local grocery stores, wine merchants, online discount houses and a warehouse store. Prices...
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Lodi Reds Redux; New Discoveries from California
After enjoying a class on Lodi wines at the annual SommCon® conference held each year in San Diego...
Read MoreMerlot and Malbec – BBQ, Beef and Pasta Wines
Over the past few months, we’ve tasted some 50 Merlot and Malbec wines, purchased from warehouse stores, local merchants and on-line discount sites. Here are nine that scored best and are good matches for food, mostly dishes...
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Syrah Smackdown: Appreciating a Sense of Place and Personality
The annual SommCon® conference provides sommelier-level education and training of wine...
Read MoreSauvignon Blanc Finds, $10 to $39
The following emerged as the best values, or offering fine style for a higher price, in tasting some 50 Sauvignon Blanc wines over the past three months. Wines were purchased from online flash sale merchants, big box stores and...
Read MoreBig Reds: BBQ, Picnic and Party Wines from $12 to $32
With many outdoor events scheduled as we headed into the Labor Day weekend, we sorted through notes on bigger wines we’ve enjoyed with barbecue, picnic and party fare. Here are 12 favorites. The selections include wines made...
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