Category: California
Red, White, and Rosé Wine Values for Summer Sipping, Parties, and Picnics
We tasted several hundred value wines over the past six months and narrowed this selection to those priced under $25 and scoring 15/88 to 17/92 on the respective 20-point and 100-point scales. The 22 wines are from five...
Read MoreGlobal Masters 2026 Pinot Noir Winners
Patrick Schmitt, master of wine and chairman of the Global Masters competition in the UK, asked: “What is the perfect Pinot Noir? It’s a question I found myself asking after our blind tasting of wines made in a wide range of...
Read MorePaso Robles Wine Country Continues to Grow in Numbers and Quality
This blog idea came up after reviewing the results of a recent blind tasting by the Carmel Valley Wine Club, its 348th monthly tasting, featuring one white and seven reds from Paso Robles using varieties and blends in...
Read MoreBest of the Best Global Wine Masters 2025
The Global Wine Masters Competitions began in 2013 as an offshoot of the Drinks Business, the world’s leading magazine for the wine and spirits trade. The goal was to use their collective industry expertise to promote the...
Read MoreFavorite Wines of 2025 – Bordeaux, California Cabernet, Italian, and Other Reds
As noted in the first posting of notes on my favorite wines from 2025, covering Burgundy and Pinot Noir, good values can be found from the top wine-producing regions of the world. The caveat: trust the best producers from each...
Read MoreFavorite Wines of 2025 – Burgundy and Pinot Noir Edition
In reading through my tasting notes from 2025, a couple of themes stood out: wine drinkers are enjoying an excellent supply of well-made wines under $25 from around the world; direct-to-consumer offers from discount and flash...
Read MoreWine Business Announces 2025 Chardonnay Masters Winners
The Global Wine Masters competition is one of my favorite resources for exploring wines from around the world in all price categories. According to the site, “Each competition showcases a key variety or style – such as Pinot...
Read MoreWine Values from 6 Countries, 16 Appellations
I tag wines with a value designation based on their pricing relative to other wines in their category, and something I’m pleased to sip around the house as our vin ordinaire or with friends. This ranges from party wines of...
Read MorePetite Sirah: Big Wines for Bold Dishes
Petite Sirah, despite its somewhat misleading name, is anything but small. The grape originated in France in the mid-19th century, created by botanist François Durif, who crossed Syrah with an obscure varietal called Peloursin....
Read MoreClassic Italian Wines Dominate Sangiovese Masters
The Global Masters conducts monthly competitions featuring varietal wines from throughout the world. Experienced judges from the wine trade and with advanced degrees judge the wines blind. Scores are tallied and results issued....
Read MoreAre Old Vine California Zinfandels Better?
Jerry Feitelson, founder and gang leader of the Carmel Valley Wine Club, organized its 344th blind tasting in June 2025, which “tried to test the hypothesis that California Zinfandel wines made from Old (>35 years) vs. Young...
Read MoreTasting Notes from Domaine Drouhin, Duckhorn, Far Niente, and Frank Family
Winery dinner tastings are a quick way to learn more about the wines from each operation, their philosophies and stories, and how the selections pair with food. The approach is less clinical and much more fun than at blind...
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