We do much of our searching for good values in quality wines at different Costcos in our region and screening discount daily offers from online merchants or big retail chains that help wineries clear inventories as new wines...
Read MoreFrom the big box stores to the national chains to your neighborhood grocery store, you can find excellent selections for those occasions when easy sipping and value are the order of the day, rather than delving into the nuances...
Read MoreFor Cabernet Sauvignon fans, the latest results from the annual Global Wine Masters Competition give us a stunning array of quality choices from around the world, including great values under $30. The categories and approximate...
Read MoreEnjoyed a recent blind tasting of Viognier with the Carmel Valley Wine Club, San Diego, tasting No. 306 over 32 years. Previously done in person, now on Zoom, which has reduced the banter and camaraderie but improved tallying...
Read MoreThe following notes are from tastings the past four months with a focus on wines scoring above 14.5 on the UC Davis scale (87 other scales) and costing less than $20. The range starts at $9. We added one at $24 for the big...
Read MoreOne 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 MoreThe 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...
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The annual SommCon® conference provides sommelier-level education and training of wine...
Read MoreWith 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...
Read MoreThe following wines rise to the top in price and value from among several hundred wines tasted over the past few months, from individual bottles with food at home to sampling through scores at trade tastings and industry...
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In search of something with a little more style than beers and sodas to go with food during summer...
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As wines from the most recent harvests advance toward the distribution channels, spring white...
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