Tag: Napa
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 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 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 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...
Read MoreGlobal Wine Masters Judges Find Gold in Pinot Noir
Patricia Stefanowicz, Master of Wine (MW), reported on findings from the recent Global Masters blind tasting in London. She said judges had high expectations for the Pinot Noir category and entrants from eight countries. “The...
Read MoreLatest Finds in White and Red Wine Values
The following wines, priced from $15 to $33, emerged from recent tastings, offering fine values in what the French call vin ordinaire (we categorize them as weekday and party wines, saving the best and rarest for weekends and...
Read MoreSauvignon Blanc Winners – Past and Present
Wine lovers worldwide have been showing an increased interest in Sauvignon Blanc, from legendary palate-pleasers from Sancerre to new issues from South Africa, New Zealand, and the United States. I’m pleased to report that...
Read MoreCalifornia Cabernet Stars of 2024
Everything from the global news networks to major daily newspapers, financial magazines, TikTok influencers, bloggers, and podcasters of every stripe are issuing their Best of 2024 highlights. This motivated me to see what rose...
Read More