Bouchaine Vineyard Owner Goes Totally Virtual in Purchase of 43-acre Carneros Olive Grove

NEWS RELEASE, July 28, 2020  Napa, CA – Bouchaine Vineyards proprietor, and president, Tatiana Copeland, has purchased the 43-acre property located at 2686 Las Amigas Road, just one short mile from Bouchaine Vineyards, the winery she owns with her husband, Gerret Copeland. The property boasts a 20-acre organic olive grove, consisting of 3,000 olive trees. […]

July 30, 2020 | Filed under Uncategorized | Read More

Scheid Family Wines Announces New Hire Tim Wera, National Chain Account Manager

NEWS RELEASE   MONTEREY,CA, JULY 30, 2020 – Scheid Family Wines is pleased to welcome Tim Wera as a National Account Manager on its Chain Team. Reporting to John Holder, VP of Sales, Wera is responsible for managing the Kroger, Target, Meijer, Spartan Nash, and U.S. Commissary chain accounts within the Scheid Family Wines national […]

July 30, 2020 | Filed under Uncategorized | Read More

Doug Frost Shares His Passion For Beaujolais In New Video Series

NEWS RELEASE   The eleven-part program will cover topics including terroir, winemaking and the ten Crus that comprise the renowned region   NAPA, CA (July 29, 2020)—Fine wine importer Quintessential, in partnership with Les Vins Georges Duboeuf, announces a new 11-part Beaujolais video series hosted by Doug Frost MS, MW, featuring some of the industry’s […]

July 30, 2020 | Filed under Uncategorized | Read More

A heat-damaged Safeway trifecta

  Dismal pandemic wine trifecta.   I bought all three of these because I had tried them before and enjoyed them.  All were heat damaged.   The 22 Pirates cork crumbled like Styrofoam, showed wine forced up the cork by heat. Wine had a faint dank nose, muddy bland soupy consistency without fruit. Pessimist cork […]

July 30, 2020 | Filed under Uncategorized | Read More

2018 I Lauri Tavo Pinot Grigio ( Delle Venezie, Italy)

2018 I Lauri Tavo Pinot Grigio ( Delle Venezie, Italy)   “Juicy” nose….apple and citrus with some stone/minerality. Long finish. Tasty!   Purchased on sale for $9.99 (originally $14.99) from Great Grapes in Cary, NC). -B

July 28, 2020 | Filed under Uncategorized | Read More

photo test for monday

July 27, 2020 | Filed under Uncategorized | Read More

2014 Finca Montepedroso Verdejo (Rueda, Spain)

2014 Finca Montepedroso Verdejo (Rueda, Spain)   100% Verdejo.   Straw yellow in color…floral and grassy nose….citrus is the main fruits noted, with dried hay and maybe a bit of yeastiness. Creamy and complex. Purchased on sale for $12.72 (originally $18.99) from Great Grapes in Cary, NC. -B

July 26, 2020 | Filed under Uncategorized | Read More

2016 Altanza Dominio de Heredia Rioja (DOC Rioja, Spain)

2016 Altanza Dominio de Heredia Rioja (DOC Rioja, Spain).   Tobacco, violets, plum, cedar chest on the nose. Black cherry/dark fruits and maaaaaybe a little molasses on the palate and finish. Lighter body, but still a nice bite.   Enjoyable!   Purchased on sale for $12.99 from Great Grapes in Cary, NC. -B

July 24, 2020 | Filed under Uncategorized | Read More

Hot weather shipments taking a toll on wine

This cork — from a winery sample — was supposed to have been delivered by UPS overnight. (Photo modified to remove winery identification.) Instead, it took four extremely hot (93 degree+)  days to arrive.   Near-dehydrated wine forced out by the heat had collected inside the capsule.   I spoke with a UPS employee at […]

July 23, 2020 | Filed under Uncategorized | Read More

Markus Huber Sparkling Rosé (Austria)

Markus Huber Sparkling Rosé (Austria)   A blend of Zweigelt and Pinot Noir, deemed “sassy and sophisticated” from the back label.   Salmon pink…strawberry and cream, citrus, with lots of tiny bubbles.   Easy drinking!   Purchased on sale for $13.99 (retail $18.99) from Great Grapes in Cary, NC. -B

July 22, 2020 | Filed under Uncategorized | Read More