Merlot may not be the most popular grape variety to talk about, but it is extremely popular in the ground. It is the second most planted grape variety in the world. According to the OIV, the International Organization of Vine and Wine, Merlot (657,300 acres) is only second to Cabernet Sauvignon (840.000) in terms of…
Is there anyone who thought that when Robin Bell Renken chose Back to School as the theme for the September #WinePW chat, that I would not be talking about Cabernet Franc?! We were asked to pick a subject on wine and put together a fun educational piece to expand your wine knowledge! I thought a…
Just a mere 8,000 miles away from California is Tasmania. While growing up, I always wanted to visit the region, simply because I loved the Tasmanian Devil. The way he would spin in as a tornado and wreak havoc on all the looney tunes characters. No matter how many chains were around his cage, he…
Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It has been one day since my last wine. That is about all I remember from my many years in Catholic school. I do remember dreading the mandatory confessionals. I mean seriously, at seven years old, what could I really have to confess? So instead, like many of…
We discovered Paso Robles quite some time ago. It was a different place then. It was an unknown and unexplored region. It’s only claim to fame at that point… and the reason why we found it… was its location. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, allowing us to explore all California had to…
The #winePW crew is at it again. This Saturday, November 13th, we will be exploring the Pasobilites that Paso Robles has to offer! Have you heard of the Central Coast? It comprises a large portion of the California coastline and is divided into four main regions. Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey Bay. While visiting, you…
Envision yourself sitting down to enjoy a lovely glass of wine with a view of beautiful rolling hills to the east and the Santa Lucia Coastal Range to your west. A region that dates back to the pre-mission era when the Salinas Indians recognized the healing powers of the springs. On March 11, 1889 the…
October is my favorite month. Halloween…. our anniversary…. and #MerlotMe! A month dedicated to a grape variety that hasn’t had the easiest time in the past. In the early 90s, Merlot vines were over planted. A misunderstanding of the variety and the environment it grows well in led to a high number of poorly farmed…
Before we get into the post, I don’t know what it is about Washington wine regions, but they like to make us think twice about how to say them. Take for example, Willamette Valley. You can not be a wine lover without having heard at least once, “It’s Willamette, Damn It!” Apparently, the residents of…
This month, the #WinePW crew is adventuring into the realm of saké and Asian food pairing. The event is being hosted by Camilla Mann of Culinary Adventures with Camilla. Those who know me, know that I although I am rather adventurous in what I’m willing to do; rock climb, zip line etc. I am the…
