When Cellars of Sonoma has winemaker Ted Elliot as a guest on thier Tuesday night show (6:00 PM), it is something special. He, nor the wine disappointed. For those wine enthusiasts that really like to follow some of the great names in wine, this is someone to add to the list.

Tuesday night Ted came on the live-stream with Scott Jordan to share about his wines as we tasted together and interacted with questions via Twitter. Ted said."I love aromatics in Pinots." I must say it is one of the aspects I appreciate so much about Pinot Noir ...

Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure

Coming to Solvang this Saturday,February 16th, 2013 is another extension of events from the Garagiste Festival. When it comes to food, so often foodies gravitate towards a local chef that uses fresh ingredients to "cook with love." There are of course rare occasions were there could be mass hysteria over a box of nuclear fall out food like twinkles or Coke Classic, however, most lean towards well prepared foods.

Translating this over to wine is where the Garagiste wine producer comes into play. These are typically dedicated, highly passionate people that produce wines with soul ...

Calling all Pinot Noir fans! Saturday February 9th is the 6th annual Pasadena Pinot Fest to be held at Altadena Country Club.

This event will host many spectacular wineries and winemakers from Sta Rita Hills, Santa Maria Valley, Russian River Valley, Willamette Valley amongst several other regions. 

From my experience, having the opportunity to focus on one grape varietal can be a fun and an educational experience. For me, it has allowed the opportunity to focus on what styles I gravitate towards, what regions I prefer, and even dialed in my ability to taste the difference in clones on some ...

The 2011 Syrah "Tour les Jours" has been touted by major wine press for many years as being a consistent top value rated wine. From my memory the scores have typically been 89-91 and at a price point of around $16.00 there is a clear reason for the accolades and press he has received.

This 2011 vintage got my attention quick. The first thought I had was "wow, this is the front line?" That is a big deal. The first thought I had was "wow." From my viewpoint not much more matters. If someone told you that there was ...

Superbowl BBQ sauce! Here is a little something to get you and your guests ready for the big game!

A few years of my life I lived in Texas. Many have heard something along the lines of "there are three things in Texas…..God, football, and BBQ, and not always in that order." 

From my time and experience living in the Dallas area, I can verify this is in fact true. High schools have sold out football games with scoreboards better than many colleges in other States. There is a church on just about every corner. Anyone on the block ...

Superbowl food and wine pairing -  

Saying the word "Superbowl" instantly gives thoughts, feelings and images to many of us. I view the Super Bowl as a special holiday that includes: friends, family, food, alcohol, commercials, and maybe even acid reflux. Maybe it would be better said if I just used the word "party."

Whenever there are parties that involve feeding large groups of people, I often begin to think about the "how." I look for ways to provide tasty foods that are easy preparation, wines that pair, and if possible not to break the bank. 

Here are my top 10 ...

Top wines of 2012 - There are wines to save up and splurge,wines to stand upright in your cellar when company visits to show off that '45 Bordeaux. Then there are the wines for the people in the villages…..like me. 

This is the Wandering Wino second edition of wines that blow up your skirt. As I stated in last years post, I am not a cross dresser, but this is a simply American phrase used to say these are wines I really like and stood out to me. These are wines that are mostly available without the need for ...

Santa Barbara wine country is known for its high quality wine and when it comes to wine tasting, the question nearly always arises of "Where is a good place to eat?"

Begining January 20-26, Santa Barbara or more specificly Santa Ynez Valley initiates restaurant week. 

(Photo - above Root 246)

Restaurants throughout the Santa Ynez Valley will offer a special 3-course tasting menus for $20.13 not including tax, tip or beverages. Some restrictions may apply and reservations may be required. This is a great opportunity to try some amazing restaurants for a fantastic price.

Chef Rick and Chef Alfonso Curti ...

Cheers in all languages can be heard throughout the world, and New Year's eve must be the most heavy night of this simple word, "cheers." Cultures from all over have intrigued the traveler and global minded alike. Many that like to travel, gravitate towards new adventures, discoveries, learning about how others live, their differences, their similarities and even the language.

When it comes to wine, it must be one of the most commonly linked joys amongst so many cultures in any language. On a personal level, when I worked in the corporate world, I worked with people from all ...

When it comes to holiday entertaining, one of the most common questions I hear this time of year is, "What wines should I have during the holidays?" A key aspect to consider of course is: what foods are you serving? 

One of the most common food entrees this time of year seems to be turkey. There are so many various side dishes that could be served ranging from sweet and rich yams to Italian acidic red sauces and every other type of food in-between. While there may be no wine that pairs with everything on your holiday plate, the turkey ...