Wine Regions
R.Stuart - Bloggers Blend Pinot Noir
Written by shawn on date 22 April 2013 in Oregon Wine Country , Travel, Wine Regions, Winemakers
Have you ever wanted to blend your own bottle of wine? Blending my own wine is something I have thought a lot about over the years, Pinot Noir in-particular. Wine blending has been a frequent topic between my wife and I, to the point that despite being untested or proven, my wife believes I could blend well. I on the other hand am not so sure.
While attending the Wine Bloggers Conference in Oregon last August, I was honored to receive an invitation to join about 25 others by our very gracious hosts, Maria, and Rob Stuart of R.Stuart ...
Read moreHow to Buy Wine Like a Champion!
Written by shawn on date 23 February 2013 in Happy Canyon, Oregon Wine Country , Santa Barbara County, Wine Regions
When visiting the local grocery store, Trader Joes, or COSTCO to shop for wine, I see many people staring into an abyss of wine. I can see the struggle in some of their eyes of not knowing what they should purchase. Most people simply do not want to gamble their money on plonk wine. Research statistics indicate the vast majority select their purchases on price point being the number one contributor.
Of course there are many different circumstances someone might want a bottle, but at the end of the day, everyone wants something that tastes palatable or better for a ...
Read moreTop Wines of 2012 Wines That Will Blow Up Your Skirt
Written by shawn on date 17 January 2013 in Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, Oregon Wine Country , Santa Barbara County, Wine Festivals , Wine Regions, Wine Reviews
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 ...
Read moreMalibu Wines
Written by shawn on date 25 October 2012 in Wine Regions
When it comes to wine-tasting, many wine drinkers' knee-jerk reactions are to visit Napa Valley, Sonoma, or somewhere on the Central Coast. While these are highly worthy spots, some southern California residents might not be aware of closer options. A bit of a newcomer on the block is Malibu. Yes, that's right, as in PCH, the beach, Bay Watch, locations of many of Hollywood's films and TV -- yes, that Malibu.
The first vineyard planted post-prohibition was from George Rosenthal in 1987. Rosenthal later went on to be the first to establish an AVA within Malibu called Newton Canyon ...
Read moreWBC12 Sneak Peak!
Written by shawn on date 27 June 2012 in Travel, Wine Regions
This years Wine Bloggers Conference or #wbc12, will be held in Portland Oregon this coming August 15-19th. Those you of joining the #wbc12 have most likely already reviewed the agenda, and for me that would amount to a few dozen times. Throughout this past year I have been privileged to participate in a handful of events that all have ties to this years #wbc12 agenda. In a sense, I feel like I've gotten micro portions of wbc. While each of these tiny pieces have been lots of fun, I expect so much more when in Portland.
I live near ...
Read moreThe Unknown Santa Barbara
Written by shawn on date 16 February 2012 in Central Coast, Happy Canyon, Santa Barbara County, Wine Regions
The movie "Sideways" seems to be a beaten dead horse amongst the wine industry, so much so, it could be called the "S-word." They say perception is reality and many people's knowledge base sometimes falls on a simple movie. As exasperated as the discussions might be, the impact has been a lasting one. A well known winemaker called it the "Sideways bump." The Santa Barbara region was heavily blessed with a lot of wine travelers seeking the much talked about Pinot Noir with cash in hand. While Santa Barbara county may produce some of the best Pinot Noir in ...
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