Wine industry comments support the issue of common courtesy for the Napa Wine...
Yesterday’s story about the Napa Wine Train sparked some very interesting comments on that post. Wine industry comments support the issue Great thread, Jo! Should be a “must read” for all “wine...
View Article10 Ways to Avoid Wine Country Crowds
Not everyone loves crowds. Those who do are ultra social beings and it’s great for them. (Keep it up!) It works, because the vast majority of people love being social and in crowds. But, there are...
View ArticleWine Etiquette ~ The 10 most important things to remember
I once wrote a story called Wine Country Casual, because people are so concerned, wanting to know the best thing to wear. We’re like that as people, aren’t we? It’s also one of my most clicked onto...
View ArticleBordeaux ~ The Aquitaine Region ~ partie huit
I’m learning about Bordeaux, a big piece of my wine puzzle that’s been missing since I began my wine journey in 1993. When one moves from a state like Maine to California, California wines just take...
View ArticleTasting 101 Simplified for a Novice ~ Especially if you’re faced with...
I was just asked by someone, who's writing an article on tips of how to train your palate. He asked if I would be interested in sharing a tip for developing tasting chops.
View ArticleBordeaux ~ Top 10 Things I Learned From Peter M. F. Sichel ~ partie seize
While reading Peter M. F. Sichel‘s book, The Secrets of My Life: Vintner, Prisoner, Soldier, Spy, I learned a lot about a lot… His Chapter 29, Becoming a Bordeaux Vintner was very important to me. I’ve...
View ArticleWine Etiquette 101 ~ The 10 most important things to remember
I once wrote a story called Wine Country Casual, because people are so concerned, wanting to know the best thing to wear. We’re like that as people, aren’t we? It’s also one of my most clicked onto...
View ArticleThe Terroir of the Petaluma Wind Gap
A few years ago, I was privately doing a lot of reading and writing about Green Valley of the Russian River Valley. Something that was a bit elusive for me was actually grasping exactly where the...
View ArticleMy Neighborhood Series ~ Sculpture from Geyserville to Cloverdale ~ #1
Last fall, we moved to Geyserville. We hadn’t thought of it as moving to a senior community; but, in some ways, it really is conducive to a more mature living location. I have gray hair coming in, so...
View ArticleEarth Day in Wine Country ~ You are what you eat AND DRINK
You are what you eat AND DRINK… Why have we missed stating the obvious DRINK part for so long? As you think about this question, consider where we’d be today, if – in the 60s – we would have chanted...
View ArticleNapa Valley Vintner Stuart Smith Supporting “No On C” with a Blog Devoted to...
Stuart Smith has gathered in depth background materials for “No On C and Napa County’s environment” at www.stopmeasurec.com. The Webpage opens with what’s most concerning for this measure: “Because...
View ArticleWorld’s Largest BYO Tradition is Coming to Russian River Valley
PHOTO: Andrey Cherkasov This wine and food event is going to be really delicious; and in the process, you’ll learn all about a Paulée Dinner. www.lapaulee.com/ ~ La Paulée is a series of events...
View ArticleRutherford Dust Brought Karen MacNeil Squarely Into My Headlights, Now Into...
Most of you know Karen MacNeil as the author of The Wine Bible. Please appreciate it took her 10 years to write this tome, and was without the luxury of the Internet for reading and research. She's a...
View ArticleBeaujolais News from Georges Dubœuf ~ Beautiful Grapes and Magnificent Vines
I’ve had communications with Georges Dubœuf’s wine company. I’ve had a very insightful phone interview with Franck. For two years in a row, I received a bottle of their Celebration of Beaujolais Day —...
View ArticleColonnara Viticultori in Cupramontana ~ In the Castelli di Jesi region of Le...
[PHOTO: Jo Diaz – Cupramontana Headquarters] To understand wine, first we need understand its culture and people. The first time I wrote that was in 2009, just prior to a trip to Portugal. This thought...
View ArticleRomancing the Grape ~ Relationship Selling for Hospitality Professionals
SAMPLE COPY from Lynda R. Paulson ~ PHOTO: Jo Diaz Romancing the Grape ~ Relationship Selling for Hospitality Professionals by Lynda R. Paulson should be mandatory reading for all winery tasting room...
View ArticleTop Wine and Spirits Books of 2018 ~ Belonging in Any Great Wine (Book) Library
Each year I enjoy putting a list together of the best wine books I read through the year. This year is no exception, and these books are each fabulous. Here are my 2018 Wine and Spirits Books, in...
View ArticleWhen Opportunity Knocked ~ Siena Italy Was at the Door
[ALL PHOTO: Jo Diaz, unless noted otherwise. Shop in Sienna, Italy] PART 1 ~ CULTURE LEADS TO WINE AND FOOD In October of 2018, a door was opened for me by Bluest Sky Group, when I was invited to join...
View ArticlePetaluma Gap Wines ~ Wildly Flavorful
[PHOTO: Dr. Mark Greenspan, borrowed from his Advanced Viticulture Website] From the famed viticulture expert Dr. Mark Greenspan in a Petaluma Gap Newsletter: According to viticulturist Mark Greenspan...
View ArticleWhen It’s Traditional and It’s in Tuscany ~ Day 2
I was the guest of Castello di Meleto in Gaiole ~ In the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany. Hosted by Antonia Caserta (sales manager), their winemaker Matteo Menicacci, and their agronomist Giovanni...
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