Month: June 2017
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Julien Miquel: A Man of the World of Wine
I honestly do not remember when I first became aware of Julien Miquel. It must have been on Twitter. He is a very active and friendly social media force in the wine world. I felt honored he even knew I was a small part of the community. Last August at the Wine Bloggers Conference I […]
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Charles Smith: Rockin the Wine World
“It’s just wine, drink it.” ~ Charles Smith Words that have been used to describe Charles Smith include obnoxious, loud-mouth, rock n roller, and twice named Winemaker of the Year, by Food and Wine Magazine in 2009 and Wine Enthusiast Magazine in 2014. He has experienced extreme poverty, travelled Europe, bartended, and manage rock n’ […]
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Paso Robles: Adding Spice to Life
“Variety is the spice of life.” ~ The Task (1785) by English Poet William Cowper We are all familiar with this idiomatic expression. Ironically studies indicate most people are more creatures of habit than seeking variety in their lives. In many areas of my life I am very much a creature of habit, but when […]
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Pedernales Cellars: Living a Dream
Five important questions to ask oneself before embarking on a dream, according to Kidando.Net: Do you constantly think about your dream? Do you know more about your passion than the average person? Do you have an idea of what it will take to accomplish your goal? Do you believe it is possible to achieve your […]
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Sutro Wine Company: Embracing Community and Wine
Minutes before I sat down to research this article I was conversing via text with a dear friend who was about to embark on a service opportunity that would challenge her on many levels. My response of encouragement to her was “I’m guessing when it’s over and you look back you will feel you received […]
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Get to Know Spain’s Navarra DO
Navarra is one of Spain’s most ancient wine regions. Historical evidence dates grape growing back to 2 BC when ancient Romans built wineries there. The wines gained prominence in the Middle Ages. By the 18th century viticulture was the main agriculture in the region, and when the phylloxera outbreak hit France, Navarra benefited from increased […]
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A Journey Through Burgundy Part 2, Exploring Mâconnais with #Winophiles
Last month our French Winophiles group embarked on a delicious and educational journey. With L.M. Archer of BinNotes redThread™ at the helm, we explored Chablis and Côte d’Or. This month we are moving to southern Burgundy to examine Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais, and Beaujolais. I have zeroed in on Mâconnais with a fun survey of Mâcon Villages versus […]
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Getting Real with Hacienda de Arínzano
Spain is a vast country comprised of 13 wine regions with over 2,000 vineyard acres and 200+ grape varieties. Situated in the north-eastern region of Spain between La Rioja and Navarra, near the town of Pamplona lies Hacienda de Arínzano. Arínzano is not just another Spanish winery, they are the first winery in northern Spain […]
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Aberrant Cellars: Pursuing the Profound
Aberrant: adjective meaning departing from an accepted standard, diverging from the normal type In a world of paths, standards, and expectations, what happens when you wander off the path of standards and expectations? How will you know if you never try?