Tag: wine
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Chardonnay Throwdown: California vs. Chile
Chardonnay is the world’s most beloved white wine grape. It is still the most consumed grape (white or red), largely due to its adaptability and versatility. It is grown in every wine production region in the world, expressing terroir and winemaking techniques possibly better than any other grape. When thinking of Chardonnay California is likely…
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Addendum Wines: Continuing the Pioneering Spirit of Fess Parker
Fess Parker has lived his life as a pioneer. Perhaps it’s because he is a Texan, or because as a successful television actor he embodied the roles of both Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. Or maybe it started with Fess being one of the earliest members of the Santa Barbara Vintners Association, after he and…
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Why Cabernet Sauvignon is the King of Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of the red wine jungle. Bordeaux may reign supreme in old world wines, but when it comes to new world Cabs, Napa Valley is tops. The first grapes were planted in Napa Valley by George Calvert Yount in 1839. Charles Krug is credited with establishing Napa’s first commercial winery in…
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Square Peg Winery: Creating Beauty out of Non-Conformity
“Square peg in a round hole” is an idiomatic expression which describes the unusual individualist who could not fit into a niche of their society. Have you ever felt different? Not necessarily trying to be a non-conformist but just not “fitting in” to the established mold. When I was growing up there was a goofy television…
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6 Refreshing White Wines to Pair with Summer
When do the dog days of summer begin? It is only mid-July but it is hot. In Texas we have a least two more months of full on summer temps. As the mercury continues to rise we have to find ways to cool down. Packing a suitcase and heading to a cooler destination is a…
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#Winophiles Showdown: Madiran vs Applegate Valley
This month our French Winophiles group is exploring a more obscure region of France: Sud Ouest, aka Southwest France. Although it is the 5th largest wine producing region in France, its location, tucked away between the Pyrénées Mountains and Spain to the south and Bordeaux to the north, results in a sparsely populated area. Sud Ouest…
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5 Rhône Valley Wines Perfect for Summer
As much as I enjoy exploring the historical convergence of wine and religion that is evident all over the world, the Rhone Valley is possibly my favorite wine region to excavate historically. Hopefully someday I will have the opportunity to explore it in person. However, the Rhone Valley is not only home to religious history,…
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5 South of the Border Reds Perfect for Summer
Summer is in full swing and the heat is on. It is the perfect time for rosé all day and crisp refreshing white wines. However, if you partake in one of summer’s greatest past times (the cookout), then you know summer is also time for big reds. What better reds to pair with summer cookouts…
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Villa Maria: Pursuing Something Special
It’s not uncommon to hear about bands who are an overnight success decades in the making. Years spent on the road from dive bar to dive bar in cities all over the world, barely making ends meet, then finally a recorded song makes it to the right DJ or record executive at the right time…
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Get to Know Spain’s Utiel-Requena DO
Spain’s Valencian Community is the fourth most populous autonomous community after Andalusia, Catalonia, and Madrid. The city of Valencia, located on the southeastern coast about 303 kilometer (188 miles) from Barcelona, is the capital of the Community. As Spain’s third largest city, Valencia has much to offer, including beaches, arts, medieval castles, an inviting Central…
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