Tag Archives: wine

Is Swiss wine a thing?

We all think of the Alps, the cheese, the beautiful rolling hills, the cute little villages within hiking distance of one another, the chocolate and of course the watches. What we don’t often think of is the wine. Does Switzerland make wine? Yes! And it’s quite tasty at that. Grapevines in Switzerland are recorded toContinueContinue reading “Is Swiss wine a thing?”

Let’s go wine tasting on the world’s most active volcano

It’s a widely known fact that Italy is one of the world’s oldest wine growing regions. We often think of Piemonte, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, the list goes on. However, there is a very important part of Italy that has often been overlooked, until recently, and that is Sicily. Wine is grown in many regions of Sicily,ContinueContinue reading “Let’s go wine tasting on the world’s most active volcano”

Wine in France & What I’m Drinking

One of the reasons I’ve long-dreamt of moving to France was the sheer abundance of wine. Wine is truly part of everyday life here and inherent in the culture. Many French people grow up having little tastes of wine here and there at family dinners well before they reach the legal drinking age of 18ContinueContinue reading “Wine in France & What I’m Drinking”

Exclusive Tasting – Bodega Numanthia

One of the perks of getting to work for a large wine group is that if they own other brands, you can discover new wines and new regions that you maybe wouldn’t have the opportunity to otherwise. For me, I’ve been dreaming a lot lately about going to Spain. The sun, the food, the music…ContinueContinue reading “Exclusive Tasting – Bodega Numanthia”

2 French white wines that refreshed my palate 

In following a dream I’ve had since high school French class, I moved to Paris to get my Master’s degree, immerse myself in the culture, better understand French wines and become fluent in the language. For a while I knew that working at a wine bar would be a great way to expose myself toContinueContinue reading “2 French white wines that refreshed my palate “

The case for Chardonnay

Chardonnay is one of the topics about which I am the most passionate. For some reason I feel extremely adamant about getting the word out that Chardonnay is not all movie theater butter and heavy, heavy mouthfeels. It can actually be light and floral and dance on your palate like a crisp Sauvignon Blanc (butContinueContinue reading “The case for Chardonnay”

Ownroot Collective x Post & Vine

If you’re not a member of Terra Jane’s Ownroot Collective you are missing out. I have attended 3 (virtual) tasting events so far and I’ve already discovered so many new and delicious wines that were living right under my nose for so long and I had no idea. Ownroot is a wine club that featuresContinueContinue reading “Ownroot Collective x Post & Vine”

What it’s like to work a harvest in Napa Valley

When I graduated from the Viticulture & Enology program at UC Davis, my degree had prepared me for what to expect when working a harvest. I also had several friends who had worked in production post-grad so I had a pretty good understanding of what a harvest internship would entail. However, in my 3 yearsContinueContinue reading “What it’s like to work a harvest in Napa Valley”

A Taste of Toscana

West shore Lake Tahoe At just around $10 a bottle at Trader Joe’s, this 2013 Casone “Toscana” IGT from the Poggio Al Casone estate in Tuscany is a steal for an easy-drinking red. This producer has multiple tiers of wines, ranging from IGT to DOCG as well as a magnificent estate in the Tuscan countryside.ContinueContinue reading “A Taste of Toscana”

Where to Taste – Napa

With over 400 wineries and new ones popping up all the time, Napa can be a daunting place to plan a wine getaway if you’re not familiar with producers and the different AVAs. This post is by no means comprehensive, but let it serve as a jumping off point for where to look when bookingContinueContinue reading “Where to Taste – Napa”

At Ease Wine Project: Chenin Blanc

The wine: At Ease Wine Project 2020 Chenin Blanc, Solano County Green Valley The place: https://ateasewine.square.site/, and now on the Goose and Gander Saint Helena wine list The price: $28 This decadent and golden Chenin is made from grapes with a very unique story. Winemaker Derek Baljeu sources this fruit from the Biggs Vineyard inContinueContinue reading “At Ease Wine Project: Chenin Blanc”

Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc

The wine: Lang & Reed 2016 North Coast Cabernet Franc The place: Lang & Reed tasting room in Saint Helena, CA (can also purchase from their website) The price: $29 Lang &Reed is about as “family owned and operated” as you can find in the wine world. Started by husband and wife John and TraceyContinueContinue reading “Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc”

Lady of the Sunshine Pinot Noir

The wine: Lady of the Sunshine Chêne Vineyards 2018 Pinot Noir The place: I purchased mine from Jack’s Filling Station in Sonoma. You can find Lady of the Sunshine wines in local wineshops featuring natural producers or at https://www.ladyofthesunshinewines.com/wineshop The price: $26.99 This producer really does bring the sunshine to a rainy (quarantine) day. ThisContinueContinue reading “Lady of the Sunshine Pinot Noir”

December 2019 in Western Australia

The wine: Stormflower 2017 Shiraz The place: Stormflower Cellar Door, Margaret River, Western Australia The price: ~30 AUD In December of 2019 I visited one of my best friends in Margaret River, the ultimate winter wine paradise. While the vineyards in the Northern Hemisphere are dormant, muddy, and gloomy during the month of December, vinesContinueContinue reading “December 2019 in Western Australia”

October 21, 2019

Processed with VSCO with l5 preset * please excuse my ugly harvest hands/nails. The wine: Foggy Veil Hillside Selection 2017 The place: Trader Joe’s The price: $12.99 This wine is a Rhône-style blend from Santa Barbara County. The 2017 vintage saw a wine with 78% Syrah and 22% Grenache (two quintessential Rhône grapes). This wineContinueContinue reading “October 21, 2019”

October 7, 2019

Processed with VSCO with au5 preset The wine: FREEDA Rosé Trevenezie The place: Trader Joe’s The price: $8.99 A rosé in October? When the weather’s 80°F all week, anything is possible. This rosé from Northeastern Italy is full bodied with huge fruity (peach, strawberry, watermelon) and floral notes. You don’t really find a glass likeContinueContinue reading “October 7, 2019”