Two weeks ago I returned home from The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers, held at the Meadowood Napa in St. Helena the week prior to Premiere Napa Valley. I’m kicking myself for not accepting the invitation to stay for Premiere – the Napa Valley Vintner’s annual “bake sale,” as NVV
What made 2009 a special vintage in Horse Heaven Hills, where you sourced your Syrah, or for Helioterra in particular? My Syrah came from Coyote Canyon Vineyard, which is farmed by Mike Andrews. Mike and his crew are amazing farmers with generations of experience farming in Central Washington. 2009 was
A large, loping dog greets me at the gate, followed in short order by a woman in work gloves on a four-wheeler who casually asks, “Can I help you?” “I’m Lisa,” I tell her, “the enology student from Oregon who e-mailed you a few weeks ago.” “Oh, yes!” she replies,
Two former Palate Press Editors, W. R. Tish and W. Blake Gray take different sides in the Scorevolution manifesto and the 100-point scale debate.
En route to the first Chardonnay Symposium, the city of Santa Maria appeared in all its incarnations. Hosted at Bien Nacido Vineyards’ historic Adobe, the morning began, like most in this winemaking region, wrapped in tangible veils of fog. As-read more-
In some ways, New York’s wine regions are ideal for making sparkling wine. The generally cool weather—combined with lake effect in the Finger Lakes and ocean breezes in Long Island—allows grapes to ripen slowly with gorgeous aromatics and natural acidity.-read more-
Chehalem, of Willamette Valley, Oregon, generously contributed a six-bottle case of their 2005 Ridgecrest Best Barrel Pinot Noir (Retail Value: $450). Each bottle is individually numbered, and they are already boxed and ready for the winner. These Best Barrel bottlings are-read more-
Some people go ga-ga shopping for shoes or handbags; others go gonzo for wine. The point is that shopping for something you love can and should be fun! With that in mind, Palate Press would like to shine some light on-read more-