Palate Press - Fine Wine & Noble Spirits

3 min read

Xander Soren followed a digital music path to his segue as a California vintner. Recognized for launching GarageBand, the groundbreaking online audio workstation, and developing iTunes and iPod, the former Apple executive launched his first Xander Soren Wines in Japan....

Red Sparkling Wine—and Yes, it’s a Thing. From Italy. Starting with Lambrusco

Becky Sue Epstein

Feature Stories

3 min read

If you’ve never heard of Lambrusco sparkling wine, you’re more fortunate than many wine-drinkers. For the rest of us, it’s time to drop preconceived notions, now that we’re getting much higher quality, red sparkling wines from Lambrusco, in the Emilia-Romagna...

Wines of…Did You Say Calabria? Food-Friendly and Planet-Friendly Librandi Wines from Southern Italy

Becky Sue Epstein

Feature Stories

4 min read

As a leading in wine producer in Italy’s Calabria region, the Librandi Winery is now concerning itself with sustainable agriculture, lowering its carbon footprint and using water responsibly—in addition to continuing to produce award-winning white, rosé and red food-friendly wines....

Why You Should Know More About California’s Wente Vineyards

Becky Sue Epstein

Feature Stories

3 min read

Three-quarters of California’s famous chardonnay vines originated in the vineyards of one winemaking family: Wente Family Vineyards. The Wente [pronounced WEN-tee] family has been growing grapes and producing wine continuously since 1883. They’re based in Livermore, about an hour’s drive...

Sampling Wine and History at a Medieval Estate in Tuscany: Castello di Meleto

Becky Sue Epstein

Feature Stories

4 min read

It’s mid-afternoon in the first full flush of spring. The sunlight is bright on the vineyard-studded landscape beneath the windows of my room in a Medieval tower in Tuscany. The castle tower dates from the year 1256.Now, in 2026, my...

SOUL OF A LION

Don Sonderling

Feature Stories

4 min read

A Wine Honoring Family and FathersTo a father, from his sons By Don Sonderling I met Daniel and Georges Daou not long after they moved to Paso Robles, purchasedproperty in the Adelaida District, and began planning to build a world-class...

A Little Bit of Heaven in Hell’s Kitchen at the Romer Neighborhood Hotels

Barbara Barrielle

Features

2 min read

Imagine Our Surprise When We Found the Ideal Place to Stay; Hell’s Kitchen; Heck Yeah!! I had stayed at the Romer Neighborhood Hotel in Waikiki and loved how the ambiance embraced the surrounding neighborhood, recreating true island cocktails, leis from...

SOUL OF A LION

Barbara Barrielle

Features

3 min read

A Wine Honoring Family and FathersTo a father, from his sons I met Daniel and Georges Daou not long after they moved to Paso Robles, purchasedproperty in the Adelaida District, and began planning to build a world-class winery.Our first few...

Wine

Xander Soren Wines Bridge Japanese and American Palates

Red Sparkling Wine—and Yes, it’s a Thing. From Italy. Starting with Lambrusco

Wines of…Did You Say Calabria? Food-Friendly and Planet-Friendly Librandi Wines from Southern Italy

Random

Roco “Wit’s End Vineyard” Pinot Noir

Spirits

Palio Wins San Francisco Dining after 35 Years

Wohlfert Distilling Craft Spirits Ride on Prohibition Heritage

Why Low-Alcoholic Wine May Be Increasing & An Adult Beverage Option; Even No-Alc can be Tasty

Random

Going clear: Appreciating vodka

Travel

Why You Should Know More About California’s Wente Vineyards

Sampling Wine and History at a Medieval Estate in Tuscany: Castello di Meleto

SOUL OF A LION

Random

Santa Rosa Craft Beer and Food Take Center Stage

Hospitality

SOUL OF A LION

Palio Wins San Francisco Dining after 35 Years

Classic Chinese Fine Dining at Z&Y Peking Duck

Random

A Long Weekend in Newport Beach, California

Xander Soren Wines Bridge Japanese and American Palates

Red Sparkling Wine—and Yes, it’s a Thing. From Italy. Starting with Lambrusco

Wines of…Did You Say Calabria? Food-Friendly and Planet-Friendly Librandi Wines from Southern Italy

Why You Should Know More About California’s Wente Vineyards

Sampling Wine and History at a Medieval Estate in Tuscany: Castello di Meleto

SOUL OF A LION

A Little Bit of Heaven in Hell’s Kitchen at the Romer Neighborhood Hotels

SOUL OF A LION