Happy International Viognier Day!

Raising a glass to Viognier may seem a bit out of place in the mix of wine holidays. The white French Rhone variety isn’t the region’s most widely produced white wine, as it is often co-blended with Syrah to make a red wine. However, outside of France, producers have been highlighting the grape in single-varietal, full-bodied wines, like those produced in Australia by Yalumba. Yalumba is so…

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AE White Wine from Amulet Estate ~ Wine of the Day

Amulet Estate releases its inaugural vintage AE White Blend from the Proof Vineyard within St. Helena. The vineyard’s history dates back to 1870. The white is a field blend of heritage varieties, including Sauvignon Vert and Semillon, with small amounts of other white varieties historically planted in the vineyard. You can taste the history in the glass as the wine opens, beginning with aromas of…

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Domaine Carneros Avante Garde Rosé ~ Wine of the Day

As we celebrate Earth Day today, honoring Mother Earth and the bounty she provides, we raise a glass to the newly released Avante Garde Rosé of Pinot Noir from Domaine Carneros. The wine showcases the strength and power of the sun with a wine whose production was fueled with solar-powered energy. In 2023, the winery unveiled its solar microgrid, producing enough energy to run the bottling of the…

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Opaque Tannat ~ Wine of the Day

Inky, dense, and bold are three words to describe Opaque Tannat. A part of the Riboli Family Wines portfolio, the Paso Robles AVA wine displays why the region is ideal for the full-bodied, high-tannin variety. Sun-drenched vineyards create well-ripened fruit layered with blue and black fruit and enhanced with toasted spice, dark chocolate, and vanilla from 18 months of aging in new French oak.…

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Fess Parker Syrah ~ Wine of the Day

In the heart of Santa Barbara County, Fess Parker Winery crafts expressive selections in a variety of styles, including its Santa Barbara County Syrah. The fruit comes from the winery’s Rodney’s Estate Vineyard within Santa Ynez Valley, an area known for growing incredible Rhone Valley grape varieties. It is aged for 20 months in French oak, of which a portion is new. The new oak adds a spicy…

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Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico ~ Wine of the Day

From high elevation, steeply sloping vineyards in the heart of the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, Frescobaldi crafts Sangiovese-based red wines at Tenuta Perano. The sustainable estate’s terroir-driven wines are elegant and expressive, telling the story of the land. Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico shines as an example of this, with an inky purple color and fruit-forward flavor. The wine opens…

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Vina Alberdi Rioja Reserva ~ Wine of the Day

From high elevations vineyards in Spain’s Rioja Alta, Vina Alberdi Rioja Reserva shines as a well-made, well-balanced wine from the region. Produced from 100% Tempranillo fruit grown in moisture holding calcerous-clay soils, the medium bodied, 14.5% alchol wine is ideal with anything from chicken and sausage paella to a roasted tenderloin of beef as there is enough acidity in the wine to balance…

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Tannat from Uruguay ~ Wines of the Day

Sitting down to a variety of Tannat wines at 9 am for a recent Wines of Uruguay seminar had my palate a bit cautious as it was early in the morning for tasting what is traditionally a bold, powerful variety. The inky, deeply colored red grape is known for its highly tannic qualities, producing wines with concentration, strength, and mouth-watering astringency. The high tannin is due to the…

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5 Wines for your Easter Table

Families will come together this weekend to celebrate Easter, likely sitting down to a lavish holiday brunch. To toast the occasion, we have chosen a handful of vibrant, elegant, and delicious wines to provide the perfect pairing for the special meal. #Cheers To pair with a lobster eggs Benedict or a veggie-packed omelet, opt for a white wine with fresh acidity that will lift the palate while…

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3 Everyday Red Wines to Enhance your Weeknight Meals

If you are looking for a new wine option to liven up your weeknights without costing a fortune, we have a few ideas that are simply ideal. Each of these tasty wines is available for $25 and under. And they are not your everyday, run-of-the-mill offerings. Instead, each of these terroir-driven wines has cultivated provenance from well-regarded producers. #Cheers From one of the oldest family-owned…

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3 White Wines to Celebrate Spring

The days are getting longer, the temperatures are rising, and wildflowers are blooming in the fields. Welcome to spring. As we settle into one of the best times of the year, toast with a refreshing white wine that is sure to lift the palate, just as the warmer, sunshine-filled days are lifting our moods. Each of these three selections should be on your table this weekend. #Cheers J. Lohr is one…

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Canvasback Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Wine of the Day

The bold red wines produced in Washington State continue to impress, as evident in the latest vintage from Canvasback. In far Eastern Washington, Red Mountain enjoys extreme temperature swings from day to night, going from hot, arid, sunshine-filled days to cool, breezy nights, ensuring fruit that is ripened by the sun maintains freshness and acidity. The soils are a diverse array, including…

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VARA Silverhead Brut Sparkling Wine ~ Sparkling Sunday Wine of the Day

VARA Winery & Distillery is shaking up the wine world by celebrating its ties to Spain and America. It is doing something few other wineries in the world are doing, combining the two countries’ grapes into one wine. VARA Silverhead Sparkling Brut wine blends 72% Washington State-grown Chardonnay with 25% Xarel-lo and Macabeo from the Alt Penedès DO of Spain and a touch of Washington Syrah. The…

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The Calling Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Wine of the Day

There was a saying I learned when writing about wine in Dallas for many years that Texans love “a Cab and a slab.” It is fitting, as the state is home to one of the largest cattle ranches in the country, that Texans love beef. And there is nothing better to pair with a well-marbled ribeye or delicate filet, both grilled to a perfect medium rare, than a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Though Napa…

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J. Christopher Sol Et Soleil ~ Wine of the Day

Though Spring is springing around the country, cool nights still require us to desire a wine that has the ability to warm you from the inside, like a rich, well-rounded, toasty barrel fermented Chardonnay like J. Christopher Sol Et Soleil from Willamette Valley. Crafted by renowned German winemaker Ernst Loosen, known for producing some of the finest Riesling wines in the world, Loosen is proving…

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Chateau Fonplégade Saint-Emilion Grande Cru Classe Bordeaux ~ Wine of the Day

There is something about pouring a glass of Bordeaux that makes my heart, head, and taste buds smile. Especially when that glass is from Saint-Emilion in the Right Bank of the prestigious French region. I find the wines of the Right Bank to be soft, elegant, regal, and rich, with a dominant blend of Cabernet Franc with Merlot. However, Cabernet Sauvignon is also becoming more prevalent as the…

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Esporao Reserva Red Wine ~ Wine of the Day

Herdade do Esporao lies in Portugal’s arid Alentejo region, inland from Lisbon, stretching from the Tagus River in south-central Portugal to the Algarve. The area was The area has been harvesting cork bark for the production of wine corks for generations. Additionally, it is one of the best places in the country to produce bold red wines from traditional Portuguese varieties, like Touriga…

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