Mail Road Wines: Mt. Carmel Vineyard’s Contribution to the Thriving Santa Barbara Wine Scene
The Santa Barbara Wine Scene is thriving, with Mail Road Wines at the forefront. The project began as a phone call between winemaker friends Matt Dees and Michael Palmer discussing the idea of making wine from Mt. Carmel Vineyard. […]
Lewis Wines: A Couple of Buddies Crafting Delicious Terroir-Driven Wines in the Texas Hill Country
Friendship is a powerful bond that can lead to great things, this is certainly true for the story of Lewis Wines. Founded in 2010 by two college buddies, Doug Lewis and Duncan McNabb, after they both gained experience working at a winery in Texas. The brand was born out of a shared passion for wine and a desire to work for themselves in agriculture. […]
Uncorking the Hidden Gems: A Look into Small Wine Producers in the Dundee Hills of Oregon
As the sun rises over the valley, the dew-covered vines glisten in the morning light, and the air is filled with the sweet aroma of ripening grapes. The Dundee Hills AVA in Oregon is a renowned wine region known for producing some of the finest Burgundian style wines in the world. Situated within the larger Willamette Valley AVA, the Dundee Hills are located about 28 miles southwest of Portland and are protected from the Pacific Ocean’s climate by the Coastal Range mountains. […]
Ab Astris: The Dream of Winemaking Comes to Life in the Texas Hill Country
Ab Astris Winery, located in the Texas Hill Country, is a family-run operation that takes its name from the Latin phrase “of the stars,” a reference to a quote by Galileo about wine being “sunlight, held together by water.” The winery is owned by Erin and Tony Smith, and features Kristen and Mike Nelson (daughter and son-in-law) as co-founders and general manager and winemaker, respectively. […]
From Garage to Tasting Room: The Journey of Carucci Wines to Santa Barbara
Carucci Wines has come a long way since its humble beginnings in a San Diego garage. Founder Eric Carucci first became interested in the wine industry while working on a marketing project for a German wine importer in college. […]
A Look at the Bordeaux Style Wines of Boordy Vineyards in Maryland
Boordy Vineyards has a rich history dating back to 1945 when it was founded by Philip and Jocelyn Wagner as Maryland’s first winery. Philip Wagner was a newspaperman serving as an editorial writer for The Baltimore Sun for almost 35 years. […]
Exploring the Rich History and Sustainable Practices of Gloria Ferrer in Sonoma
Although the winery was only established in 1982, Gloria Ferrer’s rich history dates back to the 1500’s as the family brought with them a multi-generational knowledge of grape growing and sparkling winemaking with them from Spain. […]
Aridus Wine Company: Pursuing a Dream in Southeast Arizona
Scott and Joan Dahmer had always dreamed of starting a vineyard and winery, and they found the perfect location in southeastern Arizona. In 2009, they purchased a 40-acre property along Turkey Creek in Pearce, which sits at an elevation of 5,200 feet. […]
Titus Vineyards: Crafting High-Quality Family Estate Wines in the Heart of Napa Valley
Titus Vineyards, located in the heart of the Napa Valley, has been producing high-quality estate wines for over 20 years. Founded by the Titus family, they started out growing and selling grapes, but in the late 1990s, the family decided to focus on making their own wines. […]
Montoliva: Family Style Italian Wines in the Heart of the North Sierra Foothills
For Mark Henry the journey into the wine business was twisty and turny to say the least. After spending several years in the Army and getting a degree in Political Science, he decided to barrel-roll head first into the beer business. Why not?
4th Annual International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition & Celebration
Who is this event for? For the 4th Annual Cabernet Franc Celebration, we have opened it up to both domestic and international producers of Cabernet Franc.
F. Teldeschi: A History of Zinfandel in the Dry Creek Valley
In 1993, F. Teldeschi was established by Dan Teldeschi in 1993. The winery is a combination of the rich Teldeschi grape growing history that dates back to the turn of the 20th century when his father, Michele emigrated to Dry Creek, in Sonoma County, from Italy, providing a more modern spin on winemaking today.
Smith-Madrone: A Mountain Vintner’s Perspective
For Stu and Charlie Smith, making wine on top of Spring Mountain west of St. Helena in the northern Napa Valley has been a way of life for five decades. The Smith-Madrone Vineyards property is a mix of vineyard, mountain and forest. Black bears, cougars and red-tailed hawks share the landscape.
Adelaida District: Focusing on the Classic Varieties with an Eye Toward the Future of Paso Robles Wine
Located within the northwestern part of Paso Robles and situated at the southern end of the Santa Lucia Mountains, the Adelaida District AVA has quite a rich agriculture history. Although the AVA was only recently established in 2014, the region has had grapes planted there going back a century.
Pride Mountain Vineyards: A Thoughtful Approach to High Elevation Grape Growing on Spring Mountain
In 1989, Jim and Carolyn Pride purchased the Historic Summit Ranch situated right on the Napa -Sonoma county line atop Spring Mountain establishing Pride Mountain Vineyards. As retirement was upon them, the Prides initially wanted to buy a vineyard from which they could sell grapes locally.
Boeger Winery: A Taste of High Elevation Italian Varieties With a Slice of History in El Dorado County
As Greg and Susan Boeger were venturing out into El Dorado County, situated in the Sierra Foothills of California, they stumbled upon an amazing property as they passed majestic pine trees and winding roads. They came across a pear orchard that had all the intangibles for a winery. There was already an irrigation system in place and buildings on the property that go back a century, including the remnants of a Zinfandel vineyard in the driveway. Situated along Carson Road, the region already had 400,000 visitors a year passing by on their way to Apple Hill ranches. This would become the core framework of Boeger Winery.
Box Wine Company: A Fusion of Surfing, Art and Viticulture Along the North Coast
On a cold foggy day with the wind blowing like crazy along Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California, strong currents and massive waves cascading along the coast, you would have found young Wesley Box on his boogie board braving the elements and thirsting for adventure. Back in the 1990s, surfing up and down the coast of Northern California, Wesley became interested in geology as he noticed the Marin Headlands, just north of the City known for its breathtaking ocean views, cliffs and unique rock types.
Sta. Rita Hills: Unique Cool Climate Expressive Wines in the Heart of Santa Barbara County
Established in 2001 within the county of Santa Barbara, California, the Sta. Rita Hills AVA is part of the larger Santa Ynez AVA, situated between the town of Lompoc and Buellton. The region has a distinct topography and microclimate. Millions of years ago, Tectonic plate movements led to mountains rising out of the ocean, rotating clockwise, creating one of the most defined, transverse ranges on the Pacific Coast.
Northern Michigan: Fresh and Expressive Cool Climate White Wines
Near the Canadian border in the Midwest, sits a region uncharted and vibrant making world class white wines. Northern Michigan offers an oasis of opportunity for grape growers and winemakers to create truly distinct wines that reflect its unique climate and terroir.
Scott Peterson: Independent Winemaker in a Digitally Data Driven World
Growing up in Williamsburg, Virginia, Scott Peterson watched history unfold in front of his very eyes as right out the front door was beautiful colonial architecture and a Rockwellian downtown comprising his youth. He was a drummer in the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums. They would dress up in period attire and play military music from the 1770’s. As a teenager, he initially wanted to be a forester, but at the age of 19, he got the itch to head out to the West Coast. On a lark, he purchased a truck, got a dog and headed to Northern California.