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San Diego's first beverage entrepreneur
Even though San Diego County has a long and rich wine making history, the first successful local beverage entrepreneur was not a winemaker, but a fellow who saw his opportunity in the water bubbling...
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Wines you really need to try - Vinho Verde
With the approach of spring come thoughts of warm days, fields of wildflowers and light, fresh cuisine. One wine that seems to suit the season perfectly is Vinho Verde from the Minho region of...
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American folk culture: Street wine
As the economic downturn lingers on, people use a variety of strategies to save money wherever possible. From clipping coupons to “staycations”, frugality is the order of the day. Street wines, born...
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White Zinfandel won't kill you
As far as your personal safety is concerned, drinking wine probably isn’t going to hurt you, unless you really overdo it. Soda is undoubtedly a far more dangerous beverage. In fact, talk persists that...
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Visit San Diego's mountain wine kingdom - Part 1
Hidden in a remote part of the north central section of San Diego County lies a magical mountain kingdom that is home to one of the most interesting grape growing and wine making enclaves in the...
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Visit San Diego's mountain wine kingdom - Part 2
The vineyard called La Serenissima is just a couple of miles up the road from the Shadow Mountain winery. Owner John Tiso established the operation in 1998 with Alex McGeary as wine maker. Tiso, a...
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It's time to give rosé a try
Good rosé is a pleasure when the weather turns warmLet’s face it, rosé just can’t catch a break, a lot of wine drinkers just can’t bring themselves to take it seriously...
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Make sure to have a mint julep on Derby Day
On May 17, 1875, about 10,000 people gathered to watch 15 three-year-old horses race at a track in Kentucky. The race, which became known as the Kentucky Derby, has spawned a variety of enduring...
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A purist's margarita for Cinco de Mayo (and beyond)
Few mixed drinks give rise to more heated debate than the margarita. From the origin of the drink to the “best” recipe for it, folks just can’t seem to agree on any of it. Check out...
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Finding the beauty in box wine
There’s beauty to be found in box wines depending, of course, on one’s perspective on the world of wine. It’s common practice in many parts of Europe to saunter over to the closest winery...
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Beyond basic Beaujolais
Beaujolais has a real image problem based, at leased partially, on the incredible global success of Beaujolais Nouveau. I’m sure you’ve all heard of, if not tasted, the Nouveau-style of Beaujolais,...
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Malibu: Movie stars, beaches and. . .wine?
When most people think about Malibu, they think about movie stars, large private estates and the crashing surf of the Pacific. The subject of wine would not immediately come to mind. Unbeknownst to...
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Do some wine tasting on a gondola. Really!
As a dedicated wino, I’m always looking for interesting and unique wine tasting experiences. I’ve tippled on planes, helicopters, ocean liners, kayaks and mountaintops. Wherever I go, wine tends to be...
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The secrets of fermentation
I love yeast, I really do. In fact, when I grow up (however unlikely that prospect may be at this point), I aspire to be a yeast. Why, you ask? Because yeast was put on this planet to perform three...
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This summer, try drinking a Burger
Blame it on corporate consolidation and the rise of huge national breweries, but many of America’s regional beer breweries have disappeared over the last several decades. These regional beers, each...
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Getting "sheepish" about vineyard labor
Folks involved in the world of wineries and vineyards have focused a lot of attention of late on things like organics, biodynamics and carbon footprint. There’s a strong groundswell in the business to...
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Just in time for summer, the adult Snow Cone
Replace text with your entry.At some point in time, the June gloom is going to go away and we’ll all be blessed with blue skies and abundant sunshine once again. When that happens, thoughts will turn...
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Madera: California's little-known wine country
California’s broad, flat Central Valley is certainly not a first choice destination for most people who set out to do some wine tasting. Few visitors to Napa, Sonoma, Santa Ynez or Paso Robles would...
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The pH factor: The truth about acidity in wine
The truth is, wine needs acidity like Romeo needs Juliet. Without acidity, wine is listless and incomplete. If you want something that’s grapey with no acidity, try a glass of Welch’s grape juice. Not...
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Local winery hits the event trail
Owning a small winery is truly a labor of love, the financial rewards rarely justifying the incredible amount of work necessary to make a go of it. From the vagaries of farming, to the relentless...
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