Wine on the Road: A Visit to Paso Robles
By Gabe Saglie   |   December 14, 2021

“We are a community of dreamers,” Anthony Yount tells me as we sip al fresco on the Denner Vineyards patio, overlooking a landscape of green, undulating hills and dozens of acres of proprietary vines. I’d asked the winemaker what he feels makes the Paso Robles wine world unique. He went on to find a silver […]

Turning Tide: New Wine Label Spotlights Sustainability
By Gabe Saglie   |   October 5, 2021

Her new label, Turning Tide, marks a significant shift for winemaker Alisa Jacobson. As director of winemaking for 19 years for the mega producer Joel Gott, she oversaw the production of some 1.6 million cases of wine a year. With her new pet project, she’s spearheading a far smaller output of right around 1,000 cases […]

 

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Supreme Tribute: Montecito Importer’s New Wine Honors Justice Ginsburg
By Gabe Saglie   |   September 21, 2021

A Montecito importer is commemorating Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death with the launch of a limited-edition wine. The 2018 “Ruth” Special Edition Roussanne is an organic white wine produced in France. It’ll officially become available on September 18, to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the passing of the revered Supreme Court justice. Justice Ginsburg served […]

Wine Parties Are Back: California Wine Festival Signals Post-Pandemic Return
By Gabe Saglie   |   September 14, 2021

When Travelzoo surveyed its 16 million U.S. member base early this summer, gauging comfort levels around events and activities, 34% said they were ready to attend a wine festival. And as the summer’s rolled on, and as vaccinations have increased, that number, even while tempered by the emergence of COVID-19 variants, has grown. That’s a […]

Babcock Winds Down Summer with Vintage Market, Art + Wine Affair
By Claudia Schou   |   September 7, 2021

Expand your culinary palate this week at Babcock Winery’s Vintage Market, Art + Wine Event. Wine lovers can sip crisp or silky wines paired with savory, handcrafted dishes prepared by local catering outfit Valle Fresh. End the summer sipping rosé while shopping for unique finds for your closet and keepsakes for your home. The hillside […]

Through Different Eyes: New Collaboration Showcases Famous Vineyard in New Light
By Gabe Saglie   |   August 24, 2021

Much of the storied reputation of Bien Nacido Vineyards stems from the scrupulous involvement of its owners. Brothers Bob and Steve Miller planted Bien Nacido — “well born” in Spanish — in 1973, a rolling plot in the Santa Maria Valley whose rocky soils and cool climate would go on to create one of the […]

Drink Red and Chill: Cooling Down Some Red Wines Has its Benefits
By Gabe Saglie   |   August 19, 2021

Winemaker Sherman Thacher prefers to chill some of his reds and to use them, even, to shift between courses at dinner. “If you’re going from appetizers to something heartier, and maybe going from a white wine to a red, and you’re sitting outside, maybe barbecuing, a chilled red can really be a great transition,” he […]

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  • “The World’s Best Undiscovered Brand” Montecito Couple’s Label Delivers Stellar Wines
    By Gabe Saglie   |   July 29, 2021

    As I make my way through the private gated community, and up the driveway that snakes through Kimsey Vineyard, the wind begins to pick up in earnest. It’s 3 pm, and the breeze, in its crescendo, is making the vines sway in the bright afternoon sun. This is a regular phenomenon, it turns out — […]

    ‘Patience and Persistence Paid Off’: San Ysidro Ranch’s Wine Collection Returns to its Glory
    By Gabe Saglie   |   May 27, 2021

    For the wine program at the San Ysidro Ranch, 2021 has been a very good year. The lucrative wine selection at the landmark luxury resort was completely destroyed when mudslides roared across the Montecito foothills in 2018. Millions of dollars in some of the world’s very best wine — more than 12,000 bottles and a […]

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    Tasting Notes
    By Claudia Schou   |   May 27, 2021

    If you’re planning to spend more time outdoors, start thinking about the perfect beer and wine to pair with your al fresco culinary adventures. We caught up with a couple local beer and wine lovers to get their recommendations.  Greer Shull, Third Window Brewery Third Window Brewing’s pilsner, The Light, is a delicious pairing for […]

    Pop the Cork, Hold the Booze: Local Winemaker Launches Alcohol-Free Wine-Inspired Drinks
    By Gabe Saglie   |   May 13, 2021

    As we begin to push out of this pandemic, and as the light at the end of the tunnel grows brighter, many Americans are taking stock of how their drinking habits have changed over the last year. As one would guess, the angst and anxiety wrought by many months of lockdowns, restrictions, and Zoom calls […]

    Tasting Notes: Daniel Fish, Rosewood Miramar Director of Wine
    By Claudia Schou   |   May 6, 2021

    Spring has ushered in some unique wine selections and tasting opportunities from local wine experts. We checked in with a few for some fresh ideas on what to pour.  Before we dive headfirst into summer, and while many of us are at home preparing spring meals with family and close friends, I wanted to take […]

    Everything’s Coming Up Rosés These Pink Wines are Perfect for Spring
    By Gabe Saglie   |   April 22, 2021

    Timing has a lot to do with rosé. That pink color – an alluring hue that can range from salmon to blush – is the by-product of grape juice and grape skins coming in contact for a few hours, or for a day, maybe two or three, until just enough tint bleeds into the wine. […]

    One Winemaker, Three Labels: Sanger Family of Wines Offers Impressive Variety
    By Gabe Saglie   |   April 1, 2021

    I love chatting alcohol with Brett Escalera – as in the alcohol content in wine. Many seasoned sippers, after all, make judgment calls on wine based on the percentage marked on the label, with their predilection for lower alcohol based on the assumption that a wine with less booze will be a better match for […]

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