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The Growing Regions of Monterey Part V: San Bernabe
San Bernabe is the most centrally located AVA in the Monterey region, with about 5,000 acres cultivated with grapes. There are a wide variety of microclimates in...
The Growing Regions of Monterey Part IV: Arroyo Seco
This AVA has a range of topography: beginning with a narrow gorge at the foot of the Santa Lucia Mountain range, it stretches out into the Sallinas Valley. In...
The 27th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival
It had been nearly a year since my last journey to Paso Robles, and the memories had faded, along with the heat as I made my way back up California’s famous...
Hunt Cellars 2003 “Rhapsody in Red” Reserve Red Wine / Paso Robles
Background Hunt Cellars is an extraordinary place. Hunt Cellars produces boutique quantities of almost all red wines that win a disproportionate number of awards....
Festival ’34 2007 Chardonnay / Central Coast
Background The 2007 vintage produced wines of excellent quality. The winter months were a mix of cold weather and rain, which was well below average this year....
Chateau Julien 2006 Black Nova II / San Antonio Valley
I was introduced to Chateau Julien’s Black Nova last November at Monterey’s Great Wine Escape Weekend. It was an imaginative blend of Syrah and Zinfandel,...
Hunt Cellars 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon “Cab 9” / Paso Robles
Background: Hunt Cellars is an extraordinary place. Hunt Cellars produces boutique quantities of almost all red wines that win a disproportionate number of awards....
Castle Rock 2008 Monterey Pinot Noir
It’s often difficult to find great bargains on Pinot Noir. Most producers have figured out that people, for whatever reason, will pay more for this particular...
The Press Club San Francisco
Part of any wine tasting experience is the vibe of the place. What kind of mood do the room, the people, the ambiance create? There can be a fine line to walk...
The Growing Regions of Monterey Part III: Chalone
The Chalone region is the smallest A.V.A (American Viticulture Areas) in Monterey County, with about 300 acres of grapes planted. Its location 1,800 feet up...
