by Penny Sadler
Note: this article orginally appeared on my site, Adventures of a Carry-on From its early beginnings in the vineyards of Los Angeles to recognition as American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, San Antonio Winery has always been committed to leaving a legacy for generations to come. Owned and operated by the Riboli family for over 100 years, today, under the Riboli Estates Group, the family owns vineyards in Napa Valley, Paso Robles, and Monterey County. The business evolved from its founding as a winery buying fruit from other growers, to owning over 1200 acres of premium vineyard land. Through the Riboli Estate Group, they produce wine using 100% estate grown fruit. With an eye to the future, the family took steps to control more of the winemaking process, fr...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
As you may know, wine sold in the European Union that was packaged or labeled after December 8, 2023 is now required to provide nutritional data, calorie counts, certain additives, and other information. Some of it needs to be on the label itself; the rest can be provided on a website, accessed, perhaps, by using a QR code. The United States is now considering whether it should require wine to provide more information. On January 31, 2024, The Department of the Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) announced that it will be holding listening sessions and accepting comments on the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, and malt beverages. This announcement stems from a 2022 report recommending that TTB consider new rules. The law currently does not require alco...
by Eric V. Orange, CEO/Founder LocalWineEvents.com
Planning the Trip: Send in the cavalry (or better yet, send in Many More Travels) I’ve been in the wine business for 40-plus years, so when my wife announced we were going to the V. Sattui Harvest Ball, to celebrate a dear friend's birthday, I was assigned the task of planning an unforgettable week around the Napa winery’s annual party. With my experience and industry relationships I thought, "I got this." To begin my mission, I sent an exploratory email to numerous Napa contacts to see what unique adventures might be had. Their responses were both generous and overwhelming—50 emails with one great recommendation after the next. That’s when it hit me; planning this trip is not going to be as easy as ...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
Many people these days prefer digital gifts over physical ones. They are convenient, easy to carry on a mobile device, and hard to lose. Gift-givers like them too, since they can typically be ordered online and delivered quickly to the recipient. But since there are so many digital gift options, how do you choose? One easy way is to look at what’s new. That way your gift recipient is less likely to already have it. Here are five new digital gifts for your favorite wine lover. These are all items that we have used personally and recommend. Wine Passes Wine passes, which provide great deals for members, are a super digital gift for your favorite wine lover. No more need to remember to grab that little card when venturing to the wineries; the app can simply be downloaded to ...
by Sidd Banerji
PART I History A country renowned for her glorious history,well recorded over 7000 years, has evidences of wines too,in somewhere or other in its past. In more practical term it's during Moghul period 15th to mid 19th century we have plenty of evidences of wines coming to this part of the world.Neverthless, it was never the land to make wines. Alexander the Great,renowned for his love of wines ,came upto the western border of India, way back more than 2000 years. For sure,he not only carried his stock of wines,must have had many sessions with local chieftains,kings and social lords. I've a strong belief of wines first peeping into India during his time. The real and continuous flow thru gifts first and as a trading commodity later, started from days of Moghul emperors. S...
by Sidd Banerji
PART I History A country renowned for her glorious history,well recorded over 7000 years, has evidences of wines too,in somewhere or other in its past. In more practical term it's during Moghul period 15th to mid 19th century we have plenty of evidences of wines coming to this part of the world.Neverthless, it was never the land to make wines. Alexander the Great,renowned for his love of wines ,came upto the western border of India, way back more than 2000 years. For sure,he not only carried his stock of wines,must have had many sessions with local chieftains,kings and social lords. I've a strong belief of wines first peeping into India during his time. The real and continuous flow thru gifts first and as a trading commodity later, started from days of Moghul emperors. S...
by Jamie Knee
As a Wine Educator, I’ve often encountered wine enthusiasts staunchly proclaiming their allegiance to the “Anything but Chardonnay” (ABC) camp, convinced that chardonnay is simply not their cup of… well, wine. But what if I told you that a transformative experience awaited you in France in a quaint corner of northern Burgundy? Here, in the enchanting realm of Chablis, yes, it’s not only a grape but a place, I discovered a chardonnay that defies expectations and pleases even the most adamant of ABC adherents. Some may even be surprised to learn that chardonnay and Chablis are from the same grape. Nestled along the gentle slopes that overlook the serene Serein River, the Chablis region harbors a secret that every wine lover should uncover. Contrary to the heavy oak and buttery ...
by Jamie Knee
The holidays are upon us, and it’s a time of delightful chaos. There’s the turkey to roast, gifts to hunt down, parties to attend, and family clamoring for an invite to the American Riviera for the holidays. As a local Montecito wine specialist, clients often turn to me to curate their wine pairings for festive dinners. It’s a magical time of year, and let’s be honest – the last thing you want to worry about is what wines to serve at your holiday party. As your personal sommelier, the “Petite Wine Traveler,” I’m here to ensure your holiday dinner and party wines are nothing short of pure joy. Thanksgiving, the holiday that kicks off the holiday festivities, is first up. As far as I’m concerned, this holiday, a favorite among many, deserves a sparkling start. There’s ...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
When it comes to winemaking, you may not think of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). So imagine my surprise to learn that NASA not only has an interest in the wine industry, but is actively involved in fighting wine grape disease. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory teamed up with researchers at Cornell University and elsewhere to test whether one of NASA’s pioneering optical instruments could detect a grape disease called Grapevine Leafroll virus that causes billions of dollars in annual crop damage. They used NASA’s next generation Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-NG) flown via airplane over 11,000 acres of vineyards in Lodi, California and artificial intelligence/machine learning to review the data. Lodi is a major producer of...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
Nova Scotia, Canada may not be on your radar when thinking of wine tourism. You may want to reconsider that, especially if you’re going to be in Atlantic Canada, also known as the Maritimes. Called “Canada’s Original Wine Region” because the country’s first vineyard was planted there in 1611, Nova Scotia’s wine region is an emerging wine tourism area established around 40 years ago. There are about 25 wineries, most of which are small family-run boutique places. Many of them are clustered in the Annapolis Valley, which is only about an hour from Halifax, the province’s capital, so it’s an easy day trip from that city. Nova Scotia is accessible via land, sea, and air. My mother Benita and I ventured to the wineries in Annapolis Valley as a shore excursion while on a ...
