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One of the strangely most predictable signs that I’m going to enjoy the wines at a winery I’ve just walked into for the first time is a solid lineup of “dead soldiers” – empty wine bottles side-by-side representing a wide variety of wines from all over the world. Most often these bottles show up above ground, but on rare occasions, …

The wine world is full of organizations and associations, spanning a wide range of missions, purposes, and themes. Only a few, however, are focused on saving the planet. One of those, International Wineries for Climate Action, came to Napa earlier in the year to offer a tasting they billed as the largest tasting of low-emission wines ever held in Napa. …

A Great Story To Tell I’ve been in the wine business since early 1993, as a result I’ve seen many incarnations, including my own. All are fascinating stories to tell; in fact I’ve been sharing them on my blog since 2005. These stories have depth, due to their natural histories and the characters who have […] The post Napa Legend …

Introduction Can Bordeaux adapt to changing wine tastes without losing its identity? Bordeaux is pulling up thousands of hectares of vines because of overproduction. How does Mouton Cadet’s model offer a way out for some wine growers? How are modern Bordeaux producers, like Mouton Cadet, creating wines with more energy, smoothness, and drinkability for today’s consumers? In this episode of the …

Hello and welcome to my weekly roundup of the wine stories that I find of interest on the web. I spend each week exploring the internet for everything published about wine online, and here’s all the stuff that I think would be worth your valuable time. Sales Are So Low, California Wineries Are Burning Their VineyardsLeave it to the NYT …

The Importance of Public Relations Isn’t Underscored Enough A Slow Burn From the Start Public relations is a slow burn. I know this because I have been practicing it since before I knew what to call it. I was raised by grandparents who operated from a pure base. They were flawless in my eyes, and […] The post Importance of …

Introduction How can a hospitality disaster completely change your approach to wine and service? When do wine tasting notes become so over-the-top that they stop meaning anything? What makes natural wine like an unfiltered snapshot of a single moment? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Maryse Chevriere, author of the new book How to Sound …

No one, including me, pays enough attention to Santa Barbara Wine Country. It’s frankly one of the greatest sources of California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but somehow seems to take a back seat compared to the glitz and glamour of Northern California wine country. Want to see what you’re missing? Then you might want to check out the Wine and …

  Good PR Makes Things Happen I remember that one day I overheard a group of girls saying, “Jo (Ann’s) the nice one.” That’s how I got labeled early on. You’ve either got it, or you don’t. And, if you don’t, for pity sake, find someone who can help you to smooth out your sharp […] The post Public Relations: …

Introduction How does the Solera system give every glass of sherry centuries of history? How does Sherry’s “second terroir” shape the wine just as much as the vineyard itself? Why should every great wine cellar have mature, dry Sherry? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Ben Howkins, who has just published a new book …

Morning light rakes across the front of the hill of Somló, highlighting one of the hundreds of small buildings that winemakers often have in their vineyards. These structures, which range from huts to more substantial homes, often have no electricity or running water, and are used both practically and for pleasure. They’re an easy place to get out of a …

Peter Stafford-Bow, a wine professional, writing thrilling wine suspense novels, has just released his new wine thriller. I hope you’re not a nail biter. I gave up chewing nails long ago.  I do know I wouldn’t have any nails left for “The End” if I hadn’t, after Black Odesa. This is his fifth novel, and […] The post Peter Stafford-Bow …

Introduction How did a single decision trigger Sherry’s decline from Britain’s favourite drink? What would it take for Sherry to make a comeback after decades of decline? How can you make the most out of your trip to the Sherry region of Spain? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Ben Howkins, author of a new …

Hello and welcome to my weekly dig through the pile of wine samples that show up on my doorstep asking to be tasted. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of Vinography Unboxed, where I highlight some of the better bottles that have arrived recently. This past week I received a few new releases from Spur Road Wines, a …

PR 101: Finding the Right People in Your Career isn’t always an easy path to be on, and this is being stated after 30 years in wine, with another 10 in broadcast radio. Radio was definitely easier, although I did have some challenges, too. That was all described in Public Relations: You’ve Either Got It […] The post PR 101: …

Hello and welcome to my weekly roundup of the wine stories that I find of interest on the web. I spend each week exploring the internet for everything published about wine online, and here’s all the stuff that I think would be worth your valuable time. The Science Behind Disease-Resistant Wine GrapesPIWIs to the rescue? From Lucerne to Ljubljana, these …

Part 1: Why ~ Do you really think wine’s 8,000 year old history is evaporating? C’mon. Wine’s history is long and winding, and it’s had its ups and downs and back again. We’re all in another segment, and we just need to continue being imaginative. I’ve lived long enough to know what goes around comes […] The post Do You …

Introduction How does it feel competing against the world’s best bartenders making six cocktails in six minutes in front of a large audience? How can bartending become a form of storytelling instead of simply making drinks? How did the Mojito begin as a 16th-century medical remedy? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Kaitlyn Stewart, …

Hello and welcome to my weekly roundup of the wine stories that I find of interest on the web. I spend each week exploring the internet for everything published about wine online, and here’s all the stuff that I think would be worth your valuable time. America’s Old Vines Are Running Out of TimeLong live old vines! The Economic and …

  Petite Sirah’s Giant Leap Began in 2002. It all started with a Petite Sirah Symposium, in 2002. Louis Foppiano, of Foppiano Vineyards, asked me to create a Petite Sirah “Symposium.” He envisioned about five or six people sitting around his wine lab table, he later told me. I envisioned the entire California wine industry. […] The post Growth Of …