Wine Along The 101
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    • 2023 Articles >
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour 2022, A Brief Look at the Complex World of Italian Wine
      • A Night of Sicilian Wine, Spotlighting Cambria and Madaudo Wineries
      • Yealands Wines, “Think Boldly, Tread Lightly”, Leading the World Toward Sustainable Winemaking
    • 2022 Articles >
      • Further Defining the Single Vineyard Cru Wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, the Rise of the MGA
      • The Barolo Cru Wines of Beni di Batasiolo
      • Pyros Wines Sparks World-Class Malbec
      • AlloraVino Imports, a Love Affair with Italian Wine
      • Maisons Marques & Domaines Wine Portfolio: Prestige, Glamour and Good Taste for the Holidays
      • The Original Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI, a Condiment and a Culture
      • Rocca delle Macìe, Taking Chianti Classico to New Heights
      • Alluring and Iconic, The World of Chianti Wines
      • Paso Robles Weaves a Thrilling Tapestry of World-Class Wine
      • LXV Wines, The Spice of Paso Robles
      • The Mouthwatering Sauvignon Blancs of Chile
      • The Wines of Portugal, Discover a World of Difference
      • Domaines Albert Bichot, An Exceptional Approach to Burgundian Wine
      • The Wines of Abruzzo Undergo a Renaissance of Quality
      • Ketcham Estate, Exceptional Wines From The Heart of the Russian River Valley
      • La Rioja Alta, S.A., Innovation and Tradition That Stands the Test of Time
      • Vega Sicilia Celebrates 40 Years of Winemaking Excellence
      • Planeta of Sicily Embraces the Past While Reaching For the Future
      • The Spirit of Renaissance is Alive and Well in “South of Somewhere”
      • Gambero Rosso Returns to LA, With the Best of Italian Wines
      • Falanghina and Aglianico del Taburno, Sannio's Ancient Wine Stars
      • Tablas Creek Vineyard Embraces Regenerative Organic Farming
    • 2021 Articles >
      • Make Merry With Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Wines
      • Discover These Enchanting Italian Wines, From the Fog of Piedmont to the Island Breezes of Sardinia
      • Rodney Strong Vineyards and Winery, Revitalizing an Iconic Brand
      • Thanksgiving Tips for the Best Wine and Food Pairing
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wine Country Oasis
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wonderland of Wine
      • Smith-Madrone Wines, a Napa Valley Pioneer Celebrates Fifty Years of Excellence
      • Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the Land of Pinot Noir
      • Irvine & Roberts Vineyards, Exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Southern Oregon
      • BARRA of Mendocino Wines, an Original Organic Wine Play
      • The Opulent and Thrilling Wines of Denner Vineyards
      • L’Ecole No. 41, Expressive Wines That Pass the Test of Time With Flying Colors
      • France's Loire Valley, a Fairytale Land of Storybook Castles and Magical Wines
      • Craft Wine, Shining the Spotlight on America’s Small Wine Producers
    • 2020 Articles >
      • Margerum Wine Company, the Nexus of Sublime Santa Barbara County Wines
      • Catena Zapata, Malbec on High
      • Long Meadow Ranch, the Circle of Life in a Glass of Wine
      • Fontanafredda Barolo Forges a New Future
      • Bordeaux Wine 2017, Surprises in a Challenging Vintage
    • 2019 Articles >
      • The Rising Wine Country of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley
      • Discover Ashland and the Rogue Valley, Southern Oregon's Serenade to the Good Life
      • Napa Valley Grille, New Fall Menu Paired with European Wines
      • Embrace Your Wine Geek with PRIE Winery & Vineyards
      • Castello di Albola, Chianti Classico on High
      • Nicolas-Jay Wines, the Journey of a Lifetime
      • The Expanding Complexity of New Zealand Wine
      • Prosecco DOC, Splendor in the Glass
      • On the Oregon Wine Trail
      • Albariño and Rioja Star in Spain’s Great Match
      • Exciting and Eclectic, the Wines of Alentejo
      • Blaufränkisch Propels the Red Wines of Austria Into the Spotlight
      • Fascinating Greek Wines of the Cava Spiliadis Collection
      • Revolution In Rioja Wine
    • 2018 Articles >
      • Temecula Valley Celebrates 50 Years of Winemaking
      • The Stellar Wines of Sardinia
      • Italian Wines Prescribed by Doctor Wine
      • The Alluring Wines of Tunisia
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2018
      • Velenosi Wines, From Le Marche to the World
      • Sauvignon Blanc, a Rising Star in Napa Valley
      • Frank Family Vineyards Celebrates 25 Years
      • Markus Wine Co., Sleek New Red Wines Up the Ante for Lodi Reds
      • Lodi Wine, Over 100 Varieties Strong
      • Ramona Valley Wine Country, an Up and Coming Wine Region
      • Hertelendy Vineyards, the Pursuit of Excellence
      • Napa Valley Wine, Nirvana in a Bottle
      • Wine Stroll: Explore Downtown Paso Robles Wineries
      • The Beautiful Shades of Lodi Rosé Wines
      • Doubling Down on Gold Medal Wines: The San Francisco International Wine Competition
      • The Exotic Wines of Lebanon
      • Australian Wines, Rediscover the New Frontier
      • New Zealand Wines, Expanding beyond Sauvignon Blanc
      • Visit France in 2018, a Feast of Food, Wine, Culture and History
      • Bordeaux Wine 2015, A Very Good Year
      • Portugal's Treasure Chest of Wines
      • Livermore Valley, California’s Original Wine Country Reborn
      • Concannon and Wente Vineyards, California’s Pioneers of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
      • Livermore Valley Wine Country, the Future Looks Bright
    • 2017 Articles >
      • Viña Ardanza Rioja Turns 75, an Enchanting Wine Gets Even Better
      • The VIP Sparkle of Prosecco Superiore
      • Lodi Wine Country, Seriously Good Wine From A to Z
      • Lodi Wine Country, Old Vines and Great Wines
      • Lodi Wine Country, Winegrowers and Winemakers Focused on the Future
      • Lugana White Wine, Better With Age
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip to LA
      • Sweetzer Cellars, a Life Changing Journey of Wine
      • Lugana and Valpolicella, the Yin and Yang of the Veneto
      • Three R’s of Summer Wine, Rosé, Riesling, and Ramato
      • Familia Martínez Bujanda, Wines Without Borders
      • Codorníu Cava, the Ars and Anna Collection
      • New and Exciting Wines from the 2017 Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration
      • Sensual Delights on Display at Savor Italy Los Angeles
      • Pizza and Franco Pepe, Italy’s Best Comes to LA
      • Montes Wines, Wisdom in Wine From Father to Son
      • Passionate Pinot Noir Lovers Unite at the 2017 World of Pinot
      • Vignalta, Wines of the Highest Order
      • Santa Lucia Highlands Sensational Wines
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2017
      • Law Estate Wines: Quality by Design
      • Taittinger and Calvisius: Champagne and Caviar Dreams
      • Riding High on American Rhone Wines, The Rhone Rangers LA Tasting
      • Discover Monterey Wine Country, wine and so much more
      • Wines of Portugal, the Perfect Dinner Companion
      • Gruet's Enchanting Sparkling Wines
    • 2016 Articles >
      • The Art of Italian Living, SoCal Style
      • Wines of Alsace: Perfect for the Holidays
      • Oso Libre Winery; Vines, Wines, and Angus Beef
      • Best Wines for Thanksgiving
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour Sweeps Through Los Angeles
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Chardonnay
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Pinot Noir
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Rhône Varietals
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Bordeaux Varietals
      • Achaval-Ferrer, Exceptional Wines from Argentina
      • Celebration of Harvest Grand Tasting 2016 Highlights
      • The Celebrity Sparkle of Ferrari Trento Wines
      • Santa Barbara Wine Country’s Celebration of Harvest 2016
      • The Garagiste Festival, Off the Beaten Path Wines
      • Explore SLO Wine Country, Central California’s Hidden Gem
      • Byron Winery, The Grand Pinot Noir Experiment
      • Crocker & Starr Wines, Organically Elegant
      • Escape to Santa Maria Wine Country
      • The Elegant White Wines of Domäne Wachau
      • Champagne Palmer: The New Champagne on the Block
      • Holman Ranch & Vineyards: Making Memories & Wine at Romantic California Hideaway
      • Luminous Wines of France's Loire Valley
    • Examiner.com Articles >
      • Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards: Wines Without Compromise
      • All Stars of Pinot Noir Rock the 2016 World of Pinot
      • Ampelos Wines' Biodynamic Brilliance
      • Artisan Uprising: Blood Into Wine
      • Bodegas Beronia Rioja: The Magic of Oak
      • Crawford Family Wines: Unlocking Varietal Flavor
      • Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards' Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs Shine Bright
      • Hahn Family Wines: Santa Lucia Highlands' Sweet Spot
      • Kimmel Vineyards: Good Wine Flows from Challenging Times
      • Larner Vineyard: Sweet Spot for Syrah and Grenache
      • LOCA for Lodi Wine
      • Lompoc Wine Ghetto
      • Sanford Winery & Vineyards, Delicious Wines That Tell a Tale
      • The Diverse and Divine Wines of Santa Barbara County
      • Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail
      • The Stellar Wines of California's Sta. Rita Hills
      • Skinner Vineyards, Destiny and Determination
      • Wines of Portugal, The Art of the Blend
  • Wine Reviews
    • The Dynamic Lavico Etna Wines of Duca di Salaparuta
    • The Sangiovese Stars of San Felice Wines
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, in Can and Bottle
    • Coen Malbec Reserve 2019, a New World Wine with Old World Sensibilities
    • Sangre de Toro Rosé, A Light and Bright Summer Thirst Quencher
    • Summer and Sauvignon Blanc, Lucky Rock Wine Co. Style
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019
    • Monte Velho, Fascinating Wines and Value-Priced
    • Grassl Glasses Add Depth to Wine Enjoyment
    • Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé Brut Makes Everyday a Holiday
    • Festive Ferrari Trento Sparkling Wines For All Occasions
    • Bodegas CARO, the Best of Both Worlds
    • Kosher Wines For the Jewish High Holidays Are Highly Recommended Anytime of Year
    • Oak Farm Vineyards, a Rainbow of Delicious Lodi Wines
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2019
    • Ron Rubin Wines, The Dream Series
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2018
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2018
    • Crus Bourgeois Bordeaux, Expressive Wines at Everyday Prices
    • Légende Collection of Bordeaux Wines
    • Five Contemporary California Wines To Try
    • Alternative Sparkling Wines For a Celebration
    • A Toast to Prosecco Superiore
    • Celebrate with this Pair of Spanish Red Wines
    • A Quartet of Summer Red Wines
    • Spanish Albariño, a Wine For All Seasons
    • Ciù Ciù Wines, Quality That Shines Through
    • A Trio of Red Wines for Holiday Merrymaking
    • Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso 2012
    • The Sultry Arnaldo Caprai Collepiano Montefalco Sagrantino
    • Pop the Cork on Charles Heidsieck Champagne and Bisol Prosecco
    • Garnacha Wines from DOP Cariñena, Beautiful Bang for the Buck
    • A Pair of Greek Wines for a Spring Feast
    • A Dynamic Duo of Sassy Spanish White Wines
    • Anderra Carménere
    • Artesa Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
    • Avignonesi Grandi Annate
    • Château Saint-Maur Rosé
    • La Miranda de Secastilla, Old Vine Garnacha Gems
    • Intriguing Israeli Wines
    • Leviathan
    • Domaines Paul Mas Wines Trio
    • Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, intensely refreshing and delicious
    • Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino
    • Stay Cool With These Two Charming White Wines
  • Events
    • Garagiste Wine Festival: Urban Exposure 2022 Highlights Hidden California Wine Gems
    • Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival 2019
    • World of Pinot Noir 2019, A Magical Mystery Tour
    • Journey to Planet Pinot at the 2018 World of Pinot Noir
    • Great Wines of Italy Comes to LA
    • Wine Along the Beach at Garagiste Wine Festival 2017
    • Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration 2017
    • Orbit the World of Pinot Noir at the 2017 World of Pinot
    • Rhone Rangers Los Angeles 2016
  • Wine Travel
  • Videos
    • Celebration of Harvest
    • Feliz Noche Wines
    • Terravant Custom Crush
    • Que Syrah, Shiraz!
    • Paso Robles Wine Festival
    • L'Aventure Syrah Harvest
    • Clos Pepe's Prince of Pinot
  • Photos
  • Who We Are
    • About Patricia Decker
    • About Fabian Rodriguez
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You’ve heard of craft beer, but what about craft wine?  It’s sort of the same thing, producers outside of the main stream, doing what they love, making wine from their heart and soul.  It’s another level of winemaking, beyond artisan or boutique.  The beauty of craft wine is its authenticity, a singular focus and uniqueness that sets that wine apart from the crowd.  These wines speak of a winemaker’s interpretation of that very specific place, and not a copycat version of what some think it should be.
So what qualifies as craft wine?  Small production, hand-made wines that are distinctly American, translating to uniquely American expressions of classic grapes and blends.  While wines can often be compared to similar wines from across the globe, craft wines think outside the box, creating wine that follow’s the producer’s expression of what they think it can be, from their special vineyards.  For example, Nebbiolo is renowned for its Italian roots, with a very distinctive profile, but Nebbiolo in California will be different, good in its own way.
Craft wines actually carry a designation, issued by the Craft Wine Association.  These small wineries need help in getting their message out, and assistance in developing a consumer marketplace to make their wines more available.  Craftwine.org provides a portal to sell these wines, along with industry partnerships, events, and social media buzz.  On NxtCrush, small production wineries can operate just like on their own website, receiving all the proceeds of the transactions, with the added benefit of being more visible to the wine drinking public.
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I had the opportunity to explore two craft wineries through a virtual tasting, organized with the assistance of Carole Lawson, head of the Craft Wine Association.  It was a great comparison, one from Northern California’s Humboldt County (Terragena Vineyard), and the other from Southern California’s Ramona Valley (La Finquita Winery).  Comparing the cool climate varietals of Riesling and Nebbiolo, versus the warm climate grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Mourvedre, there was a faint resemblance to the European varietal wines, but different in a way that they had their own style and character.
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Courtesy of Terragena Vineyard
Terragena Vineyard, meaning “born of the earth”, is literally a small winery on a mountain in the forests of Humboldt County.  Christopher Buchanan, driven by a dream, is a true trailblazer in this region.  In 2008, Buchanan moved from New Orleans to this undeveloped land, and created everything from scratch.  It’s an amazing journey, he cleared the land, and lived in a yurt while spending the next several years building out the winery operation, designing off the grid water and solar power to sustain his vision, including a 1,000,000 gallon pond that collects rainwater which he uses to irrigate his vines during the growing season.  Then in 2013, Buchanan planted his two acre vineyard to Pinot Noir, 17 different clones in a grand laboratory experiment.  He also sources fruit from six other small grower vineyards, who are as committed to his sustainable vision as he is. Total production is small, with up to 20 different wines making up the 1,000 cases.
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Buchanan puts his heart and soul into every bottle, believing that “quality is more important than varietal purity”.  He experiments with clones, oak treatments, and other winegrowing and winemaking techniques.  All the bottles are numbered, reflecting their hands-on production.  Each vintage has a different expression, a testament to what Mother Nature gave him that year.  And then there is the inherent differences in wine grape varietals, as Buchanan says, “Nebbiolo is like an opera singer, Pinot Noir is like a ballet dancer.”   He changes out his lineup, experimenting with different bottlings, and winemaking techniques, like skin contact.  In any case, Terragena is off the grid, but in the groove, committed to crafting wine that speaks of the vineyard’s special place.
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Terragena Riesling 2018 Wiley Vineyard Anderson Valley (SRP $39) - a racy, aromatic, dry Riesling field blend of 92% Riesling and 8% Muscat delights with a rich mouthfeel.  Floral and citrus notes usher in stone fruit and green apple flavors, with a chalky mineral spine, all the while constantly evolving in the glass.  This Riesling is pure in its aromatics and flavor, fermented in neutral oak and stainless steel.  Fruit from this 45-year-old vineyard enjoy a long, cool growing season, and this hang time is expressed in the wine.  Delicious by the glass or a good pair with sushi and seafood.
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Terragena Nebbiolo 2017 Lost Coast’s Dragon Vineyard (SRP $49) - in the glass, the beautiful transparent red color is classic Nebbiolo, but one swirl, and it’s very different.  Notes of strawberry, vanilla, and mesquite waft atop red fruit flavors, a bright vivid wine that has its own style.  The Dragon Vineyard has one of the few plantings of Nebbiolo in California, which is notoriously a difficult grape to grow, but makes elegant wines.
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La Finquita Winery and Vineyard, meaning “the little farm”, is a dream come true for Charlie and Jess Koehler.  Smitten with wine after a trip to Julian and the Ramona Valley in 2008, Charlie and Jess moved to Ramona and immersed themselves in winemaking, working at local wineries to gain knowledge and experience.  Then, in 2013, they purchased La Finquita Winery & Vineyards, and embarked on their pursuit of making wine they love.  In their estate vineyard, the Koehlers grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Syrah.  La Finquita also works with other select local vineyards to obtain the fruit for other wines in their portfolio.
Making over a dozen wines, from bubbly to dessert, Jess Koehler defines their business as “A Modern Romance of Wine”.  Their wines are “lovingly handcrafted from vineyard to glass and every step in between”, looking to blend traditional winemaking techniques and taking creative license, offering innovative wines that can appeal to everyone.
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La Finquita Puppy Kisses 2018 (SRP $30)- light and refreshing, this low alcohol Chardonnay from the South Coast AVA has yellow apple, pomelo, pineapple, and lime zest notes.  Made entirely in stainless steel, it is a good thirst quencher on a hot day or pairs well with shellfish, pork, fish, or pasta with a cream sauce.  This is one of La Finquita’s charity bottles, where $2 from each bottle sold goes to the Frosted Faces Foundation, a local elderly dog rescue organization.
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La Finquita Mourvedre 2016 (SRP $30) - this lower alcohol version of a classically big wine offers aromas of tobacco, blackberry, and pepper, alongside flavors of black cherry, black currant, red plum, and blueberry.  Soft tannins and a light smokiness infuse the wine, lending it to food pairings such as charcuterie, grilled cheese, or chicken in a rich sauce.
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Part of the joy of drinking wine is finding something different, an undiscovered gem to be shared.  Craft wine definitely fills that niche.  Gaining traction in the US, the Craft Wine Association has almost 50 winery members, this is a movement to help support the small independent wineries in creative ways, and get the word out.  Winemaking is a labor of love, and craft wines come from the heart and soul, authentic and unique.