From sparkling celebratory wines and Champagnes to crisp wintery whites, bracing reds to non-alcoholic wines, I’ve got 15 bottles to suit a range of palates, meals or occasions as we dive into the holidays and usher in a new year. Read more →
Tag: Wine
12 Summer Wines & Somm-Curated Wine Clubs
From sparkling summer crushers (whether easy drinking refreshing or funky, interesting natural wines) to thoughtful, sommelier-curated wine clubs for the savvy wine drinker, I’ve got 12 bottles to suit a range of palates, meals or occasions, including standout non-alcoholic wines. Read more →
6 New Spots Worth Visiting: Cafe, Bar & Food Truck Edition
These six newer spots include two Brazilian go-tos, a winning bottle shop and arcade/game bar with food (as always, I’ve vetted, visited or ordered from every restaurant reviewed here):
12 Standout Wines (To Suit All Palates) for the Holidays
Wine for the holidays: needless to say, it’s a must. The question is what? Here, 12 bottles to suit a range of palates, meals and occasions from low-key, cozy meal to celebratory splurge, champagne to red wines, natural to elegant. I’ve noted some local restaurants pouring select wines if you want to taste first.
DISTILLER Bottle Column: November 2021
My bottle column covers trends and reviews international spirits and RTDs, with taste ratings:
Wine Time: Local Canned Wines, Wine Clubs & (yes, even) Non-Alcoholic Wine Worth Drinking
The canned wine “game” keeps getting better. Not only are each of these canned wines or wine clubs of high quality to please the wine geek, they’re approachable for all. One is the best non-alcoholic wine we’ve yet tasted, another contributes to environmental change — and all are (yes!) locally based.
April 2021: 10 Top Bay Area Restaurants
My dining column in Bob Cut magazine covers standout newcomers and longtimers worth supporting.
I’m covering outdoor and indoor dining, takeout and delivery restaurants, all of which I’ve vetted, visited or ordered from. Here are this month’s 10 standouts: Read more →
March Top 10 Bay Area Restaurants
During pandemic, our beloved dining and drink communities continue to struggle to survive, so my dining column includes takeout/delivery and outdoor dining standouts, alongside our increasing indoor dining as we move from red to orange tiers. I have vetted, visited and/or ordered directly from each place and all working hard adhering safety guidelines: Read more →
Fruit & Fire: A CA Winemaker & KY Distiller Pioneer With Smoke Tainted Grapes in Smoked Brandies
In the Winter 2020-2021 print issue of Distiller Magazine, my article and interview of two women in distilling and winemaking —from Kentucky and Napa Valley—who are collaborating on turning around tragedy (the recent years of unprecedented NorCal fires and their damage of smoke-tainted grapes) into spirits innovation… smoked brandies in a range of styles and experimentation.
A Visionary Bar Manager Combines Spirits & Wine… In the Same Glass
Published at Haute Living Magazine, the November-December 2019 issue includes my feature on Gibson in San Francisco’s Adam Chapman and his one-of-a-kind, pioneering drinks that combine wine and spirits in one glass, employ freezer-distilled juice or roof-dry herbs before steeping them in spirits. Online here. MY HAUTE LIVING ARTICLES— Wine Country Inns with Exceptional Dining (& Growing Their Own Produce)… Read more →