Corked!
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I had set aside two bottles of a Santa Maria Valley Syrah to accompany the meal, and opened the first at the table. Corked!
Luckily, there was a second bottle!
Read MoreFire! Fire!
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It is fire season in California, and our nearest wine country, Santa Barbara County, has been hit hard. Anyone who appreciates the wine of this region will recognize the Bien Nacido vineyard as a source of quality fruit for a number of wineries. This article in Wednesday's Los Angeles Times recounts the harrowing tale of how close we came to losing this treasured vineyard.
Read MoreTiny Bubbles ...in the Summer
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“I think everyone in the world should drink more sparkling wine than they already do,” the bartender announced over the din of a Tuesday night crowd at the wine bar. It was a view that I was beginning to agree with after a week of heat-wave weather that had sent me seeking wines that refresh - and that lend themselves to challenging food pairings.
Read MoreI'm Not a Wine Snob, I'm Just Curious
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Friday night has arrived and the place fills up. Music thumps and the vintage building’s exposed brick walls and concrete floors magnify the decibels to party level. Raw support columns covered with graffiti suggest a nightclub that caters to a young, late-night crowd – but it’s still early. Offices are just shuttering for the weekend. The after-work crowd transitions to Pasadena’s Everson Royce wine shop for a happy hour of sipping and sampling among the display shelves.
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