It’s Time for Wine: A Tasting of Cork and Screw Top Wines

Cork vs. Screw Top — An Actual Tasting (Finally) By Monty and Sara Preiser As we look back, it seems that it was about 1999 when the American wine industry began to discuss in earnest the question of whether screw top enclosures could match corks in terms of a wine’s desired aging. Perhaps the issue [...]

It’s Time for Wine: Sonoma Valley Appellations

By Monty and Sara Preiser Most oenophiles are aware of the Russian River, Chalk Hill and Carneros districts of Sonoma, but few others. As Sonoma county winemakers continue to refine their decisions as to what varieties grow best in what locations, the designation of the wine’s appellation will become more and more important. In Sonoma [...]

It’s Time for Wine: Simi, Continuum & Guilliams

By Monty and Sara Preiser “If God forbade drinking, would He have made wine so good?” – Cardinal Richeleu Simi is Excitingly Resurgent From time to time over the past two decades the wines at Simi have been lauded as industry leaders. Yet for some reason there never seemed to be the consistency in production [...]

It’s Time for Wine: Wines, Wineries and Dining for the New Year

DeLoach, Moshin, Oakville Ranch, and Brassica By Monty and Sara Preiser It is time to start planning your California wine country trip if you intend to travel to California during the 2012 season. Many wineries that you will want to see will start filling their appointment slots a few months in advance of your arrival, [...]

It’s Time for Wine: Spirits for the New Year

Plus the Donum Estate By Monty and Sara Preiser Before moving to spirits we wanted to be one of the first to report new ownership at what we consider to be one of the top Pinot Noir producing houses in California – The Donum Estate. Investors from Denmark have purchased Donum, including the main portion [...]

It’s Time for Wine: Introducing Shadowbox Cellars

Our Own (plus our partners) shadowbox cellars to Make its Debut By Monty and Sara Preiser We were chosen as the “inspectors” for an election the other day, meaning that we watched the counting by both sides to be sure all was accurate and there were no shenanigans. There were a number of candidates, and [...]

It’s Time for Wine: Fine Dining Continues in Wine Country

Dry Creek Kitchen Surprised Us, Etoile at Chandon Amazed Us and Madrona Manor Captivated Us By Monty and Sara Preiser There are so many fine dining establishments in wine country that it is difficult to select just a few to write about. Yet every so often we are surprised by a restaurant’s unique brilliance, which [...]

It’s Time for Wine: Corks vs. Screw Tops

Does the Debate Still Have Legs? By Monty and Sara Preiser As wine writers and educators, as well as publishers and vintners, we are constantly asked questions about varying aspects of the wine industry. Probably the most often asked question has to do with what we think about screw top closures on bottles of wine. [...]

It’s Time for Wine: Rutherford Dust Society

The Rutherford Dust Society – Its 2008 Wines and Commitments By Monty and Sara Preiser As has been the case for many years now, we were once again honored to be invited by the Rutherford Dust Society to attend the annual Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Blend tasting of Rutherford wines. As most of you know, [...]

It’s Time for Wine: Napa Valley Mexican-American Vintners Association

A Historic Day with the Napa Valley Mexican-American Vintners Association By Monty and Sara Preiser About three years ago we wrote a column about our attendance at the (then) new African American Vintners Association. Afterward, we penned an introduction that is as relevant today as it was then: There is a cultural phenomenon that only [...]