To the uninitiated American, there are two places to go to when it comes to grabbing a bottle of sparkling wine for that holiday party... California and Champagne, France. While those are two of our favorite places too, we live in a world today where there are some fantastic bubbly wines found across the globe. Let's take a look at a few of our new favorites.

One of the most misunderstood aspects of enjoying fine wines is the concept of aging. To an extent, we all know that most wines need to be aged a certain amount of time before they are ready to drink - but beyond this, it almost seems to be the realm of magic and folklore. To help us all better understand the concept of cellaring wine, we had a chance to chat with Marcus Notaro, Head Winemaker of the legendary Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.

Are you looking for something beyond your classic mimosa to enjoy during Sunday brunch? Italian Prosecco producer Gancia sends over this delicious-sounding idea for a holiday morning spritz to enjoy this season!

Merlot has gotten a bad name in recent years and much of that stems from the famous line in the movie, Sideways, "If anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving". Miles from the movie quite literally changed the popularity of this varietal of wine for millions of American wine drinkers - and indeed created a world-wide impact as well. Merlot isn't that bad but its reputation still suffers in the face of popular red wine alternatives including Cabernet Sauvignon and of course, Pinot Noir.  Let's take a deeper look at merlot and how you can better appreciate it once you get an opportunity to sample it at your favorite winery or wine bar.

We are thrilled to be supporting the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival as it returns to it's former glory and and appears stronger than ever. Unfortunately the past couple years haven't been kind to events like this but hopefully those issues are in the rear view mirror now that that's just one reason why this year's event is going to be special. We'll be on-site at a few different events during the festival offering live coverage so if you are attending... make sure to reach out. We'd love to meet up in person!

I'm a big fan of Sauvignon Blanc, the crisp often lime notes that are associated with it - especially those from Marlborough region in New Zealand are my go-to drink on hot summer days. I'm also a big fan of innovation and I so I'm very impressed with what the folks at Loveblock vineyard created in the process of creating a truly "organic wine".

A couple weeks ago I had the fortune of receiving a huge box of samples from Bota Box. The very generous folks there were determined to show me that boxed wine didn't have to be terrible. They were right but what blew me away was their latest creation, Bota 'Rita - a wine based margarita that comes in their signature bag-in-box packaging.

How long can you store wine? That is a question that many people have, and it is not an easy one to answer. The truth is, the length of time that wine will last depends on a variety of factors including the type of wine, how it is stored, the quality of the wine, and even the climate where you live. In this blog post, we will take a look at different types of wines and how long they are likely to last under different conditions. 

It is unfortunate that many wine drinkers don't have an opportunity to explore beyond the typical varietals that you see commonly on wine lists and American tasting rooms. Personally, that's a challenge for myself as well even though I absolutely love trying new things and exploring different perspectives on wine varietals from around the world. That's why I was excited to try three wines sent to me by Feudi di San Gregorio that showcase their white white portfolio.

Have you ever sat there looking at the cooler during a backyard BBQ and thought, "darn it... I wish there was a hard seltzer made from wine instead?"  No, me neither and frankly as a GenX guy this whole re-discovery of wine coolers makes me smile. Luckily, this creation - Jetway produced by Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes is actually pretty tasty. I just wish it said wine cooler instead of chasing the seltzer market.

One of the East Coast's top wine tasting destinations is nestled in the piedmont area of central Virginia. Here you will find a fantastic blend of rich history, music, restaurants, and wineries surrounding Charlottesville, VA. What most people don't realize is that this region - known to oenophiles as the Monticello AVA - is perhaps one of the most historically significant wine regions anywhere in North America. This makes a visit to Charlottesville, Virginia the perfect place to explore how old world wines and winemaking tradition have blended with new world innovation to produce very high-quality wine on local farms in this fantastic part of Virginia Wine Country.

One of the more complex and misunderstood aspects of why certain wines are revered as works of art while others sit on a spectrum from very good to god awful is that no matter how talented the winemaker may be, Mother Nature is ultimately in control. While you can select locations for grape growing that will produce various subtle notes, you aren't always guaranteed to get the perfect product. In 2013, Napa Valley's conditions were as close to this as we've seen and this new production by Vision Films helps to tell that story.

Sparkling wine as a category continues to impress me with far more than the standard "party Champagne" on offer today. For generations bubbly wine has been celebrated in various formats but we are truly in the midst of a renaissance with a wide variety of creations available as well as a  resurgence in sparkling wine cocktails as well. Mumm Napa sent over some bottles for us as well as these recipes to share. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as we did !

For wine drinkers used to seeing prices of $50+ for a good bottle of Cabernet Sauvingon, from California or Washington State, seeing sub $20 bottles from Chile can be a bit of a headscratcher but when you bring in an ambassador like Pedro Pascal - Mandalorian, Wonder Woman 1984, Narcos, and Game Of Thrones to be your brand ambassador it's worth taking a look!

When you think of "wine cruises", typically you think of riverboats floating through European destinations like those along the Rhine, Rhone, and Garonne (Bordeaux) or maybe even Portugal's Doro river. However, one of the absolute best ways to experience North America's best wine regions is on a Coastal California cruise.  What we liked about sailing on Holland America Line's Koningsdam was that it created an immersive experience - on the ship, as well as in port as well.

When it comes to wine tours, most people think of the various AVAs around the United States, and countries like France, Spain, and Italy. What you may not know is that South Africa is a rising star, offering some unique varietals as well as a stunning countryside to explore. If you’re planning an international adventure that includes wine, South Africa may be the next destination you should check out.

Mendocino California is one of my favorite "hidden gems" in the California wine scene. Geographically it exists just above Sonoma to the point where it is "just out of reach" for all but the most determined wine drinkers, yet it has some of California's best vineyards. ETTORE is one of the newest wineries in the region, having just launched it's first two vintages earlier this year and they have now introduced Merlot Zero.

We've stayed away from Las Vegas since last March and if there's one thing that can bring us back... it's a wine fest! We hope you guys can join us along with wine experts from Tropicana Las Vegas, E&J Gallo, Rodney Strong, Chateau Ste Michelle, Kendall-Jackson, and other wine brands as we toast to the future!

Georgian wines are often overlooked in the wine world, with their more famous neighbors of France and Italy sitting at the top of most lists. Made primarily from indigenous grapes like Rkatsiteli and Saperavi, Georgian wines have a distinct character all their own that is usually underrepresented on wine menus. In this post we'll explore some history on Georgian wines, as well as how to pair them with food. Finally, we'll look into what's next for this sometimes forgotten European wine region!

If there is one thing I love above almost anything else in the craft food and beverage market, it is innovation that creates an experience for the imbiber. That's how I felt after trying Pech Merle Winery's inaugural release of Linea, a "solera" blend that features five vintages of cabernet sauvignon, starting with a 2008 from Garden Creek Vineyard. This wine is special to both the winery as well as to Pech Merle wine club members like myself because this isn't about creating something arbitrarily fancy just to pull a few extra dollars from our pockets. This is quite literally a love letter written by the winemaker to all of the Pech Merle fans that have supported them over the past 13 years.