A Free Wine Encyclopedia!As in the rest of the wine making world, it seems each region in California takes on its own personality. Certain grapes tend to fair better in certain regions. The Mayacamas mountains for its big Cabernets, the central coast for its rich Pinot noir, the Carneros district for its luscious Chardonnay and Amador County for… read more »
How do you successfully introduce a new line of wines in a super competitive environment in the middle of a recession? That was the challenge facing the new Winterbrook partnership in early 1992. Though the winery was established in 1983, early 1992 marked a new era for the fledging facility. John Sullivan, Gregory Popovich and… read more »
When is a second label not a second label? This selection provides the answer. The exalted Mt. Veeder appellation, where this wine comes from, is home to a constellation of star-quality Napa wineries: The Hess Collection, Mayacamas, Mt. Veeder and Chateau Potelle. Sunridge Cabernet Sauvignon is actually the product of the Chateau Potelle estate winery,… read more »
Two decades ago, two brothers, John and Karl Giguiere (grandsons of Washington State wheat farmer Robert Hugh Phillips), along with John’s wife, Lane Giguiere, pioneered the development of vineyards in northwestern Yolo County. Their family had acquired a ranch there in 1946 and had followed the local traditions of farming dryland wheat and barley, and… read more »
Chris Bogle is the fifth generation of Bogies to farm the fertile Sacramento River Delta region of northern California. In 1968, Chris helped his father, Warren, plant their first vineyard. Then, in 1973, they formed Bogle Vineyards. With nearly 650 acres under vine, the winery is virtually self sufficient in fruit. In some cases, however,… read more »
The Joshua Hill Winery label is a proud premium brand offered by what is, actually, the ninth largest winery in the U.S., Delicato Vineyards. A vintner’s vintner, Delicato is a family owned Central Valley winery, now in its 56th successful year. It operates the second largest single-plant winery in the nation, with a storage capacity… read more »
Bill and Ingrid Wheeler, owners of the William Wheeler Winery, met while Bill was posted in South America as a U.S. Foreign Service officer. In 1970 they bought a 175 acre Sonoma County ranch. They planted their first vineyard (Cabernet Sauvignon) during 1973-1974 and harvested their first grapes in 1975 (these they “sold off”). They… read more »
The Konocti Winery is located in Lake County, to the north and east of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. It lies on an ancient volcanic plateau dominated by California’s largest natural lake, Clear Lake, and the 4,200 foot extinct volcano, Mt. Konocti, from which it derives its name. Lake County’s vineyards date back to the… read more »
In 1970, Richard and Karen Keehn purchased over 500 acres in Mendocino’s McDowell Valley. Although grapes for wine production had been cultivated in this valley and sold to Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino wine makers without interruption since the 1890s, nobody had ever put a winery there. The region boasts low fertility, gravely loam soils, ideal… read more »
Wow! Two superb Sebastiani bargain wines practically back-to-back! (Remember this September’s wonderful “Emilia-label” Cabernet #992A? It’s still available at only $7.29 ea., if you’re new and you missed it!) This winery has managed to stay in the same family’s hands despite tumultuous times; Prohibition, The Great Depression, hostile take-overs and whatever else has come along… read more »