Cheese | Wine of the Month Club's Ultimate Wine-pedia

Domestic Selection: Cabernet Sauvignon, 1989. Sunridge

August 29, 2016

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 »

Domestic Selection: Zinfandel, 1991. Bogle Vineyards

August 29, 2016

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 »

Import Selection: Pinot Gris, 1991. Dunavar

August 29, 2016

This wine comes from the largest mountainous wine-growing region in Hungary, Mátraalja, in the foothills of the Mátra mountains. Running from east to west, this mountain range offers ideal viticultural conditions to about 30,000 acres of grape vines which thrive on its sunny, south-facing slopes. There are three major quality strata in Hungarian wines. Vin… read more »

Domestic Selection: Cabernet Sauvignon, 1989. McDowell

August 26, 2016

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 »

Import Selection: Tempranillo, 1988. Juame Serra

August 25, 2016

In the year 1647, on top of a hill that slopes down to the Mediterranean, in what is now the province of Cataluna (Catalonia) in Spain, someone constructed a farmhouse in the likeness of a mediaeval fortress. Two hundred years later, this imposing property became a winery, Las Cavas Jaume Serra. Surrounding the cavas (caves… read more »

Import Selection: Cabernet Sauvignon, 1989. Villa Montes

August 23, 2016

What would happen if: a) California’s leading Consulting Oenologist, Andre Tchelistcheff, formed a partnership with; b) the Dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration of a prominent university plus; c) a major Napa Valley vineyard owner and; d) a seasoned wine marketing professional with 20 years experience? They call it Domaine Tchelistcheff. One… read more »

Import Selection: Chateau de Gourgazaud, 1988.

August 19, 2016

It is always pleasure to find a worthy selection from a time-honored winery. This wine originates from a chateau which was, according to the importer’s notes, “restored to its present condition in 1832.” The ancient domaine of Chateau de Gourgazaud is noted, in fact, on maps dating from the seventeenth century. What is more important,… read more »

Domestic Selection: Rsv. Sauvignon Blanc, 1986. Concannon

August 19, 2016

The Concannon Vineyard is factually a piece of California history, California Historical Landmark No. 641, to be exact. Over 100 years ago James Concannon founded this venerable operation 50 miles east of San Francisco in the Livermore Valley. This area distinguishes itself from other wine regions of California by its striking similarities to the great… read more »

Domestic Selection: Cabernet Sauvignon, 1987. Hawk Crest

August 18, 2016

Amongst the resplendent cabernet jewels in Napa’s crown, few sparkle so pre-eminently as those of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. I quote here, one who knows whereof he speaks, Warren Winiarski, winemaker and co-owner of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars: “Let us take a fresh start by making an assumption….that in every class of product there is… read more »

Import Selection: Wintervine, 1988.

August 18, 2016

Mark Cashmore, a chemistry and physics school teacher, turned winemaker, is giving the French wine industry fits. He is an Australian winemaker who has dared to try the unusual… made a success of it… and has had the unabashed gall to tweek the nose of the French (Hmm!). First he blends Pinot Noir and Cabernet… read more »