The easiest, cheapest way to improve wine

If you are like so many wine lovers who open a bottle of red wine minutes before serving it to yourself or your guests, you’re missing out on at least 80 percent of what that wine has to offer. Wine, and especially red wine, needs... Continue

It’s time to get grillin’

After last time’s “Refreshing Wine Choices for Warmer Weather” it occurred to me that most of you have already reacted to our non-winter and have uncovered, cleaned and fired up that wonderful extension of your kitchen we enjoy so much out here, the outdoor grill.... Continue

Refreshing wine choices for warmer weather

Even though the warmer weather around here seems to have started around the first of the year, I have to say that it’s an incredible, stunning day in April. I have surrendered to the “no winter” plan Mother Nature has for 2015 and I am... Continue

Making wine and realizing dreams

[caption id="attachment_47046" align="alignleft" width="200"] In 1974, when Steve MacRostie first made wine, there were only about 40 small wineries in Sonoma County.[/caption] Contrary to popular opinion, making fine wine is not easy. It’s not the life of the gentleman (or woman) vintner relaxing on his... Continue

Great values from my “Pinot Passion” Awards

In my last column here (Feb. 19) I shared the local highlights of the “Top 12 Pinot Noirs” from the “Pinot Passion Awards” issue of my newsletter PinotReport. As promised, this time I am sharing my “Top 12 Pinot Values” with you. To recap, I... Continue