Posts by John

My thoughts on ingredient labeling for wine started swirling this year when California introduced a new law requiring bottle recycling labels on all wine and spirits sold in the state.…

Petite Sirah, often referred to as “Petite Syrah” or “Durif” worldwide, is a bold and flavorful grape variety rapidly gaining popularity for its depth of flavor. With its trademark inky…

We have always felt the wine world benefits from having multiple styles of Chardonnay to choose from. Styles ranging from the super lean, stainless steel Chardonnays of Sonoma Coast to…

The question of whether Livermore Valley needs a signature grape varietal to increase its reputation has sparked ongoing debate among our valley’s winegrowers, with valid points on both sides that…

Nestled among California’s 568,000 acres of wine grapes, Livermore Valley’s approximately 2,800 acres make up less than 1% of the state’s total. But soon, Livermore’s modest acreage could dwindle further…

The photo that accompanies this post was taken on September 8, 2020, while wildfires were ravaging the state. The economic toll of those fires on the wine industry was severe…

Now that the Winegrowers’ Association has reinvented itself as the Livermore Valley Wine Community, an order of business has been to propose creating a ‘signature’ grape varietal for the Valley…

Come quickly, I am tasting the stars! attributed to Dom Perignon The legend of Dom Pérignon and his creation of sparkling wine is romantic. Unfortunately, it is just advertising copy.…