Christening Our New Bottling Line
Occasio is a small winery by any measure. Our annual case production rarely exceeds 1000 cases, and…
Thanksgiving Pairing – Three Perfect Essentials
This time of year I receive many inquiries on choosing the best wines for the Thanksgiving meal. Without knowing the menu or personal wine preferences, my advice is to rely on the three essentials: acidity, sweetness, and tannins – the secret of the sommeliers.
The Next Chapter – Searching for a Sense of Place
As a scientist, I always followed a ten-year rule: the first five years on a new project were…
Defining our Future with an Eye to the Past
After more than 30 years of making wine, movie director Francis Ford Coppola is dissatisfied. He feels…
Occasio Winery and the Legacy of Gypsy Jazz (SOLD OUT)
So, what happens when Louis Armstrong collides with a youthful, French Romany guitarist in the 1930s? Gypsy…
The 125th Anniversary of the Paris Tasting – A Call to Celebrate
The Paris Exposition of 1889 was the largest of its time. Between May and October, nearly 30…
The Last Pinot Gris?
Preparing my tasting notes for tomorrow’s release of the 2013 vintage of Pinot Gris, I am tasting…
The Hidden History of Our Chardonnay
The story of our Chardonnay begins during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, when he…
Do You Pay Your Staff? Hiring Professionals for Quality Wine
Our local newspaper, The Independent, last week ran a front-page article about a Livermore winery that ran…
Practicing an Ancient Art – The Making of Occasio Rosé
Here, my son James has captured me mixing the Pinot Noir rosé, an ancient ritual not unlike…
