Greetings from Thailand, home base for the next several months. As we continue to spend countless hours working on the Napa Wine Project, we have found the project has significantly evolved over the years. Initially we tried to visit as many wineries as possible, focusing on quantity of visits rather than quality and as a result all of our early reviews ... [Read More]

Wine represents something much bigger than just fermented grape juice. We know how wine is made today, but imagine figuring that out around 8 000 years ago. It is a very complex process that requires a lot of knowledge in microbiology and chemistry to fully understand. Yet, our ancestors wanted this delicious and fun drink, so they kept on perfecting the ... [Read More]

We recently attended an informative seminar led by sommelier André Mack and 6th generation glass designer Kurt Josef Zalto to present Kurt's own lineup of stemware called Josephinenhütte. Zalto founded this company in early 2019 and chose the name to honor a glassworks company founded in 1842 in central Europe by Count Leopold von Schaffgotsch who named the ... [Read More]

In Valley highlights Other than personally partying in Florida several times including in nightclubs in mid and late 2020, we had difficulty finding gatherings and parties in Napa Valley last year. So it was nice when we received an invite to an early this year party at Boich Estate. A party at Sinegal Estate was also pretty special. And so was the ... [Read More]

This prestigious hunting, fishing and culinary ranch is located in neighboring Sonoma County (easily seen from and bordering the north side of Highway 37). Co-founders, the Sutso family have generationally owned and overseen hunting operations in this part of Sonoma County, initially as Black Point Sports Club dating back to 1964 (which sold in 2013). ... [Read More]

A significant part of an already significant project involves taking numerous trips (both cars and flights) – to any space or place that is very strongly connected to wineries within Napa Valley – within California, domestically or abroad. This obsession has brought us to places we never ever would have considered visiting previously. We began exploring ... [Read More]

Looking for our 2019 wrap-up? It is posted here. During a very bizarre year, the number of fortuitous events in 2020 was remarkable. It all started in the desert in March when I immediately headed out on what would be numerous domestic road trips across the country and also several non Napa related international trips. My travels first took me to one of ... [Read More]

Every so often on my relentless pursuit of visiting, tasting with and promoting all Napa Valley based wineries and producers - I discover brands that combine intriguing history, cool owners and excellent wines. Earlier this year I met up with owner Katie Migliavacca and her winemaker and business partner Vincent Traverso in the Migliavacca Mansion in ... [Read More]

When one smells and tastes wine partly for a living, one's sense becomes acutely aware of smells. I remember as a child I could smell minute particles of smoke in the air, well before anyone else picked up on the aromas - often from fires a long ways away. I still can. However, translating this genetic talent into picking out aromas in wines - is not as easy ... [Read More]

Over the past 15 years I have been tasting up and down the cozy confines of the Napa Valley - from valley floor to hillside. With well over 1,000 Napa Valley wineries and producers visited with to date, my journeys have taken me into some of the most luxurious, secret and coveted spaces. Coming up with top lists is always challenging especially with our ... [Read More]