Eat & Drink

There are so many good sparkling wines out there. Some super Prosecco, wonderful West Coast bubblies, and the list grows and grows. But I always like to drink a bottle of true French Champagne to bring in the New Year. It should be dry, festive, complex and memorable, and today’s […]

Hot wines! On our West Coast, nothing is hotter than Sonoma Coast pinot noir. And one of the most sought-after is from the Fort Ross Vineyard. Also, wine columnist Lettie Teague of The Wall Street Journal has been recently singing the praises of northern Italy’s Barbaresco. There are few producers […]

With winter showing up 10 days early, its time to rattle off some better cold weather wines that a special recipient would love. Pricier wines that are worth every penny. Whether to drink now, or to cellar for a spell, these selections will be remembered, while that elf-themed sweater sinks […]

Excitement often comes with wines that over-deliver. Today’s red selection is not run of the mill. It represents great quality at good prices. With an option from Italy, Portugal and two from Chile, all are “sit up and take notice” wines. For your friends, family or yourself this season, they […]

Wines for the holidays can be easy to choose if you know your preferences. Lighter-bodied wines are still good in the winter for greeting guests in style. This listing has diverse wines ranging from lightest to fullest bodied. From Sicily to the Sonoma Coast, these whites will be delicious for you or […]

Many prefer red wine for Thanksgiving, plus the other holiday dishes to be served over the next six weeks. Here are four wines that will suit your traditional meal in style; they are listed from the lightest-bodied to the fullest. Although these all suit a turkey dinner with embellishments, they will […]

If you love white wine with your turkey, and other main course possibilities, please consider the following choices: a vibrant California chardonnay, an overtly fragrant Greek, a volcanic southern Italian, a sugar-kissed northern and an Alsatian bubbly that also hits the right notes for your sweet potatoes, stuffing and cranberry […]

When is Halloween a bit of a chore? When you live on West Club Boulevard and 1,200 kids show up at your door! But we had a plan: a big pot of chili, fresh French bread and a bottle of Vintage Port. This year I pulled out a rare beauty, […]

The aphorism “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats” certainly applies to the 2016 vintage in the southern Rhône. This vintage is being assessed as one of the best ever, an almost unheard of level of quality. My own experience with everyday reds and whites affirms this. I urge all of […]