So now we know who the mystery buyers of the Robert Mondavi mansion are _ Jean-Charles Boisset, president of the French company Boisset Family Estates, which owns several California wineries, and his wife, Gina Gallo, granddaughter of California wine pioneer Julio Gallo. Call me sentimental but I like the idea of all that dynastic...
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What’s in a name? Quite a lot if you’re a consumer or producer of wine. A poll released today shows that 79 percent of the people surveyed thought the region where a wine comes from was an important factor when buying a bottle of wine and 75 percent said they would be less...
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You want to visit the vineyards of Napa Valley at harvest time. But your private jet is on the blink and/or the butler’s run off with this month’s petty cash so you can’t swing a trip out to California. Not to worry! Napa vintners are bringing the harvest to you with interactive webcasts that offer a unique behind-the-scenes peek into the most exciting time of the year in wine country. Read more »
Time to dig through those cellars. The Charles Krug Winery is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and the owners _ the Peter Mondavi Sr. family _ are looking for old Charles Krug wine bottles. The winery was founded by Prussian immigrant Charles Krug in 1861. Lincoln was president and the Napa Valley was...
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A new group has launched in wine country, the Napa Valley Mexican-American Vintners Association. This is a nonprofit group with the aim of promoting its members wines and supporting the community’s efforts through marketing, scholarships, etc. Founding members include Alex Sotelo Cellars, Fernando Candelario, Ceja Vineyards, Encanto Vineyards, Maldonado Vineyards, Mi Sueño Winery, Rios...
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It was a wet ‘n wild afternoon at this year’s big Napa wine auction as an unseasonable _ I mean really unbelievable, are you kidding me, winter storms in June?! _ downpour pounded the event. But although umbrellas took the place of big hats it was charity that reigned as the 31-year-old event reached...
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For a place with such a big reputation, the Napa Valley is a very small world. After all. Yes, I did just put that song in your head, deal with it. But to get back to my point. I’m attending Auction Napa Valley (#ANV11) this weekend and I’m amazed anew at how open the...
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Check out this video from Shafer Vineyards in which Doug Shafer explains “shatter.” No, it doesn’t have anything to do with the Rolling Stones.
Looking for something a little different? Raymond Vineyards fits the bill and then some. Interested in organic and biodynamic farming? They’ve got that. Want to meet a weed-eating sheep named Woolly Wonka? Check. Meanwhile, if you want to indulge your inner hedonist there’s the Crystal Cellar, which has the usual tanks, etc., you’d find...
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