Wines

If we wanted to get technical, ZD Wines was founded in 1968 so 2008 was really the year but obviously you can't just push a new vintage out the door as soon as the harvest has been done so they celebrate in 2009 with the release of their 2008 Chardonnay bearing a special anniversary label. Here's what Chris Pisani, the winemaker, has to say about it. "We have created a unique character by blending the distinct attributes of the cool growing regions of Napa and Sonoma Carneros as well as the fog shrouded Santa Maria valley in Santa Barbara and the cool, windy Arroyo ... Read Full Story

This is a common question that a lot of grape growers are asking. Can you grow grass between the grape vine plants? It’s a good question and the answer is very simple. You should. You see, other weeds compete with the grapes on nutrients, water and sunlight. But grass does not. It’s called a cover crop if you use it between the grape rows. It will prevent soil erosion and keep balance the moisture in the soil. Grass is a good thing but other weeds that are growing close to your grape vines has to go. If you want more info about related questions ... Read Full Story

07 Scloss Reinhartshausen Fountain Blue Riesling (Rheingau): ABCs of the region – Austere, Balanced, & Critical mass of apricot goodness # 07 Scloss Reinhartshausen Old Vines Riesling (Rheingau): Victorian-statue austere. White peach & pineapple demand that u kiss their rings! # 07 Schloss Reinhartshausen Erbach Erstes Gewachs Riesling (Rheingau): Peach, tropical fruit & enough booze to rock your T-Day turkey feast. # 07 Schloss Reinhartshausen Erbacher Marcobrunn Auslese (Rheingau): Drop dried apricots in a vat of local honey. Now, serve it in heaven. # 06 Josh Cellars Amber Knolls Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Hills, CA): An economical choice for lovers of big (aka Fruity + ... Read Full Story

Megan Berry is an evangelist for Mobclix , the industry’s largest mobile ad exchange, working on social media and marketing. She also blogs at The Huffington Post and the Mobclix blog . You can follow her on Twitter as @meganberry , or through the @Mobclix handle. Unsure about mixing your iPhone with wine? Well, if you’re a true vinophile, the iPhone is an amazing device to keep you more connected to your wine. The following list of top wine apps on the iPhone will convince you that mixing the two is worth the risk of spilling some pinot noir on your phone. Like wine ... Read Full Story

Ask any hundred people what they consider the heartland of California wine country and Napa will no doubt top the list, followed closely by Sonoma. Ask the same group – and this implies the participants have at least some basic familiarity with the subject matter – about California’s new frontier and I’d hazard a guess that Santa Barbara or Paso Robles, maybe the Santa Rita Hills, would come out ahead. Yet more and more, some of the most compelling wines being produced in California today are coming from winemakers based within the urban landscape of the San Francisco Bay Area. The godfather of this ... Read Full Story

What goes well with Slim Jims and Slurpees? 7-Eleven wine, naturally. The convenience store chain announced Tuesday it is getting into the value wine business, releasing two low-priced proprietary wines in the United States and Japan. Sold under the Yosemite Road label, the California wines, a chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, will retail for about $3.99, a price-point that has been doing well despite — or perhaps because of — the economic doldrums. "The consumer is really pinched as far as discretionary income. We're seeing a lot of success in products that really resonate on a value basis," said Kevin Elliott, senior vice president of ... Read Full Story

Gerald Leader loves California wines but lives in Massachusetts, where state law sharply limits the ability of out-of-state wineries to ship their products directly to consumers. "I can't go directly to wineries in Napa and Sonoma," said Leader, a retired Boston University professor, who, along with a group of like-minded people, are suing to have the restriction lifted. On Monday, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston is scheduled to hear arguments on the law that for years has been fermenting opposition from out-of-state wine producers, as well as connoisseurs like Leader who would prefer to order their bottles through the Internet ... Read Full Story