Friday, March 31, 2006

The Pour: Decanting Robert Parker: "Thirty years of influence haven't curbed his thirst for wine, or a fight."

Swirl n' Spit: "Lowdown: No, it won't be mistaken for a funky Sonoma or Mendocino County winery, but, believe it or not, I've found a welcome island of Italian varietals within the very heart of Cab-Merlot-Chard country."

Randy's World of Wine: Seven things you don't know about wine: "Writer Randy Caparoso suggests seven sensible ways to improve your wine experiences that are not covered in most books."

30 Second Wine Advisor: Really, really old wine: "In current topics on our forums, we visit with a Parisian collector of very old wines, and offer a poll about the oldest wine you've tasted."

California Wine Country Grape Glut?: "T hroughout last August and September, the bottling line at Ravenswood Winery worked well into the night, making room for the batch of grapes that the 2005 harvest would bring."

Mega Stars, Indie Producers at Sonoma Film Fest: "By M.L. Hilton (SONOMA VALLEY, CA) -- Do you hear the word “indie” when it comes to filmmaking and shudder, afraid that you will be forced to sit through some plodding documentary or worse, something created strictly in the effort to educate you about something you have no interest in? If you answered yes to the above, it may be time you re-evaluated your regular cinema experience, put aside your preconceived ideas, and explore the fascinating and entertaining world of film festivals. I mean let’s face it. When was the last time you were able to consistently attend your multiplex’s regular fare and leave satisfied both by the entertainment experience and the money you spent? Even the stars are starting to feel that way. New independent films featuring Danny Glover, Nick Nolte, Marisa Tomei, John Goodman, Mary Steenburgen, Danny DeVito, William Hurt (and I can go on) are being shown as part of Cinema Epicura – the 9th annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival. A number of the stars themselves are attending the screenings, galas, awards ceremonies and gourmet food and wine tastings. The festival starts next week – April 5 through 9, and online sales end on Wednesday, April 5. Do you have your tickets? I do. Seventy-five films in five days. It is better than On Dem"

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Food and Drink: "DRINK FEATURES
Fishing for solutions
Break the rules. Red wine goes swimmingly with fish

Bill Daley, Chicago Tribune

Red wine with meat, white wine with fish. Just how long has that mantra been drummed into our consciousness?"

Food and Drink
Wild for Walla Walla
Syrah in demand from emerging Washington regionBy Bill Daley, Chicago Tribune

More wine drinkers are waking up to the fact that the West Coast goes beyond California. Washington state winemakers, for example, now bask in rave reviews from critics and increased attention from consumers, particularly for their reds.