Tag: blending

My husband recently shared a sad post on his Facebook page of a dog on death row at the animal shelter named Cornflake. We already have two dogs, but Cornflake looked like he could use a loving home.

"Honey, you can’t post a photo of a mange and scab-covered dog on death row named Cornflake and expect me NOT to go save him! You brought this on yourself."

Blending is an art that’s practiced at every turn at Grey Wolf Cellars and Barton Family Wines. The winery was founded in 1994 by Joe and Shirlene Barton, whose son Joe has since taken the reins and modernized the brand. This year, the winery is celebrating its 20-year milestone year at the Highway 46 West property with a new, updated label design and recent remodel of its tasting room, now known as the Barton House.

Joe is a master blender. He personally handcrafts an impressive portfolio for the winery’s two labels by adhering to Old World winemaking techniques to craft wines that epitomize the uniqueness of Paso Robles as a wine region.

Nestled under California pepper trees on a property that was once a dairy farm, Lincourt Vineyards retains the rural charm and simplicity of an earlier era. The winery was founded in 1996 by Bill Foley who was inspired by the winegrowing potential of the Santa Ynez Valley and the Sta. Rita Hills in particular, which has since become one of California’s premier cool-climate viticultural regions. Sta. Rita Hills is also one of the state’s smaller AVAs, with 99 percent of its territory falling within the larger Santa Ynez Valley.

Whistle Punk, TriUmph, and Devil’s Smoke Stack are fanciful names for just three of the extraordinary wines crafted by Ray Sandidge, a renowned Washington State winemaking pioneer. Ray has devoted 30 years to making beautiful, superbly balanced red and white wines. Aside from short stints on Long Island, New York, and in the Rheingau region of Germany, Ray has spent 23 years making wines in Washington State.

Rich, vibrant flavors with supple, silky texture aptly describe the wines of Franciscan, a winery whose roots are deeply embedded in the soil of the Napa Valley’s Oakville District. In fact, Franciscan, located in St. Helena, California, has been welcoming visitors for nearly 40 years. Franciscan's friendly and knowledgeable team of wine educators has earned a fine reputation for offering unique seminars and interactive explorations designed to expand the palate and mind—and most importantly, give visitors a fun, interactive Napa Valley tasting experience. The Franciscan tasting room’s daily calendar is full of more wine tasting experiences than one can RSVP for.