Tag: wine tasting

Whether you are entertaining a client over a meal, celebrating a special anniversary or hosting a Valentine’s wine tasting party at your home, serving wine is much easier when you are comfortable with the protocol. Here are a few wine tasting tips that will dazzle your Valentine and you can use all year around:

Bringing a Bottle of Wine as a Valentine Hostess Gift

  A bottle of wine makes a great hostess gift, but avoid bringing a chilled bottle as it will send the impression that you expect it to be opened and consumed at the party.

Nestled an hour east of San Francisco, the Livermore Valley is one of California’s oldest wine growing regions. Surrounded by lush vineyards, picturesque hills and quaint suburbs, the Livermore Valley has a rich history of wine making. Fifth generation winemakers, new winemakers and vineyardists all work in unison to usher the Livermore wine region into a new era of wine renaissance.

Active before the creation of the Russian River Valley AVA, Gary Farrell Winery produced its first wine in 1982, guided by the careful hands of the winery’s namesake. In the 33 years that have followed, the winery has consistently produced Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, forging a legacy of collaboration between the winery and the appellation’s top growers.

Although Gary Farrell sold his winery in 2004, his brand, the hilltop facility he built in 2000, and the relationships he established with local vineyards lie in able hands.

Named for the late Dr. Walter J. Clore, officially recognized as the Father of Washington Wine for his life’s work studying vinifera grapes and their potential in Washington, the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center is an exciting wine tasting and education destination. It offers visitors a one-of-a-kind tasting experience with a selection of wines that changes each month. Each monthly selection presents the wines of a specific Washington AVA, to acquaint visitors with its unique growing characteristics. New wine and agriculture-themed exhibits will make their debut in the tasting room later this year.

The Walla Walla Valley is quickly becoming Washington's most prestigious and talked-about wine region out of the state's five appellations. It is also the most remote, located on the southeastern border of Washington and Oregon. Named after the city of Walla Walla in Washington, this region produces some top notch Bordeaux varietals on its 1,800 acres of vines, namely Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon: Walla Walla's two signature varietals.

On the western shore of California’s massive Clear Lake, a magnificent 4,300-foot volcano casts a majestic presence against the sky. Its core samples tell us it began to form 480,000 years ago as part of a volcanic field that experienced serious eruptions until around 38,000 B.C. When the first humans—tribal members of the Pomo Nation—settled nearby, they named it Mount Konocti, roughly translated to "Mountain Woman." Through the centuries, Mount Konocti has been a source of spiritual inspiration, legends, and wonder.

On the west side of the Silverado Trail in the northeastern corner of the Napa Valley's famed Rutherford appellation, the riveting, crescent-shaped building that houses Quintessa calls out to wine lovers seeking a truly exceptional tasting experience. The way the stunning building blends seamlessly into its eastern-facing hillside is a first signal to arriving guests that they have discovered a winery dedicated to its natural environment.

When Valeria and Agustin Huneeus first discovered this 280-acre parcel of virgin land in 1990, they were delighted with their good fortune.