A Perfect Score – A perfect book for a wine afficionado

A Perfect Score The Art, Soul, and Business of a 21st-Century Winery By Craig and Kathryn Hall On a recent visit to Hall Winery, Joe and I were very impressed with all the art work inside the buildings and outside in the gardens, as well. We had long admired the giant stainless steel Bunny which … Read more

A autobiography to add to your summer wine reading list

my secret life

The Secrets of My Life: Vintner, Prisoner, Soldier, Spy Peter M. F. Sichel How many of you are old enough to remember Blue Nun wine? Blue Nun was wildly popular during years 1950 to 1980. It was a semi-sweet German wine that took the U.S. by storm. It was by many standards the first hugely successful … Read more

“The California Wife” by Kristen Harnisch

California Wife

“The California Wife” by Kristen Harnisch This is a chance to win a signed copy of “The California Wife,” generously donated by the Author. We’ve anxiously awaited the release of this wonderful sequel to our favorite wine-themed novel, “The Vintner’s Daughter,” by author Kristen Harnisch. “The Vintner’s Daughter” begins in the Loire Valley in 1895 … Read more

Fun wine book: “Vintage” by David Baker

Vintage by david baker

“Vintage” by David Baker I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. If you are like me and love to cook, drink wine and travel to the wine country, this book belongs on your reading list. It is light, fun, mysterious, and adds some food and wine education into the mix. The central character in “Vintage” is … Read more

The Vintner’s Daughter – Great escape book for wine lovers

vintners daughter

Do you like wine, wine history, the Loire Valley, the Napa Valley, and a love story? This is an easy read book that is sure to please anyone who has a strong interest in wine.  Janelle first spotted this book at Books, Inc. The beautiful cover (designed by Alan Jones) is what first grabbed her attention, … Read more

Murder in the Willamette Valley

Unholy Alliance by Judy Nedry

  I was sent a copy of Judy Nedry’s “An Unholy Alliance” and got hooked on it after only a few pages. It’s a fast-paced mystery set in the beautiful wine country of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Joe and I had a great tour of this wine country when we attended the Wine Bloggers … Read more

Napa Valley- The Valhalla for Wine, Lifestyle and Characters

The Wine Doctor Speaks Many people know me as “The Wine Doctor.” But what fewer people know is that I recently released a new, comic, wine mystery novel Pinot Envy, recently published by Bancroft Press. It’s a fun, smart, easy reading whodunit based in Napa Valley’s Carneros and San Francisco. Pinot Envy follows the quirky, … Read more

Is the Napa Valley “Into Wine?”

With passion he talks about how terroir gives meaning and life to a bottle of wine. Its uniqueness is the result of the soil, climate, the vineyard grower and the winemaker. It is about the caring of the soil and the vines that imbue a special quality to the wine.

American Wine: Jancis Robinson and Linda Murphy at the Commonwealth Club

When asked what wines in other states surprised Jancis, she responded that she liked the sparkling wine made by the New Mexico winery Gruet. She thought the wine to be very similar to French Champagne.

Holidays Wine Gifts – A Very Cool Wine Book to Consider

It is the time of the year when you begin to think about developing your gift list for family and friends. Here is idea for someone who enjoys wine and is perhaps not easy to please. It is a wine book: “The Art and Design of Contemporary Wine Labels.” I know it sounds a bit boring but once you open the book to any page describing a label, it is very fun and interesting. I received a complimentary copy of this book. It is a beautiful looking book but one I certainly did not think I would find that enjoyable. But it was quite the opposite, and I use the word “fun” to describe the book because that is just the kind of experience when one discovers the history and the making of a particular wine label.

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