PalateXposure

It was finally here, the Dunstan Launch Party that I have been looking forward to. Chris Towt and Ellie Phipps Price are consummate hosts as their 4th of July gathering has clearly demonstrated. I was excited to be small part of their inaugural event – the launch of the brand all of their own. For those of you familiar with Sand Hill Durell bottlings, there is obviously some continuity in terms of vineyard source, winemaking team (vineyard manager Steve Hill 1980-present; Don Van Staaveren, … [Read more...]

What goes up must come down… and back up again! It was a glamorous and classy affair with well-heeled winerati sporting designer suites and walking purposefully with this unmistakable, European flair. I always find wine events in San Francisco such a departure from those in the wine country and not just strictly due their casual, relaxed vibe. That said I have always liked this event a lot in the past (and it became a fun annual tradition of Champagne and oysters for me, as this somehow winds … [Read more...]

I saw an eagle gracefully tracing circles over the vineyard and it got me thinking about the significance of life cycles, how various critters live out the circle of life... Grape vines by definition isn't a narcissistic variety, they are nurturers. That is why they tend to produce such vigor and fruit in abundance (with some notable exceptions). They are looking for those birds to consume the fruits of their labor and continue the cycle of life. They soak up the sun and desperately search for … [Read more...]

I don’t have a green thumb (plants see me and run away faster than Caster Semenya), however my purple thumb is another story - it is alive and well.  I train it regularly with my favorite form of exercise – the Palate Workout. And what better way to exercise it than to show up at a Wine Tasting? So here I was, on a mission, 8 Mission Street that is, at the swanky Hotel Vitale, where the Wine Institute Tasting was held.  I am no stranger to wine events, however this one was a bit unusual.  … [Read more...]

Anatomy of a (public) tasting. I have attended hundreds of wine tastings, some fantastic, some only above average. Any of you who have had a chance to be a part of a major wine event, such as Family Winemakers, ZAP or Rhone Ranges, would attest to a distinct character of the event. Much like the dogs adopt the owner’s personality (or is it the other way around:)? so do wine events, they take on the proverbial persona of the organizer of the event, their spirit permeates the entire scene. Conversely, … [Read more...]

The Basics of Wine buying for a novice… Unfiltered. (or Know Thyself) I have been around the wine industry for well over a decade and the question I get asked the most is “what does one to do in a wine shop?” There are all these bottles staring at you, a visual overload of all sorts of labels in all shapes and colors, how does one discern from one to another. After thinking of it for years and giving one answer or another your resident Dear WineAbby may finally have a good answer. The … [Read more...]