When I lived in San Francisco, post-college, I dated a young sophisticated law firm partner.  He took me to all the best restaurants in the city. I was into food and cocktails and kept notes on where to go for the best martini, roasted garlic bulb, or fresh Focciaca. Wine grabbed my full attention the [...]

As part of my wine education, a few years ago, I spent 2 1/2 years visiting wineries, year-round, four days a week.  I loved talking to wine makers, owners and staff during the winter season.  During that time, and the 5 years before that, when I wasn’t studying, I was home (practicing pairing) so I [...]

It all started a month ago, when my husband and I decided to eat simply, local and organic.  We also stopped eating grains, dairy, legumes and nightshades. While it sounds drastic, it actually makes it very simple.  What’s left to eat?  Wholesome, natural food. We eat avocados, nuts (no peanuts which are legumes), fruit (dried [...]

My favorite New Year’s celebrations? Doing the unexpected with great friends. This year I had two evenings of bubbly tastings.  We tasted the newest trends in the global wine market, Rosé of Malbec and Torrontes/Chardonnay from Argentina, Moscato from California, Moscato and Prosecco from Italy and even a Yellowtail from Australia. It’s an easy and [...]

I hosted a small pre-Thanksgiving dinner for six close friends.  Taking my own advice, my mission was to serve four different, easy-to-find, under $20 wines that play well with turkey, roasted vegetables, yams with apples, traditional stuffing, chorizo corn bread stuffing, and cranberry/bing cherry sauce. 2009 DeLoach Russian River Valley Pinot Noir  A strikingly nice [...]