Life Between the Vines

Napa Valley is first for fine wine and first for fine dining. So today we talk about fine wine and fine dining in Yountville as I visit Stephen Arnold, Wine Director and Sommelier at Bottega Napa Valley. I rarely get the chance to look behind the scenes at how a Wine Director’s job works. Humor, [...]

Napa Valley is first for fine wine and first for fine dining. So today we talk about fine wine and fine dining in Yountville as I visit Stephen Arnold, Wine Director and Sommelier at Bottega Napa Valley. I rarely get the chance to look behind the scenes at how a Wine Director’s job works. Humor, [...]

Working side by side with your father in a winery really brings home the concept of a family business. During a recent visit to California wine country I took a drive to El Dorado county and spent some time with Rob Sinton, Owner of Starfield Vineyards in Placerville. Rob and his dad still to this [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Rob Sinton, Owner, Starfield Vineyards, Placerville, California, defining the term “Rafle”.  Learn more by visiting starfieldvineyards.com

The less crowded road to the Coombsville AVA will fill your wine loving heart with delights. Rolling hills, family winegrowers and wild mountain terrain rise from old volcano, this is where some of Napa Valley’s best grapes thrive. Florencia Palmaz is CEO of Palmaz Vineyards and this is her home and her love. Florencia’s enthusiasm [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Florencia Palmaz, CEO, Palmaz Vineyards, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, defining the term “Gravity Flow”.  Learn more by visiting palmazvineyards.com

Extraordinarily beautiful and less touristy, the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley offers a peaceful way to see some of the finest vineyards in the Valley. Jim Pennella and his wife live next to their vineyard in an old school house easily identified as you pass by. Their wine is called Farang and I’ll let you [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Jim Pennella, Co-Owner, Farang Wine, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, defining the term “Angels Share”. Learn more by visiting farangwine.com

Way back in April of 2014 I recorded an interview (podcast 109) with Ron Sciandri, Proprietor of Sciandri Family Vineyards in the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley. Just a few weeks ago I was able to have a bit of a family reunion with Ron’s son and daughter at their home in Coombsville. Ron and [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature a very special term from our past as defined by Rebecca Sciandri Griffin & Ron Sciandri, Owners, Sciandri Family Vineyards, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, and the term is “ASDIN”.   Learn more by visiting sciandrivineyards.com or coombsvilleava.com

JL Wood dives deeper into Chardonnay than any other winery I’ve ever spoken to. Ed Filice is the Winemaker at JL Wood and we met up at the Napa Wine Company to talk about his experiences. These white wines are as varied as can be and well worth the taste. But your question might be, [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Ed Filice, Winemaker, JL Wood, Monteray & Napa Valley, defining the term “Elevage”,  Learn more by visiting jlwoodwine.com

The Coombsville AVA is Napa Valley’s 16th sub-appelation and that designation originated with a petition to the federal government, started by Tom Farella. Tom’s wine journey started when he was very young, finding an appreciation of fine French wines. And the rest is history. I visited Tom at his beautiful Coombsville property by the foot [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Tom Farella, Proprietor, Farella Vineyard, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, defining the term “Shrinkle”.  Learn more by visiting farella.com

In February I sat down with four Spring Mountain Winemakers to talk about their wines and what it takes to operate a mountain winery. Stu Smith/Smith-Madrone, Sheldon Richards/Paloma Vineyard, Wesley Steffens/Vineyard 7 & 8 and Justin Mooday/Aadland-Moody join us at the Vineyard 7 & 8 tasting room. This is a strong group of winemakers growing [...]

Every wine lover has a passion for turning friends on to new, high end wines and I’m no different. Coombsville has been an AVA of Napa Valley since 2011 and Winemaker Lisa Redmon has been living and growing wine there for some time now. Coombsville is now recognized as a top fine wine area, something [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Lisa Redmon, Proprietor, Redmon Wines, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, defining the term “Struggle”.  Learn more by visiting redmonwines.com