May
2018

SIP Certified Sustainable Wine

categories: Booze, Wine

This week I’m focusing on wines that are Sustainable In Practice (SIP) Certified. According to the non-profit organization, SIP Certified is a rigorous sustainable vineyard and winery certification. To be certified a vineyard or winery must be committed to “standards based on science and expert input, independent verification, transparency, and absence of conflict of interest.”

The rigorousness of the program has earned it the reputation of being the gold standard for sustainable certification. Let’s learn a bit more…

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May
2018

Tangent Wines 2015 Paragon Vineyard Albariño

categories: Booze, Wine

When I received a package filled with SIP Certified wine, I was thrilled to see an Albariño in the mix. As one of my favorite Spanish varietals, I’ve only recently come to taste a few with a California home base. After a recent successful tasting of the Eighty Four Wines 2017 Albariño from Sonoma, I was eager to taste what Edna Valley had to say about the grape variety. Maybe too eager. The Tangent Paragon Vineyard Albariño went straight from box, to chiller, to glass that same day.

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May
2018

McKahn Family Cellars 2017 Rosé of Grenache

categories: Booze, Wine

McKahn Family Cellars is yet another winery I’ve heard all about and even follow on social media, but never had the opportunity to taste. Now, I’m not a huge rosé person. Indeed, I’m quite picky about the pink things I drink. But when I saw that this rosé was made from 100% Grenache — well this honorary Rhone Ranger just couldn’t pass it up… (more…)


May
2018

Amador Cellars 2014 Reserve Grenache Noir

categories: Booze, Wine

When I visited Amador Cellars back in February of 2017, I was enamored by everything I tasted that day. But what I ultimately came home with was the Amador Cellars 2012 Reserve GSM. As someone who tastes a lot of Rhone wines, attends the annual SF Rhone Ranger event, and just generally enjoys a good GSM, I was so impressed by the elegance this small, family-owned winery finessed into the blend. So when the opportunity came for me to taste the varietals individually, I snatched it. Today I bring to you the G in the GSM…

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May
2018

Amador Cellars 2012 Reserve GSM

categories: Booze, Wine

Awhile back I had the opportunity to visit Amador County, located along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and explore what this humble wine country had to offer. When I was given the assignment, my editor said to me “What do you think about Amador County?” My response: “I don’t know what that is.” Thank God I was sent on that assignment because what I discovered was a little nook in California where ancient varietals, old-fashioned winemaking, and family-owned farming live on. The humble attitude, along with the respect for tradition, is what makes the place, the people, and, yes, the wines stand out.

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