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All Things Wine

A gourmet feast in Loreto
Loreto Live Blog
A gourmet feast in Loreto A gourmet feast in Loreto

Several years ago during a wine tasting tour of Tuscany and Umbria we bought an incredible bottle of Amarone. We have saved it over the years for a very special occasion.  When we bought our Casa in Loreto ...

More Approachable?
Wine Marketing: Has Costco updated merchandising to spur sales?
by Clinton Stark | 02.22.10 | Comment
Wine Marketing: Has Costco updated merchandising to spur sales?

Something looked different at Costco during my last visit. Look closely at these photos. Notice anything? Aside from the fact that these are less than ideal photos taken from trusty Droid, you might notice the wine section at ...

What's Happening: Wine Country
Things To Do: Dark and Delicious, it’s about Petite Sirah
by Chris Wright | 02.18.10 | Comment
Things To Do: Dark and Delicious, it’s about Petite Sirah

Do you love Petite Sirah? Rock Wall Wine Company is hosting Dark and Delicious (and not, it’s not about chocolate) in Alameda tomorrow starting at 6pm. It’s your chance to get up and close and personal with the ...

What's Happening: Wine Country
8th Annual Passion for Pinot Noir Summit
by Chris Wright | 02.11.10 | Comment
8th Annual Passion for Pinot Noir Summit

The 8th annual Pinot Noir Summit takes place on Saturday, February 27th. The public is invited to taste 40 of the top Pinot Noirs from over 280 submitted. The attendees will taste over $2,000 worth of wine and ...

Food & Wine
Super Bowl touchdown pairing idea: Wine and soup (with recipes)
by Loni Kao Stark | 02.05.10 | Comment
Super Bowl touchdown pairing idea: Wine and soup (with recipes)

With Super Bowl just a few days away, it’s time to start thinking about food and drink. Not just the Doritos and beer kind, but interesting combinations, and recipes that will keep the entire party entertained. One of ...

creating warmth
How to build a Tuscan wine country inspired candle holder
by Loni Kao Stark | 01.30.10 | Comment
How to build a Tuscan wine country inspired candle holder

While I was in Tuscany meandering through wineries and tiny shops in rustic villages, I stumbled across a blacksmith shop that had wonderful iron work. I spotted a selection of iron nails made by the blacksmith who was ...

Handcrafted Thoughts
Wine marketing: It’s not a cult winery, it’s “small artisanal” … just like Ferrari?
by Clinton Stark | 01.21.10 | Comments (1)
Wine marketing: It’s not a cult winery, it’s “small artisanal” … just like Ferrari?

Welcome to wine marketing, the most mysterious black box of them all. Recently I wrote about Harlan Estate and their minimalist, high quality parchment paper approach to traditional mailings. This week I received another mailing, this ...

All Things Wine
3 Weekend wine picks available at Costco (1 red, 1 white, 1 surprise)
by Clinton Stark | 01.15.10 | Comment
3 Weekend wine picks available at Costco (1 red, 1 white, 1 surprise)

With the weekend almost here, chances are you’ll be near a Costco at some point, if you’re like most of us. Maybe it’s the Cirque equivalent of the shopping “big top.” The only high wire act here though ...

Labor of Love
Wine cellar project…three years in the making
by Loni Kao Stark | 01.13.10 | Comment
Wine cellar project…three years in the making

The conversion of the walk-in closet in our home to a 600-bottle wine cellar has been a labor of love. As Clint has mentioned, it started about three years ago when in the midst of a flooring renovation, ...

What's Happening: Wine Country
Seventeenth Annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival A Sensational Season of Food, Wine and Art Events
by Chris Wright | 01.11.10 | Comment
Seventeenth Annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival A Sensational Season of Food, Wine and  Art Events

The 17th annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival will burst into bloom in January of 2010. The Festival’s line up of stellar events, January 30 through March 27, takes place when wild mustard blooms in the vineyards, offering visitors ...

What's Happening: Wine Country
Winemaker Joel Aiken Launches Wine Consulting Company
by Chris Wright | 01.08.10 | Comment
Winemaker Joel Aiken Launches Wine Consulting Company

Internationally known winemaker, Joel Aiken, has left the position of Vice President of Winemaking at the world-renowned Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) in Napa Valley to begin working as a consulting winemaker. Aiken is well known for producing award winning ...

What's Happening: Wine Country
Public Grand Tasting – Top 100 Cabs of the Napa Valley
by Chris Wright | 01.07.10 | Comment
Public Grand Tasting – Top 100 Cabs of the Napa Valley

Join us as we taste the judges choices for the “Best of the Best” Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley at Napa’s top restaurant, Bayleaf Restaurant on Saturday, February 13, 2010, from 3 to 6pm.

Meet winery owners and winemakers ...

Another Loni Project
DIY preview: Wine country inspired candle holder
by Loni Kao Stark | 01.06.10 | Comments (2)

I’m almost finished with the plans and video for another west coast style DIY project!

With my visits to ...