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Winery Profiles

Baja Cabs
Roganto wine from Ensenada Baja Calfornia: First look
by Loni Kao Stark | 11.18.09 | Comment
Roganto wine from Ensenada Baja Calfornia: First look

While at the Paella party here in Loreto, BCS, we were able to catch up with Antonio, one of the owners and wine makers at Roganto winery in Ensenada, Baja California which was started in 1987. Since then, ...

Russian River Valley
WineTube TV: Wine and Music at C. Donatiello Winery in Healdsburg, Sonoma
by Chris Wright | 09.09.09 | Comment
WineTube TV: Wine and Music at C. Donatiello Winery in Healdsburg, Sonoma

WineTube TV shot live on location in Napa, Sonoma, Livermore and other West Coast wine country destinations. Get the ...

Dining amongst the stars
étoile Restaurant: The culinary star of Domaine Chandon
by Loni Kao Stark | 09.07.09 | Comment
étoile Restaurant: The culinary star of Domaine Chandon

Domaine Chandon is one of the only wineries which has an upscale restaurant selected as one of ForbesTraveler.com’s Top Ten Romantic Restaurants in the USA (Feb. 3, 2009). étoile Restaurant located in the heart of a winery with ...

Glorious Grapes
A trip down CIA’s Vintners Hall of Fame
by Loni Kao Stark | 08.24.09 | Comment
A trip down CIA’s Vintners Hall of Fame

During one of my last visits to Napa, I was able to visit and tour the Culinary Institute of American’s Vintner’s Hall of Fame which was established in March 2007.

Its inaugural set of inductees included André Tchelistcheff, Harold ...

perfect setting
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars: Lunch with Grace, Artemis and a tall tale
by Loni Kao Stark | 08.12.09 | Comment
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars: Lunch with Grace, Artemis and a tall tale

Dropped off in the middle of a sandy path, a gentleman with a cowboy hat greeted us. On his chest, a seemingly out-of-place white badge beared the label, “Kirk Grace, Vineyard Manager”. Around us, vineyards spanned in different ...

HARD WORK WINE COUNTRY
Wine Bloggers Conference 2009, Day 2: Wine country immersion was hard work, but someone had to do it
by Loni Kao Stark | 07.26.09 | Comments (2)
Wine Bloggers Conference 2009, Day 2: Wine country immersion was hard work, but someone had to do it

Day two of the Wine Bloggers Conference was all about immersion into the surrounding Napa Valley and tasting a broad selection of wines… often paired with delicious cheeses and meals.

The day kicked off at the Culinary ...

Wine Tasting Roundup
Turnbull Wine Cellars reserve room wine roundup, tasting notes
by Clinton Stark | 06.10.09 | Comments (1)
Turnbull Wine Cellars reserve room wine roundup, tasting notes

I readily admit: I always look forward to visiting Turnbull Wine Cellars in Napa Valley.

In the past, the wines have never let me down, delivering complex, rich high quality results. To boot I enjoy the raucous-free, boutique feeling ...

napa weekend
A weekend in Napa wine country
by Loni Kao Stark | 06.09.09 | Comment
A weekend in Napa wine country

This past Sunday, I ventured back up to Napa to taste some wines and collect our summer wine club releases from Artesa Vineyards & Winery, Peju Province Winery and Turnbull Wine Cellars. Ehlers Estate is shipped annually so ...

StarkSilverCreek
Sequoia Grove, Napa CA: Majestic Sequoias dominate the tasting room, not their wines
by Loni Kao Stark | 02.20.09 | Comment
Sequoia Grove, Napa CA: Majestic Sequoias dominate the tasting room, not their wines

While at the Turnbull reserve tasting room, we met a couple from Fremont, California who were absolute fans of Turnbull. (I had the pleasure of interviewing Peter Heick, winemaker from Turnbull a while back.) When I ...

StarkSilverCreek
Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley: The ambiance of a busy bakery
by Loni Kao Stark | 02.15.09 | Comments (1)
Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley: The ambiance of a busy bakery

When I arrived at Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley, the place was teeming with people swarming between a large barn-like building and its smaller counterpart on the right. Cakebread lays claim as the 38th winery established in Napa ...

StarkSilverCreek
Hangtime Pinot Noir, Carneros 2006 review and a look at Michael Mondavi’s Folio Wine
by Clinton Stark | 02.15.09 | Comment
Hangtime Pinot Noir, Carneros 2006 review and a look at Michael Mondavi’s Folio Wine

Founded in 2004 by Michael Mondavi, Folio Fine Wine Partners of Napa is part agency, part importer and part winery. At last count, they represent over 30 different brands, including this 2006 Hangtime Pinot from ...

StarkSilverCreek
Tenuta Vineyards on ‘WineTube’: Behind the scenes and barrel tasting with Loni
by Clinton Stark | 02.09.09 | Comment
Tenuta Vineyards on ‘WineTube’: Behind the scenes and barrel tasting with Loni

The third largest winery in Livermore, California producing approximately 25,000 cases, Tenuta Vineyards is a unique place. Perched on ...