Rock Star Makes Wine in Italy

In 1999, after a decade long frustrating search, Gordon Sumner and his wife found a 650-acre estate on a hill in Tuscany, Il Palagio.

Farm fresh steak and seafood & 1st class at West

There’s something remarkable going on at Bistro West and West Steak and Seafood in Carlsbad.

Wine diva masters the Zen of Zin

Carol Shelton of Carol Shelton Wines in Sonoma appears more a cherubic schoolteacher than a wine diva, making and romancing that zesty Zinfandel that is the third most-planted wine grape in California.

Temecula’s in-demand winemaker is Tim Kramer

I first met Tim Kramer back in 2005 not knowing a lot about Temecula Wine Country or much about other California Wine countries for that matter.

Mondavi Wines 5 years later

New wine releases – tasting the future

A wealth of new releases, poured in double the number of wine shows and winemaker appearances in restaurants, resorts and wine bars, have swept into the market. This has given consumers more choices than ever.

The Napa, Verona wine connection

When Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa owner Tim Busch recently introduced his Italian winemaking friend and partner Marchesi Armando Fumanelli at a recent gathering, wine history was being made. For the first time in anyone’s memory, a California bottle of Amarone was available. The Trinitas Napa Valley 2006 Amorone, also owned by Busch, made [...]

A royal tribute to the King of Chardonnay

  Crisp and rich with the flavors of tropical fruit, the appreciative guests raised their just-poured 2010 Chardonnay as one, and saluted the lone host of the evening, Mike Grgich, in celebration of his 90th birthday.

Here and There in the Wine & Food World

In the fast-moving world of wine and food the only thing that is constant is change. My personal pillar of fine wine and fine dining in the San Diego area is no exception to this dynamic. The Grand Del Mar has revealed that its popular Amaya Restaurant now has two locations.

Wine from the heart of Tuscany

Breaking bread with a leader in the winemaking fraternity of the legendary Italian district of Tuscany is always like visiting the papal community at the Vatican. Tasting their wines is a true epiphany.