Taste of Wine
Thornton unveils champagne jazz with an energized Mindi Abair
If I likened the kickoff Mindi Abair concert at the beautiful outdoor Thornton Winery in Temecula to wine, my quote would be: “I came expecting Merlot and got Zinfandel!” Mindi, the ever-seductive charmer with her cooing smooth jazz and tenor sax notes, this time came with two legendary rockers from the 1980s, Jeff Golub who [...]
Chicago-style wine & food launches in San Diego
A twin launch recently resonated with San Diego diners when Davanti Enoteca and Mia Francesca opened side by side in an upscale food court in the Del Mar Highlands Center, next to the renovated movie theater.
Temecula Wineries open their hearts to troops
The wineries and the community of Temecula are opening up their hearts and wallets to Marine Corporal Juan Dominguez who chose Temecula to be his home after suffering a triple amputation of both legs and an arm in combat in Afghanistan. The goal is to build a “smart home” with state-of-the-art features to allow him [...]
Along Sonoma Coast sits a fortress for Pinot Noir
Along the Sonoma Coast, high on a ridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean and barely accessible, sits Fort Ross Vineyards and Winery, home of the finest Pinot Noirs in California. It meets all the demands of this “queen” of the wine grapes: high elevation, a coastal strip with plenty of sun and nighttime fog blanketing the [...]
The 1920s come roaring into downtown this month
It’s good to be bad at Wine & Dine-Prohibition, a roaring good time to benefit ElderHelp, April 21 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter Hotel in downtown San Diego.
Italian wines have had a checkered life in the U.S.
Italian wines have had a checkered life here in the U.S. For a time, led by Chianti with its Sangiovese, the grape of origin in Tuscany, it seemed it was on every table either California grown and bottled, or brought over by an army of Italian makers, who sensed they could fill the jugs with [...]
How do you say ‘WOW’ in French?
I had just seen the film “Midnight in Paris” when my assignment schedule had me at the door of Pamplemousse Grille in Del Mar. If you caught the movie, it has the main character experience surreal flashbacks to the era of the golden ‘20s in Paris, France where the food and wine were magnets for [...]
Taking a voyage into the Jarvis Estate Wine Cave
William and Leticia Jarvis are unlikely Napa Valley wine owners. He was raised in a “dry” state, Oklahoma, and she was raised in Pueblo, Mexico. After mutual successes in business, they met, married and adopted France for a part time residence.
A blend of fine wine and fine living in the heart of Temecula
The intimate world of cultivating fine wine and fine resort living recently crossed paths for me in the rich, country life of Temecula. It’s a great life when you can experience a memorable occasion on a given day, but when two such experiences present themselves; the stars are in true alignment.In a personal“hands-on” experience into [...]
Milagro Farm worth the backcountry trip up the hill
San Diego County is a late-bloomer in the booming California wine industry. Maybe it’s because in my home area, we have been so busy building homes and commercial properties, that we forgot our roots — growing and producing wine like the first missionaries in the 16th century.When the Franciscan fathers were sent north and settled [...]
