Frank Mangio
Charcuterie, mustard and a Dierberg surprise at AVANT
After 44 years as a slightly stuffy, French-style restaurant nestled in the Rancho Bernardo Inn, and a passing chef “celeb” who moved on to the “Big Apple,” the new AVANT has picked it up and quickly competed to become one of the top dining rooms in north San Diego County.
Taste of Wine: Olympic-size awards in San Francisco wine competition
The 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, biggest of its kind, saw some 6,000 entries from more than 1,500 wineries from all over America gather for the massive task of choosing the best of the best in blind tasting with 65 judges participating.
No wine before its time at Powell Mt. Cellars
In my wine tasting office in a serene district of busy little Encinitas, I always have an eye or two open for an out-of-town winemaker who may be stopping at a wine bar to shake the flesh and pop a cork on one or more of their latest releases. Encinitas has more than a few […]
Taste of Wine: Wine & music are taking center stage in Temecula
This year is shaping up to be a landmark one for Temecula Wine Country in its quest to not only be a recognized destination for excellent wines, but for big time music venues.
Wine of the Month: 2007 Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG Estate Bottled
From the ancient hills of Montalcino in Tuscany, Italy, and made with select high quality Sangiovese grapes.
Reviewing 2012 and the Top 10 tastings
In 2012 America solidified its position as the world’s largest wine consuming country in the world (beating the French, again.)
Harvest On Howell Mountain brings good things
In our last report on Napa Valley wines, most wineries were happy to see the progress of the fruit as it experienced “Veraison,” the changing of the leaves and grapes to a rich color, signaling the onset of harvest.
Wine’s favorite companion is olive oil
It’s remarkable how olive oil has walked in the same footprint as wine in recently capturing the public’s fancy for flavor. No longer content to use the plain tasting traditional olive oil their ancestors used, like wine, it’s what’s new and different.
The pursuit of Banfi Wines has been one for perfection
The journey began for Banfi and the Mariani family, Americans John and Harry, some 34 years ago, when they carefully assembled 7,100 acres in Italy in a constellation of single vineyards in the southern Tuscan countryside of Montalcino.
