So a very interesting conversation today with Joel Peterson of Ravenswood. In case you missed Ravenswood History 101, Joel started his winery in 1976 … and achieved huge recognition in 1979 after his wines came in first and second at a prestigious San Francisco tasting. I have had the pleasure of lunch with him [...]

Mazzocco New Zinfandel Releases Talented winemaker Antoine Favero was kind enough to send his two newly released Zinfandels, both from Dry Creek Valley. The 2007 Zinfandel from Smith Orchard Reserve Near opaque purple, this wine has a nose of what I think of as a "purple perfume," along with some smoke, chocolate, mocha, super dark [...]

What does this steak demand? Zinfandel is a grape with attitude! Meaning that as soon as you take a sip, it’s so powerful you are automatically thinking you need  to pair it with food. Steak … or any substantial protein such as roasted salmon or tuna, can do the trick. I love Zinfandel for its [...]

  … Zinfandel is California’s ‘signature’ grape. Why? Possibly because this is where the Zinfandel grape finds its truest expression. If you are new to the world of wine, it may be difficult to understand why ‘terroir’ - the speciffic weather and soil of a vineyard – is so important. The vines for this Zinfandel are grown [...]

Joel Peterson, founder of Ravenswood Want to be a winemaker? It sounds like a lot of fun, and of course, it can be. And to hear the rags to riches (well, not quite rags) story of how Joel Peterson, founding winemaker ofRavenswood, created an internationally famous brand is mesmerizing. Joel was born in 1947 the [...]

Summertime ….and the grilling is easy. So what’s for dinner tonight? A thick, juicy steak? Most people think “steak” and automatically reach for a California Cabernet. And if a Cab is your go-to wine for steak, you are on the…