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Organic/Natural Wines of Santa Barbara
Many Santa Barbara vineyards such as Alma Rosa, Beckman, Sea Smoke, Grimm’s Bluff are moving toward organic, sustainable, and/or biodynamic farming practices. Some such as Demetria and Bien Nacido have been practicing organic/biodynamic farming for years. Partly due to this supply of sustainable grapes, natural winemakers have been springing up in the Santa Ynez valley.…
Open for Business in Santa Ynez!
On Monday, January 25, 2021, the Stay-At-Home order was lifted throughout California, wineries are OPEN for outdoor tastings and indoor retail! For updates on hours and operating details, please contact each winery. Come support your favorite winery or tasting room! (read more)
California Wine Tasting Updates
Wine in the Time of Corona Virus Updates from California’s wine regions Wineries need your help! Tasting rooms throughout California have been providing good times, stress relief, and a general throw down partizzle atmosphere to wine lovers for years! After suffering closures over the past months, wineries are beginning to open back up and doing…
French Frolicking
It was a particularly warm spring day in Hermosa, especially for June gloom, so I decided to take a back yard rendez-vous to France. To a provençal town South East of the epicenter of Bordeaux. Saint-Genise-du-Bois reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast’s opening Bonjour number, with Belle frolicking through the village. I was dressed…
MUSIC, YOGA & BOOZE: Music with a Bang, What’s So Special About ‘Om’ and Which Grape Was Resurrected?
Tank and the Bangas | The sound of everything | #1 place to avoid a plague Dance of the Muses by Anael Music A Rollercoaster Ride Have you ever fallen in love with something that equally baffles and intrigues you? Encountering it, you don’t quite understand what you’re seeing but that doesn’t even matter; what…
MUSIC, YOGA & BOOZE: What’s Inside the Cluster?
Is there a remedy for strange days, when is silence loud and does bubblegum go with wine? John William Waterhouse Music Strange Days Have you ever felt like your parents didn’t prepare you well enough for all of the bullshit? Not that they or anyone can, but damn if it’s not frustrating. Whatever your beliefs, these…
MUSIC, YOGA & BOOZE: Shifting Perspective
Who is The Broadway Baby; do broken bones mend the soul and what do Romeo & Juliet have to do with wine? Follies (by Stephen Sondheim) MUSIC The Broadway Baby Have you ever listened to something, decided you don’t like it and then revisited it years later and realized it’s amazing? That’s how I feel about…
MUSIC, YOGA & BOOZE: 3 Universal Languages: Music, Yoga & Wine
Gustav Klimt Music is so powerful it can have us laughing at grief; yoga can break down all barriers between us…
Champagne!
(Post by Nanci Hemminger) Awhile ago I lead the Enology Club from Northrup through a tasting of several Champagnes and other sparkling wines. In preparation I researched the wines I would be pouring and also delved into the fascinating history of Champagne. This is what I learned…
MUSIC, YOGA & BOOZE: 3 Essentials For a Better Life
(Post by Alyssa Barron) Who am I and why do I care so much about Music, Yoga & Booze? Music: I’m a professional singer and particular yet avid music lover Yoga: I’m a yoga practitioner and teacher Booze: Because WINE. Also, I’m a wine seller and Level 1 Sommelier… but who’s keeping score? Music has…
Champagne 101 by Baker the Bougie Wine Dawg
Sparkling wine is, well, wine that has carbon dioxide added to make it fizzy, during secondary fermentation. Of course, the most well-known example of sparkling wine comes from France (so do French bulldogs but I won’t hold that against ‘em) and is known as Champagne, a sparkling wine that is made in the Champagne region…
Baker the Bougy Wine Dog on Chardonnay, Pinot, and Burgundy
The Region: Burgundy I know you’re asking “how does the wine dog hold a pen without opposable thumbs? The answer is- if he can hold a wine glass in one paw, why shouldn’t he be able to hold a pen in the other..? Today I’m blogging about Burgundy and it’s two main grapes- Chardonnay…
A Short History of California Wines
The Spanish were the first winemakers in California-they planted vineyards along with each mission they built. Well, I mean…you need wine for communion, right? For the most part they planted what has become known as the “mission grape”. The Gold Rush (1849) brought an influx of winos and hence a new demand for wine; it…
Mark’s Paso Trip
We headed out from the South Bay on a beautiful morning in search the perfect zinfandel. Instead of going someplace close like Uncorked, I was headed up to Paso Robles to meet some friends for a weekend of wine tasting, in the town where I first learned to drink wine. Well, I already knew how…
Wine Basics 1: Most Popular American Varietals
Most of the wines in America that we’re familiar with originated in Europe, mainly France. The difference between wines in the United States and France is a question of varietal vs. Terrior. Did I lose you? Let me explain. In the United States we often identify wine by the varietal (type of grape: Chardonnay, Merlot…
A little something about Pinots
Maya: You know, can I ask you a personal question, Miles? Miles Raymond: Sure. Maya: Why are you so in to Pinot? Miles Raymond: [laughs softly] Maya: I mean, it’s like a thing with you. Miles Raymond: [continues laughing softly] Miles Raymond: Uh, I don’t know, I don’t know. Um, it’s a hard grape to grow, as you know. Right?…