Woody’s Whine
Wine, Wine Everywhere – But Not So Great Chicken Sandwich News
Writing from the edge of the Russian River in Sonoma County Yes I know the title says there’s too much wine and the picture is McDonald’s Chicken Sandwiches but… I’ve had “boots on the ground in Knoxville TN where they were testing the new sandwiches…
Bubbles and Bubbles and Bubbles 2019
Writing from the edge of the Russian River in Sonoma There’s an old saying in Champagne: ‘A magnum is the perfect size for two people, especially when one of them isn’t drinking.’ In the wine world, it’s widely accepted that wine ages differently in magnum…
A Fowl Report – “Now That’s a Piece of Chicken”
Writing from the edge of the Russian River in Sonoma County If you were living in a cave on the top of a mountain you might have missed the dust up late this past summer when fast food restaurant Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen busted into the…
My Evening with Two Notable and Opinionated Sonoma Wine Legends
Writing from the edge of the Russian River in Sonoma County It was my good fortune to have recently attended a forum that featured five great Sonoma County winemaking pioneers and it was also my pleasure to have had a few moments with two of…
“Whose Bubbles are These?”
Writing from the edge of the Russian River in Sonoma County It has come to my tasting attention over the last year or so that a number of wineries known for their big reds and luscious whites are now featuring a sparkling wine when in…
“Mother Nature is a Winemaker” or How I learned to Love Wine from “Humid” and Hot Years
Writing from the edge of the Russian River in Sonoma County Loyal readers will recall that I featured Ms. Montse Reece, the head winemaker at Pedroncelli several months ago (WW- Wine by Land and Water- March 2019) and the gist of the conversation was all…
What if You Had Nine Brands but Nobody Knew Your Name?
Writing from the edge of the Russian River in Sonoma County Oak Ridge Winery patriarch Rudy Maggio is the classic immigrant success story; family emigrated from Italy and eventually to Lodi; at age 11 he joined his father in the packaged fruit business; in 1980…
What Does that Bottle Cost? Depends on Where You Live and Who Your Retailer Knows
Writing from the edge of the Russian River in Sonoma County Having lived most of my life in the highly competitive Chicago market I’ve always been able to find everything from tires to fresh mozzarella and of course wine and liquor in a store at…
Wine by Land and Water
Writing from the edge of the Russian River in Sonoma County This edition of the whine offers an interesting contrast of two noted local winemakers; one who uses the land in his approach to winemaking and one who I jokingly observe is making wine from…
Raves From a Special Bordeaux Vintage and Two Valentines Recipes
Writing from the edge of the Russian River in Sonoma With the 2018 harvest all safely in tanks and barrels wine makers and their staffs are on vacations or at least on short weeks as the whole process starts again soon with pruning and field…