Mar 112011
 

Napa Valley in early spring does not always offer the most hospitable weather. Though the valley can be flooded with spring rains, it is not flooded with tourists. On weekdays you feel like you have the whole place to yourself.  The restaurants are full but not overflowing, the tasting room staff has plenty of time to educate, no need to elbow people out of the way to get to another pour and even winemakers have time to chat. Early spring in Napa does have its benefits, so join us at the Ceja Vineyards Tasting Room and Titus Vineyards Winery, two of our new favorite stops. Continue reading »

Nov 092010
 

What if you made some of the most amazing art in the world but only a few very small galleries would show it. Few would see it. Few would have a chance to be moved by it. Imagine an original Picasso sitting in an art shop in Muleshoe, Texas unseen by all but the occasional customer. Not you. Not me.

That unfortunately is the fate of many small, family, boutique and artisan wineries. Maybe a few wine shops carry their label. Maybe a few restaurants, probably none in your city, have it on their over-priced bottle list. Even if the winery lands a distributor in your locale, this great but unknown wine fights for the distributor’s time and efforts when frankly, it’s much easier to place well known brands. You and me, well, we rarely get the chance to taste or even discover these great expressions of art and passion. Continue reading »