Dec 032010
 

Do you remember the old 7-UP ads from 1975 for the UnCola? If Napa wineries are best regarded for their cabernets, then Benessere is the Un-Cabernet; specializing in Italian varietals.

I have to say that when these winery samples arrived at my office I wasn’t jumping around with excitement. My past experience with Italian wines has been uneventful, at best. I know many of you love them but until I tasted these wines from Benessere I was not on the bandwagon. While I may not bang a drum for Italian wines as a whole, I will bang a gong for these beauties. Continue reading »

Oct 062010
 

Maybe you read Roger’s piece First Love…What Wine did you share? Some of you have asked, when did I fall in love with red wine?  Roger wrote that our first trip to Napa was in 1987, but after some additional reminiscing, Roger and I have realized that we first visited Jordan Winery (where I fell in love with California Cabernet) in 1983 not 1987.  Continue reading »

Sep 122010
 

Day 3 – Guilty Pleasures Day

This day the theme was Guilty Pleasures because both Donna and I got to pick out long time favorite vineyards to visit. For Donna the choice was easy as she is addicted to the lush, rich and creamy flavors of Rombauer Chardonnay (The favorite drink of Cougars everywhere). For me, we ventured up Howell Mountain and through the quaint town of Angwin to visit the Dunn family of Dunn Vineyards – Howell Mountain Cabernet fame.

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Sep 072010
 
Wine Blog

Bonny Wee Lassie in Texas Bluebonnets

 A big “woof-woof” shout out to y’all. My name is Bonny Wee Lassie. No, I’m not a dog; I’m a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. What you probably don’t know is that I am the real driving force behind Bacchus and Beery Wine Blog and I’m here to tell you I’ve had enough!

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Aug 232010
 

Fall Creek Vineyards

Recently, I was on line with a Facebook friend of this wine blog who is an American in the wine business in Paris. We were discussing the lovely experience Donna and I had just the day before at Fall Creek Vineyards. His thoughtful response fit this story so well. “Behind every wine bottle is a story. Behind every story is a person whose hard work and passion made your enjoyment of that wine possible.” Our day at Fall Creek Vineyards was filled with enjoyment, wine, food and friendship; all the result of the passion Ed and Susan Auler have put into Fall Creek wines for the last 35 years. Continue reading »