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skybar™ ONE Wine System – Product Review

Jan 122013

Let’s be clear… I do not like leftover wine. I’m the guy who walks into a wine bar and refuses a glass from last night’s bottle. I know… wine snob…too picky, etc. So when I tell you the skybar™ ONE Wine System really works to keep wine perfectly fresh for days, believe me.

While leftover wine is a myth in our home, many wine lovers just want a single glass of great wine but hate the idea of the rest of the bottle going bad or simply losing flavor over a few days. Over time we have tried many wine preservation systems but none, in my opinion, really did the job for my picky palate. The skybar™ ONE Wine System changed my mind. However, it is expensive . The skybar™ ONE Wine System is available through the skybar™ website ($349 now on sale, normally $599), selected retailers and wine catalogs. We did find the skybar™ ONE Wine System for sale online for under $300. Continue reading »

Winemaker Interview: Kathleen Inman of Inman Family Wines from Sonoma’s Russian River Valley

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Dec 232012

In November of 2012, we had the pleasure of meeting Kathleen Inman of Inman Family Wines located just outside Santa Rosa, CA in the Russian River Valley. Her minimal-interventionist technique produces small lot Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that are crisp, well-balanced and very terrior-driven. Each wine has a unique personality and vineyard voice worthy of your time and attention.

The new barn-style winery on Olivet Lane doubles as tasting room and winemaking facility. We were greeted by Kathleen and her friendly staff. While Inman Family wines is not quite a one-woman show, Kathleen is involved in all aspects of the winery including organic grape growing, sales, winemaking and even forklift driving. Continue reading »

Holiday Wine Survey – Champagne and Sparkling Wine Lead the Way!

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Dec 212012

For many – the Holidays mean spending time with family. Our Holiday wine survey definitely reflects that. Results from the survey conducted by YourWineOpinion.com with Bacchus and Beery Wine Blog during the first two weeks of December reveal that 96% of respondents indicated they will be buying wine or bubbly for a Holiday celebration; almost half (46.1%) plan to purchase wine for a family dinner this year. Continue reading »

Jean-Charles Boisset – Powerful Combination of Old World Sensibilities and New World Zeal

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Jul 172012

We had the opportunity during the 2012 Aspen Food and Wine Classic to sit down with the stylish and charming Jean-Charles Boisset of Boisset Family Estates. To refer to Jean-Charles, Wine Enthusiast Magazine 2009 Wine Innovator of the Year, as a “force of nature,” may be selling short his infectious enthusiasm accompanied by his passion for life and wine. Jean-Charles is a powerful blend of Old World sensibilities and New Word zeal.

Born in Vougeot, in the heart of Burgundy to a winemaking family, Jean-Charles came to the U.S. as a teenager to complete high school. From there he obtained his undergraduate degree from the London Business School and his MBA from UCLA. It was during his MBA studies that he decided to expand his family’s French winery holdings to California. Today Boisset Family Estates is the largest Pinot Noir producer in Burgundy and the third largest winery operation in France. In California, they operate 11 wineries and labels including Raymond Vineyards, DeLoach Vineyards, Lyeth Estate, Lockwood Vineyard, JCB and Buena Vista Winery. History is integral to Boisset wineries both here and abroad. Most of their acquisitions have some viticulture historical significance. As Jean-Charles said “we are here to share together a unique moment, not be manufacturers of a beverage.

Today, Jean-Charles resides in Napa Valley with his wife, winemaker Gina Gallo, of Gallo Family Vineyards and their toddling twin daughters. Continue reading »

Aspen Food and Wine Classic 2012 – No Tickets…No Problem

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Jun 302012

We had no plans to attend. We didn’t even expect to be in town so we made no effort to get press credentials for the Aspen Food and Wine Classic 2012 until it was far too late. But the best times, as we learned, can happen with a total lack of planning…but always include wine.

Since one of our sons was home from college working at his restaurant management internship, we decided to cut our travels short and return to Denver earlier than expected. Over the previous two weeks a number of kind wineries and winemakers had sent invitations to your humble bloggers for off-site Aspen parties. So after a little effort we booked a small condo in Snowmass, 8 miles away, and decided “who needs the fancy tents anyway…we have wine parties to attend!” In all honesty, next year I really want event tickets after seeing what I could from afar. Continue reading »

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