After Winning Five Gold Medals in the Annual “Rhone Shootout”, Hearthstone Vineyards will be “Romancing the Rhone” up in San Francisco!

Romancing the Rhones

Hearthstone wines bring in five gold medals and one silver in this year’s Rhone Shootout Competition  Hearthstone’s 2009 Pearl, 2010 Pearl, 2008 Lodestone, 2008 Slipstone Mourvedre, and our 2009 Grenache, have all been chosen by this year’s Rhone Shootout panel to win Gold medals. Additionally, Hearthstone’s 2007 Lodestone has been awarded a Silver medal. Hearthstone will be attending historic wine… [Continue Reading]

Old and New World Wines Coming Together, Say Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen of Wine Enthusiast Magazine

french-wine

Winemakers in California and France have a history of fiery competition, but according to a recent article in Wine Enthusiast Magazine, a few vignerons are choosing trans-Atlantic team-up over face-off. One such example of this emerging trend is Detente and Deux Terres. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen of Wine Enthusiast Magazine write; “Husband-and-wife team Joey and Jennifer… [Continue Reading]

Chicago Restaurateur Jill Gubesch Marries Spicy Mexican Dishes With Her Favorite Wines, Reports Wine Spectator Magazine

Jill Gubesch

Some spice with your Paso Robles wine? Jill Gubesch gives Jennifer Fiedler at Wine Spectator Magazine some good advice on wine pairings for peppery Mexican dishes. Jill Gubesch, a sommelier of Chicago restaurants Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, has spent the last 11 years honing the art of blending great wines with spicy Mexican dishes and defeating the… [Continue Reading]

Kenwood Vineyards Sold to New York-Based Vintners, Reports Steve Heimoff of Wine Enthusiast Magazine

Gary Heck

Steve Heimoff of Wine Enthusiast Magazine Reports that F. Korbel & Bros., the largest producer of sparkling wines in the United States has sold Kenwood Vineyards to the New York-based Banfi Vintners F. Korbel & Bros. announced the sale at the end of last month but the deal isn’t expected to fully close until June,… [Continue Reading]

Grape Production Down, Wine Demand Up, Lynn Alley at Wine Spectator Reports

varietals

Vine Shortage Throughout Northern California Due to Economic Slowdown, According to Lynn Alley at Wine Spectator With the economy picking up again, growers are planting like crazy – a trend not seen since the 1990s. For the past ten years, there has been a global oversupply of wine and more vines simply weren’t needed. Then the… [Continue Reading]

Managing Editor of Wine Spectator, Kim Marcus, Recommends an Affordable Spanish Red

Kim Marcus

Managing Editor of Wine Spectator, Kim Marcus searches the world wine market to find fantastic, affordable wines. Wine Spectator Kim Marcus has uncovered a Spanish secret being sold at a local restaurant in his very own Queens, N.Y. neighborhood. He describes his find: “This red is from the Jumilla district in southeastern Spain and is made from the grape Monastrell,… [Continue Reading]

Wine Enthusiast Magazine Looks at California’s Capitals of Zinfandel – Rates Paso Robles Zin as “Softer and Riper”

Dry Creek Zins

Wine Tasting tidbit: Wine Enthusiast Magazine reports Russian River Valley zins to be darker, more tannic than those here in Paso Robles Each growing region produces unique flavors and qualities in its wine. In the end, it is up to your mood and your palate to make the selection. Wine Enthusiast Magazine suggests zins from Napa Valley may… [Continue Reading]

Wine Spectator Reports Drew Barrymore to Debut Her Own Label

Drew Barrymore (Courtesy of Wilson Daniels)

According to Wine Spectator, Drew Barrymore is the latest celebrity to join the world of wine Celebrity wine making is not a new phenomenon. In classical Greece and Rome, philosophers, politicians, playwrights and high-ranking military officers typically owned a vineyard or two. Modern celebrity participation in wine however, has certainly received a lot more attention. Wine Spectator reports… [Continue Reading]

Executive Pastry Chef Katzie Guy-Hamilton cooks up some tasty pairings for Alexis Korman of Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Katzie Guy-Hamilton

Alexis Korman at Wine Enthusiast Magazine looks at the latest dessert wine trends while Hearthstone Vineyards reminds you not to skip dinner! Alexis Korman of Wine Enthusiast Magazine has recently asked Katzie Guy-Hamilton, executive pastry chef at New York Central at the Grand Hyatt, and contestant on Top Chef Just Dessert, for a bit of pairing… [Continue Reading]

Tasting the 2007 Reserve Mourvedre: a Unique, Bold Wine from Paso Robles

Glass-of-Red-Wine

Light Paso Robles Harvest Produces Exceptional, Bold Tasting Wine The 2007 growing season in Paso Robles began with a cold, dry winter. The normal rainfall and dry spring led to early bud break. In spring, soils were depleted of their water, naturally reducing yields by 30%. Additionally, the berries were small, creating a greater skin… [Continue Reading]