Chateau de Sours: The Sweet Smell (and Taste) of Success
By Glen Frederiksen Two of the linchpins that have kept French wines, particularly those from Bordeaux, at the top of the wine world pyramid for the past two centuries are the unbending quality of the wines produced, and the adherence to… Read more
Fans of Fortified Wine Should Get to Know Blandy’s
By Glen Frederiksen Quick now: Name the three most common fortified wines. For most, it is fairly easy to tick off the top two. Port, whether made in Portugal or in any number of New World appellations, quickly comes to mind. Likewise,… Read more
Pondering the Potables of Piedmont
By Glen Frederiksen Okay, I admit it. I’m a Californian, born and raised, and first stained my wine teeth on the myriad bottlings produced in my home state. Growing up on the Left Coast, the only wines from other countries I would regularly see… Read more
Passion for Wine and Life Defines Transcendence
By Glen Frederiksen On my recent Central Coast wine trip, we had planned to visit Transcendence Winery, but last-minute scheduling conflicts kept us from getting together with owner-winemaker Joey Gummere. That’s a shame because, having now… Read more
The Happy Cooker Updates Central Coast Dining Blog
Mary Frederiksen, a.k.a. The Happy Cooker, has just updated her blog on mostly under-the-radar places to eat in Central Coast wine country. The two new entries (or should that be entrees?) are a wonderful spot for tummy-filling breakfasts and… Read more
August 29: Cambria and Byron Bring Back Great Memories
By Glen Frederiksen It was serendipity that brought me to the Santa Maria benchlands and the Cambria and Byron wineries. Some last-minute emails added them to my itinerary on the day before wrapping up our month in California’s Central Coast… Read more
August 28: Doing It Right at Vina Robles
By Glen Frederiksen Over the past two decades, the wine industry in Paso Robles has gradually been building a reputation for quality wines at prices considerably below those coming from the more famous California regions of Napa and… Read more
August 28: Clayhouse Estate Rises in the East
By Glen Frederiksen What do you do when your family has been working the land since 1898, and has been growing grapes for the table and for making wine for years? For oenophiles, the answer is obvious: start making your own wine. Rick… Read more
On National Cabernet Day, Think… Argentina?
By Bob Johnson When people learn that I’m a “wine guy,” the question they most commonly ask is, “What’s your favorite wine?” Early on, I’d ponder the question, struggling to find an appropriate answer. Did they mean what type of… Read more
August 17: Christian Roguenant, Central Coast Master Winemaker
By Glen Frederiksen I first met Christian Roguenant (above) in 1991, when he was a judge at an international wine competition and I was serving as a wine steward. He seemed soft-spoken and easy-going, with a quick wit and twinkle in his… Read more
