California Wine and Food - Articles - Features

Bundschu Family Retraces Path of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire

no@spam.com (CWF Sources) — Sun, 04 May 2008 06:49:31 EDT

SONOMA, Calif. -- On April 18th, 2006, four generations of the Bundschu family of Gundlach Bundschu Winery spent nearly all 24 hours of the day engaged in an inspiring commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.

Ranging in age from four to 86, they gathered not only in honor of the challenges and suffering their family struggled to overcome after losing the winery inventory and family home, but in celebration of the strength and spirit their ancestors displayed in rebuilding.

Rutherford Cabernets: A Preview of the 2004 Vintage

no@spam.com (Dan Clarke) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:47:40 EDT

Paul Wagner commented that there was a time when Napa Valley Cabernet was defined by just two producers--Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyard (BV). The new executive director of the Rutherford Dust Society was speaking last week at a tasting that is now ....

Revelations at Pres à Vi

no@spam.com (Dan Clarke) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:46:07 EDT

As a category, Vinho Verde wines are light in alcohol, taste great with food and offer incredible value. What could be wrong with that?

Well, not a thing, actually.

A few years ago....

Lake County Hosts Elevation of Wine Symposium

no@spam.com (Dan Clarke) — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:44:34 EDT

Randle Johnson said that growing grapes at high altitude is
akin to being “next to God. And God’s not always fun.”
Speaking from a perspective more viticultural than theological, he explained that heavenly vineyards can produce intensely flavored grapes, but that farming them can be intensely challenging.Johnson was the keynote speaker at the initial Elevation of Wine Symposium sponsored by the Lake County Winegrape Commission on June 14th. He joined experts from around the world at Snow’s Lake Vineyard in ....

Cooking with the California Cajun

no@spam.com (Dan Clarke) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 08:42:23 EDT

Lanny Kilchrist has lived in California for quite a few years, but he’s still Cajun.

A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Kilchrist graduated from The University of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette). He settled in Sacramento after being exposed to the area while teaching at nearby Mather Air Force Base. The man knows food in the many definitions exhibited in his adopted state.He’s also a talented ...

Sustaining a Family Legacy in Dry Creek Valley

no@spam.com (Dan Clarke) — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 06:45:31 EDT

Glenn Proctor leads two lives.

A grape and wine broker for Joseph W. Ciatti Company, he’s a polished spokesman for his industry. Proctor is comfortable giving a “Global Supply Update” to an audience of hundreds at a Unified Symposium presentation. He’s also at home-perhaps literally-tending head trained Zinfandel vines his great grandfather planted in 1904.

Those century-old plantings in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County are the basis for Puccioni Vineyards’ “Old Vine” Zinfandel. The first release-the 2003 vintage-totaled but 96 cases. Subsequent harvests have been good and production may double or even triple. Still, the fledging family winery is tiny by any standard.

Trends May Trump Tradition at American Ballparks

no@spam.com (CWF Sources) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 08:23:23 EDT

“Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack…….”. A simple lyric from a simpler time. While peanuts and Crackerjack are still ballpark staples the times have changed and the choices are greater than ever. This was evidenced last week at Raley Field as the...

Bushmill’s at Town Hall

no@spam.com (Dan Clarke) — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 08:05:02 EDT

Arguments against going to San Francisco for lunch last week were powerful. Mostly they had to do with my being...

A Week of Zins

no@spam.com (CWF Sources) — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 07:56:21 EST

By Alastair Bland

If wine really is bottled poetry, as Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote, then San Francisco’s Fort Mason was worth...

And Now, For Something Somewhat Different

no@spam.com (Dan Clarke) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 07:51:19 EST

Wine industry professionals head for Sacramento each winter. The annual Unified Symposium held at that city’s Convention Center draws...