Grape Notes

December 13, 2008
BORDEAUX TASTING - mostly 2005s
This was the final '05 Bordeaux of the year for Winex (they usually do 3-4 on the current vintage). This tasting featured a really nice lineup of moderately-priced Bordeaux ...
(continue)

December 5, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Terry Theise, of Terry Theise Imports
Think vintage Port lasts forever? Think again, as we talk with a representative of the wines of Portugal ...
(continue)

November 30, 2008
OREGON PINOT NOIR TASTING - with Rusty Gaffney, The Prince of Pinot
GrapeRadio sat in with one of its own, Rusty Gaffney (the Prince of Pinot) for a tasting of 12 Pinot Noirs from Oregon. Rusty had all of the bottles hidden ...
(continue)

November 27, 2008

THANKSGIVING - what wines?
Everybody seems to go through a range of emotions about what wines to serve on Thanksgiving. Sure, there are myriad wines you could choose, but let me cut to the chase - California Pinot Noir. As a varietal ...
(continue)

October 16, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Louisa Fry, of the Instituto do Vinho do Douro
Think vintage Port lasts forever? Think again, as we talk with a representative of the wines of Portugal ...
(continue)

October 14, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Frédéric Panaїotis, of Champagne Ruinart
Champagne is always a fascinating subject, and especially so when you have three bottles of it in front of you ...
(continue)

October 10, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - John Haeger, author of Pacific Pinot Noir
We talk to the author of the highly acclaimed “North American Pinot Noir,” about his new book ...
(continue)

September 24-27, 2008
ROAD TRIP - Some visits in Napa Valley
Grape-Nutz went back out on the road to try and get some photos of the 2008 vintage, weird as it was ...
(continue)

September 6, 2008
VISITS & INTERVIEWS - Russian River Valley, Mendocino Co. & Sonoma Coast
GrapeRadio did some more grower interviews for Williams Selyem Winery, getting to the far reaches of ...
(continue)

August 13, 2008
MOVIE REVIEW - Bottle Shock
Can a book challenging our views of many of today's wines get a fair shake? Or, is this just another rant in a vacuum ...
(continue)

August 5, 2008
BOOK REVIEW - The Wine Trials
How about a book that exposes how people feel about a wine when they taste it blind ...
(continue)

August 1, 2008
ROAD TRIP - Visits to some Central Coast Wineries
Grape-Nutz headed north to the Central Coast to make some winery visits in the Santa Barbara County ...
(continue)

July 10, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Russell Bevan, Bevan Cellars
Does the name Russell Bevan sound familiar? If so, you've probably been into wine for awhile now ...
(continue)

July 7, 2008
BOOK REVIEW - The Battle for Wine and Love OR How I Saved the World from Parkerization
Can a book challenging our views of many of today's wines get a fair shake? Or, is just another rant in a vacuum ...
(continue)

June 14-26, 2008
VISITS TO COGNAC & BORDEAUX
We hit the road for France and 10 days of visits to the Cognac and Bordeaux regions...
(continue)

June 13, 2008
BOOK REVIEW - The Billionaire's Vinegar
Suppose you pay $156,000 for a bottle of wine once owned by Thomas Jefferson ...
(continue)

June 6-7, 2008
2008 AUCTION NAPA VALLEY
Each year this event gets better and better. Aside from the outstanding hospitality events, the auction itself is a feast for the eyes ...
(continue)

May 29, 2008
YET MORE 2005 BORDEAUX
Reporting back from a recent 2005 Bordeaux tasting, my friend and fellow Bordeaux fanatic...
(continue)

May 29, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Diane Teitelbaum, American Airlines Wine Consultant
What's it take to be the wine cunsultant for an International air carrier? Well we spoke with Diane Teitelbaum to find out ...
(continue)

May 23, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Alessia Antinori, Marchesi Antinori
Founded in 1385, Antinori was there at the birth of the "Super Tuscan" with its own Tignanello ...
(continue)

May 23, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Kurt Dienel, Champagne Krug
Bottles of Krug Champagne are considered some of the most sought-after collectibles in the vinous world ...
(continue)

May 17, 2008
BOOK REVIEW - The House of Mondavi
A paperback edition of Julia Flynn Siler's New York Times bestseller, The House of Mondavi - The Rise and Fall of An American Wine Dynasty, was released earlier this month, and I must say at the outset, this is truly a great read - it was literally difficult to put the book down ...
(continue)

May 1-4, 2008
2008 HOSPICE DU RHONE - Paso Robles
It was time once again for the annual Hospice du Rhône. This event, held in paso Robles, CA, marks its sweet sixteen anniversary ...
(continue)

April 23, 2008
2008 VINTUS PORTFOLIO TOUR - trade tasting
What could be better than an opportunity to taste several wines from France, Spain and Italy at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles ...
(continue)

April 19, 2008
KOSTA BROWN DINNER - the 2005 vintage
Several OC fans got together at Antonello Ristorante in Costa Mesa to try out our 2005 Kosta Browne Pinots ...
(continue)

April 19, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Michael Browne, Kosta Browne
Unless you've been in a state of suspended animation, you probably know the name of Pinot producer Kosta Browne...
(continue)

April 17, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Kristina Dunn, Dunn Vineyards
The Dunn family have been making big burly Cabernets up on Howeel mountain since 1979. Were they the first "cult" winery?...
(continue)

April 17, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Jeff Bundschu, Gundlach Bundschu
How does 150 years of experience sound? Gundlach Bundschu began operations in 1858...
(continue)

April 11-13, 2008
ROAD TRIP - Some Winery Visits to Livermore and Lodi
The Austrian Tourist Bureau held a wine & food pairing in L.A., showcasing the unique wines of Austria...
(continue)

April 4, 2008
BOOK REVIEW - Paso Robles: An American Terroir
I'd heard for about a year that a book was in the works on the terroir of the Paso Robles AVA, so...
(continue)

April 3, 2008
BOOK REVIEW - California's Central Coast: The Ultimate Winery Guide
There has been an explosion of Central Coast winery guides over the past couple of years, so...
(continue)

March 31, 2008
AMERICAN BLOG AWARDS - Grape Radio
GrapeRadio has won an American Blog Award for it's podcasting and videopodcasting...
(continue)

March 18, 2008
SANTA BARBARA FUTURES TASTING - Futures offerings from the Wine Cask
I attended the annual SB Futures tasting at the Wine Cask in Santa Barbara, and found there was alot to like...
(continue)

March 24, 2008
JAMES BEARD AWARDS - Grape Radio Nominated
The nominees for the 18th Annual James Beard Foundation Awards were announced, and GrapeRadio was included...
(continue)

March 22, 2008
BOOK REVIEW - Anything But Chardonnay
A new book, Anything But Chardonnay, examines some of the alternative wine grape varieties available...
(continue)

March 19, 2008
BOOK REVIEW - He Said Beer, She Said Wine
I checked out a new book, written on an interesting premise - what foods can a couple pair with their favorite beverage where he likes beer and she likes wine...
(continue)

March 18, 2008
FAMILY WINEMAKERS OF CALIFORNIA - Trade Tasting in Pasadena
I attended the FWC tasting in Pasadena, featuring all the current/new offering from throughout the state...
(continue)

March 15, 2008
OVER 90; UNDER 30 - Tasting some Hi-Scoring, Low Priced options
I attended a tasting at Orange County's Wine Exchange, featuring their attempt to bring to the forefront some of the critic's recent hi-scoring wines...
(continue)

March 7-8, 2008
WORLD OF PINOT NOIR - Pinot Noir Festival on the Central Coast
GrapeRadio and Grape-Nutz headed north to the hamlet of Shell Beach (just south of San Luis Obispo) to attend the 2008 World of Pinot Noir...
(continue)

March 5, 2008
BOOK REVIEW - The Grape Escapes - The Best of Paso Robles Wineries & Tasting Rooms
I checked out a copy of a new winery guide book by Mike O'Beirne, The Wine Tasting Guide to California's Central Coast...
(continue)

February 29, 2008
AUSTRIAN WINE TASTING & FOOD PAIRING
The Austrian Tourist Bureau held a wine & food pairing in L.A., showcasing the unique wines of Austria...
(continue)

February 24, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Sandro Boscaini, Masi Agricola
The Boscaini family have been the owners of the Masi vineyards for six generations, and specialize in the production of Amarones and Reciotos...
(continue)

February 18, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Vicente Dalmau, Marqués de Murrieta
If you're into Spanish wine, you're no doubt well aware of probably the oldest Bodega in the Rioja...
(continue)

February 18, 2008
MORE 2005 BORDEAUX
Reporting back from a recent 2005 Bordeaux tasting, my friend and fellow Bordeaux fanatic...
(continue)

February 11, 2008
'BOTH SIDES NOW' - sames wines - two palates
Two tasters compare the same wines. How subjective is wine tasting, and how the results compare...
(continue)

February 5, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Edouard Moueix
If you're a Bordeaux fan, the name Pétrus will not be a stranger to you - although, the wine might be, given it's exhaulted status and price...
(continue)

February 5, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Luca Corrado
Luca Corrado says, because "wine is in my blood," he could not have imagined anything other than following his father Alfredo's as the 5th generation at the Vietti winery in the Piedmont region of Italy...
(continue)

January 25-27, 2008
NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL
GrapeRadio traveled to Naples, Florida to cover their annual wine festival and charity auction, the Naples Winter Wine Festival...
(continue)

January 19, 2008
BURGUNDY TASTING - 2005 Vintage
We sat in with with Rusty Gaffney (the Prince of Pinot) for a tasting of 2005 Burgundies. Considered one of the best vintages ...
(continue)

January 18, 2008
BORDEAUX TASTING - 2005 Vintage
The highly touted 2005 vintage in Bordeaux was reason enough to brave Friday afternoon traffic to attend this trade tasting in Santa Monica...
(continue)

January 17, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Hervé Berland
GrapeRadio talks with Hervé Berland, Managing Director of Château Mouton Rothschild, a 30-year employee of the Château...
(continue)

January 16, 2008
AUSSIE TASTING - high scoring Aussies
AUSSIE WINES OFFLINE - Canyon Lodge American Grill - Laguna Beach
Theme was to bring an Aussie wine rated 94+. We did that, and after a few warmups, here are the results...
(continue)

January 11, 2008
GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Frédéric Magnien
Frédéric Magnien always felt destined to follow in his father's footsteps - indeed, he is the 5th generation in his family to farm vineyards or make wine in Burgundy's Morey-St-Denis...
(continue)

<< 2009 Grape Notes Index

2007 Grape Notes Index >>

Home | Top of page