tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77469782879645445502024-03-19T00:06:40.281-04:00Wine Lover's JournalWorld wide wine travels, dining, and fun
Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-84368488919305256552024-01-31T07:00:00.001-05:002024-01-31T07:00:00.144-05:00Doing Dry January for the First Time as a Wine BloggerToday is the last day of January, 2024, and tomorrow I will have my first alcoholic beverage in a month. Yes, this is the year I did Dry January, 31 days of abstaining from one of the peak joys in my life. I never had an interest in what seemed like a passing fad of post-holiday sobriety, yet this year was different. I've been more health-focused in general lately, and so a break from Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-13210855055709897822023-09-30T13:04:00.007-04:002023-10-01T17:27:31.001-04:00Chimney Rock Vertical Showcases Elegant, Long-lasting Napa Wines When we think of what makes a winery noteworthy, we often
consider a sense of continuous quality that somehow transcends the vintage
challenges. Such wineries produce good wine in even the tough years – and magnificent wine
when nature is more forgiving. The best way to determine whether a winery has
done this over the course of time is to sit down at a vertical tasing. I was
lucky enough to do Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-72952339111081271722023-03-05T22:09:00.006-05:002023-03-06T18:35:10.444-05:00Bodegas Bianchi new releases show lasting luster of family-owned Argentinian wineryBodegas Bianchi is a historic family-owned winery in Argentina that has been producing wine since 1928. With successive generations, the winery grew and modernized, and in 2018, the family brought in renowned Argentine winemaker Silvio Alberto to be Wine Director. For the past five years, he's been on a mission to update classics and expand their vineyards beyond their home in San Rafael, the Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-74222150981873272072023-01-15T21:42:00.002-05:002023-01-15T21:53:52.762-05:00Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau Also a Refreshing Winter Treat Can you drink Beaujolais Nouveau after Thanksgiving time when it's released? Mais oui! Most sources suggest you can enjoy Beaujolais Nouveau wines from six to 12 months after their bottling, which means that when you want to reach for a refreshing light red this winter, you can still enjoy your Beaujolais Nouveau! Beaujolais Nouveau and Les Vins Georges DuboeufFranck Duboeuf, who runs Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-33531997431951183292022-12-27T20:17:00.003-05:002022-12-27T20:17:53.194-05:00Yountville's Reinvigorated Goosecross Winery Creates Vineyard-Driven WinesDave and Christi Ficeli met while working at the historic California winery, E. & J. Gallo. In 2021, they fufilled their dream of owning their own piece of Napa Valley wine history by acquiring Goosecross winery, which they had been managing since 2013. Since the beginning of their involvement with the winery, the couple was determined to create a special destination that offers memorable, Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-53325226596090221052022-12-27T15:41:00.002-05:002022-12-27T15:44:48.060-05:00Naturally Bordeaux Dinner Showcases Sustainability-Minded Chateaux Creating Beautiful Wines The prestigious wine region of Bordeaux produces many of the most renowned wines in the world, although producing healthy vines in a maritime climate has often led vineyard managers to turn to chemical and pesticide intervention. Happily, for the past 15 years the region has been moving away from these practices. Nowhere is that more evident than in the three chateaux participating in the Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-57886416178696662742022-09-05T12:20:00.003-04:002022-09-05T12:21:55.516-04:00Navarra's Inurrieta Winery Brings Fresh Approach to History of Family WinemakingThe region of Navarra lies in the northeast corner of Spain.
While it's a land where the past glory of the Kingdom of Navarra still feels
vividly alive, the region today also boasts innovative winemakers looking to
bring a fresh approach to ancient practices.
On my trip to Navarra this year, I visited Bodega Inurrieta as part of group of trade and media. The Inurrieta name
refers to Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-65599768371676255862022-07-04T15:37:00.006-04:002022-07-04T16:50:00.522-04:00Chilean Wines that Capture the Spirit of the Vines from Ritual, Primus & Neyen Sofía Araya has enjoyed a thriving career in Chilean wine since
graduating from la Universidad de Chile, and today she serves as head winemaker for several prestigious Chilean wineries.
At a recent media dinner, she led a
tasting of a selection of organically-farmed wines with the Ritual, Primus, and
Neyen labels.
During the evening, Sofía
conveyed that her focus is on letting the grapes Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-1595156803587544012022-05-30T10:18:00.005-04:002022-05-30T10:21:35.131-04:00Carmenere Cowboys from TerraNoble Wrangle Pairings with Aplomb One of the most fun parts of being a wine lover is playing
around with pairings. And the “Carmenere Cowboys” from TerraNoble winery were
in NYC recently to do just that – with the lively culinary offerings of
Citizens at Manhattan West to choose from. The enjoyable evening was eye-opening with
regards to the pairing possibilities of Chilean wine.
The winery’s name, TerraNoble, refers to Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-53324198505233362792022-05-29T14:36:00.005-04:002022-05-29T14:44:31.398-04:00Delicious with a Dash of Do-Good - ONEHOPE Wines from Napa Valley California winemaking has gone through many phases since the
earliest pioneers who shone in the tasting of Paris in 1976. From hugely
powerful wines heavily impacted by new oak aging, and the waxing popularity of
Pinot Noir and waning appeal of Merlot (thanks, Sideways) to the ABC (anything
but Chardonnay) advocates. Today there is a move towards letting the grapes
shine, managing alcohol levels,Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-34435499697920569452022-05-17T10:54:00.000-04:002022-05-17T10:54:00.216-04:00Feeling the love for expressive New Zealand wines from LoveblockThe world of wine is always changing, and the big, overblown
New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs that were hugely popular over the past few decades
are making way for more subtle interpretations of the grape. You can see this
particularly in the newest releases from Loveblock, where organic farming
practices are being increasingly applied.
At a wine media dinner at Osteria La Baia, Erica CrawfordDiane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-38781434526460792082022-04-24T13:00:00.001-04:002022-04-24T13:00:00.202-04:00Georges DuBoeuf Cru Beaujolais 2019 and 2020 Add to Growing Luster of Region Living in the shadow of some of the world's most revered vineyards is something that may feel like a bit of a hardship, but the Beaujolais wines of Georges DuBoeuf are getting along just fine, thank you. In fact, the proximity to Burgundy's Cote d'Or is even garnering the region some accolades as a value choice from the area. Tasting through a number of 2020 and 2019 bottles from DuBoeuf's Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-28960568646515078112022-04-23T19:15:00.002-04:002022-04-28T09:30:13.102-04:00Cultivating Time at Chateau Palmer Champagne Chateau Palmer, a very English-sounding Champagne house, was in fact founded in 1947 by seven French grape growers. The owners had set their sights on the British market and chose what they considered to be a classy English name for their venture: "Palmer." Today the house is esteemed for the consistency and elegance of its cuvees. More than 50 percent of vineyards used by the Chateau are Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-80525206085086629722022-04-22T16:19:00.001-04:002022-04-22T16:19:30.615-04:00Famille Bouey Celebrates Two Centuries in Bordeaux with Fresh Approach Few wine regions are as steeped in tradition as Bordeaux.
While this has had many benefits – being world-renowned for high quality wine is
an enviable position—it has also created challenges for wineries wishing to
create a new path in the region. For Famille Bouey, the answer is to respect
the past while innovating for today’s wine consumers who want drinkable, fresh
wines at value prices.
The Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-37336365605025521022022-04-10T11:04:00.004-04:002022-04-10T11:17:06.210-04:00Lugana Wines Shine at Il GattopardoLugana wines are produced in northern Italy from the indigenous Turbiana grape. More specifically, the vineyards are located on the southern reaches of Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake. The lake helps to regulate temperature in the vineyards and provides a steady breeze that assists with grape health. The mineral-rich soil and numerous old vine vineyards contribute to the wines' unique flavor Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-36151419974967804122022-03-23T15:17:00.000-04:002022-03-23T15:17:06.333-04:00Bodega Otazu Wows Wine and Art Lovers in Navarra A 20-minute drive from the bustling city of Pamplona in northern
Spain lies an incredible treat for wine and art lovers alike – Bodega Otazu. This Navarra winery is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys modern art and delicious
wine.
The scenic countryside surrounding the estate features
softly rolling hills and abundant rows of vines used in the estate wines. The
winery is housed within a Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-22029260294430144922022-01-04T17:00:00.001-05:002022-01-04T17:00:00.232-05:00Toasting 2022 with Italian Wine PairingsItalian cuisine has a timeless appeal – and with so many
rich sauces and ragus, tempting pasta shapes, airy pizzas, fresh fish, rich
polentas, creamy risottos, and more, it’s easy to see why. Americans enjoy a
lot of Italian food – in fact, one survey said that the average US consumer
enjoys over 15 pounds of Italian cheese a year!
And Italian cuisine is perfect for dinner parties – for example,Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-1683745466367257232022-01-03T22:50:00.005-05:002022-01-04T00:25:39.417-05:00Celebrating Charming Abruzzo and Bordeaux Wines at Il Gattopardo New
York at Christmas time is a treat, and the same can be said about a meal at the
midtown East restaurant Il Gattopardo, which specializes in southern Italian cuisine. I had the opportunity to attend a wine media lunch
there where we sampled a wide range of wines from Abruzzo during the main
courses as well as a trio of sweet wines of Bordeaux with dessert. The
alluring combination of Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-76760902737618039122021-12-21T23:50:00.002-05:002021-12-21T23:50:24.396-05:00Intriguing Romanian Wines Have Appeal for Curious Wine Lovers The world of wine seems to get wider all the time, as new countries offer exciting indigenous grapes to a curious American market. I recently attended a media lunch at Avra Estiatoria hosted by Marinela Ardelean, ambassador to the Open the Romanian Wine program. This eastern European country offers Americans unique varieties, sophisticated winemaking, and new flavors to explore -- all while Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-25628588175498239662021-12-06T20:10:00.001-05:002021-12-06T20:13:16.700-05:00Discovering Oltrepò Pavese Northern Italian Wines In northern Italy lies a wine region in the southwest corner
of Lombardy, nestled between Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna – Oltrepò Pavese.
Although little known in the U.S., this
Italian wine region is Europe’s third largest area for Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir).
Unsurprisingly, the region is on the 45th parallel, which Burgundy
and Oregon – of course two of the world’s very famous Pinot Noir Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-55591656227662156922021-11-10T22:28:00.003-05:002021-11-10T22:32:56.100-05:00French and German Clink Different Wines Salute Sustainability During COP26 The #ClinkDifferent media campaign showcases German and
French wines with their winemakers in an effort to create awareness for an American audience.
Spreading the word about these wonderful wines is a good enough mission – but this
time the idea of sustainability took the program up a notch.
On today’s media tasting, four passionate winemakers expressed
their strong views on creating Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-92204634936684391672021-09-07T19:00:00.002-04:002021-09-07T19:11:41.044-04:00Cultivating exciting biodynamic wines at Troon VineyardTroon Vineyard in Oregon's Applegate Valley has been a pioneer in biodynamic winemaking, and the winery's commitment to regenerative agriculture is evident from the moment you set foot on the expansive property. There is much science behind the process, but it feels like there's a little magic here, too. And I'm not talking about cow horns, although they certainly play a role. It's more the Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-36886731107054461332021-09-05T16:01:00.006-04:002021-09-05T16:12:25.171-04:00Albino Armani's quest for quality Pinot Grigio in Italy's TrivenetoAs the 16th generation winemaker of his family, Albino Armani is passionate about the mountain-rimmed vineyards where he nurtures one of Italy's most important export wines - Pinot Grigio. His family owns 750 acres of vineyards in the Triveneto, comprised of Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. I recently attended a virtual tasting hosted by Albino where his passion Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-83038758900894118032021-08-16T10:00:00.001-04:002021-08-16T12:31:10.196-04:00How Can Wine Bloggers Improve Engagement - Wine Media Conference 2021 How can wine bloggers improve engagement? Wine bloggers sometimes struggle to see engagement with the posts they've worked hard to create. Yet there are some simple tweaks they can make in their blogging and social posting that can help. At the 2021 Wine Media Conference in Eugene, Oregon, I was honored to be selected to present a lightning talk that leveraged my career in Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746978287964544550.post-22925047007966407562021-08-14T13:41:00.005-04:002021-08-14T13:50:18.169-04:00South Willamette’s Pfeiffer Winery - A love story in wine Pfeiffer Winery in
south Willamette is located in a prime location for Pinot Noir. Owner Robin
Pfeiffer enjoys telling the story of how French investors eagerly tried to buy
70 hillside acres of his family’s farm - tipping him off that the farm should
pivot to grape growing.
The pivot worked in
the best possible way. Robin and his wife Danuta now run a very successful
vineyard and Diane Letullehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885837916293107690noreply@blogger.com0