“Everyone has blind spots in taste and smell,” Holly Peterson announced before a discussion on cause and effect in pairing food and wines. Most tasters agree that red wine paired with asparagus emits a metallic taste, but sparkling wine is a different story, according...
Sabrage became popular in France when the army of Napoleon visited many of the aristocratic domains. It was just after the French Revolution and the saber was the weapon of choice of Napoleon’s light cavalry (the Hussars). Napoleon’s spectacular victories...
When Hugh Davies announced it was time for dinner, we took our seats at the nearby farmers table where Jacob Schram once sat in 1800. Schram founded the first hillside winery in the Napa Valley in 1862, named it Schramsberg and hired Chinese laborers to pick-axe...
It was early evening on the close of Labor Day when I parked my car at Schramsberg Vineyards. A five-minute trek up Diamond Mountain led to a clearing where a farmer’s table was set for about 30 dinner guests. Sommeliers, local food-and-beverage managers and...
As a master sommelier and food writer, I have the pleasure of exploring the vast world of flavors that Napa Valley has to offer. Beyond the classic wine and cheese pairings, there are countless innovative and delightful combinations that will entice your palate and...
If this is your first planned trip to Calistoga, please know that you are in for a treat. This exceptional spot in Napa Valley is imbued with a history dating back to the 1800s. Calistoga has retained its rural, laid-back feel, yet brims in modern charm. Recent...
