Like all reds from the Northern Rhone, Cornas is made from Syrah. However, it is the only AOC that mandates 100% Syrah. No additional grapes, white or red, are permitted. This is pure unadulterated Syrah from its’ home turf. Grapes from the Les Ruchets vineyard come from 90+ year old vines on the steep slopes [...read more]

Pinotage has a bad reputation. It’s been known to be a bit weird or off tasting. I personally have sampled quite a few, that sadly, did nothing to quell my negativity. So when this Pinotage from Eikeboom was placed before me, I was a skeptic to say the least. Imagine my utter shock at how [...read more]

On March 23rd, Louis J. Foppiano, who managed Sonoma’s oldest family-run winery, Foppiano Vineyards for much of its 116 years, passed away at the age of 101. This month we are featuring a Foppiano wine. We’ve actually had this wine picked out for the club since early January; it captured us immediately and we knew [...read more]

Some people choose their wine on how the label looks. Others, claim that the packaging has nothing to do with their selection. I’m on the fence. I don’t choose a wine strictly because it looks pretty and I don’t refuse to try it because it looks unappealing, however I think there is something to be [...read more]

This Merlot comes from Stellenbosch in South Africa. The South African wine industry produces about 1,000,000,000 litres of wine annually. Stellenbosch is the primary location for viticulture and viticulture research. The region has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and cool wet winters. Stellenbosch lies at the foot of the Cape Fold mountain range, which provides [...read more]