Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Pali Wine Co. 2025 Wild Series Skin-Contact White Wine, Central Coast

Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir. They may not be the first two grapes you would think to put together. Gewürztraminer brings intense aromatics and floral notes, while Pinot Noir brings red fruit, freshness, and acidity. But sometimes opposites attract, and together they make a surprisingly good match. Add some skin contact from the white grape and remove skins from the red grape, and things get a little wild. The Pali Wine Co. 2025 Wild Series White Wine is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

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Frerejean Frères: A New Champagne House Arrives in California

I still remember one of my first wine dinners.

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Tablas Creek - Erin Mason

WINE SOUNDTRACK USA Tablas Creek — The Rhône Spirit in CaliforniaWhat happens when two legendary wine families in France decide that the soul of the Rhône m

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Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Thumbprint Cellars 2024 NuVo of Cabernet Franc, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma

I put my thumb on the perfect wine this week. As I poured the wine, the first thing that caught my attention about the Thumbprint Cellars 2024 NuVo Cabernet Franc was the color. Clear and almost translucent, it was the color of a cherry Jolly Rancher. Then I took a sip. Light, fresh, smooth, and incredibly easy to drink, it was the kind of wine I started sipping while preparing dinner and continued enjoying long after the meal was finished. That is why the Thumbprint Cellars 2024 NuVo Cabernet Franc from Dry Creek Valley is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

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Lodi: The Wine Region Hiding in Plain Sight

When you think about California wine, where do you think most of the grapes are grown? Most people would say Napa. After all, Napa is California's most famous wine region. But Napa accounts for only about 4 to 5 percent of California's wine grapes. Lodi, by comparison, grows approximately 21 percent. In other words, roughly one out of every five wine grapes grown in California comes from Lodi.

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Absolution Cellars - Dirk Neumann

WINE SOUNDTRACK USA Absolution Cellars — Where Wine Becomes a Portrait of Place What happens when you leave behind a successful career, move across the countr

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Le Vigne Winery: An Unexpected Wine and Cheese Destination in Los Angeles

What does a California cheese company dating back to 1946 have in common with an award-winning winery in Paso Robles? The answer is family and Le Vigne Winery - An Unexpected Wine and Cheese Destination in Los Angeles.

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A Taste of Time: A Sta. Rita Hills Retrospective

Most people go to a store, buy a bottle of wine, and consume it within a few hours or days. But when you work in wine, bottles tend to accumulate. I am not an intentional wine collector but have amassed many bottles over the years. Every once in a while, I look through my wine fridges and wonder: Did I miss the drinking point? Will these wines still be good? Luckily, if it is a Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, or Syrah or another grape, from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, it likely has aging potential. And I can say this after experiencing it firsthand at a retrospective tasting during the 25th annual Sta. Rita Hills Wine & Fire.

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Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Brassfield Estate 2023 Viognier, High Valley AVA, Lake County

This past week, I traveled to Lake County to interview Jonathan Walters, VP of Winemaking and Vineyard Operations at Brassfield Estate Winery, for the Wine Soundtrack podcast. Brassfield Estate sits rather remotely in the High Valley AVA, surrounded by mountains, wildlife, vineyards, and even a volcano. After recording the podcast and touring the property, we settled in for a casual dinner with Chinese food and, of course, opened a few bottles of wine. One of those wines was the Brassfield Estate 2023 Viognier. Viognier is known for its beautiful aromatics and rich texture, but it can sometimes lack the acidity needed to keep it fresh and balanced. Not this one. With beautiful texture, vibrant acidity, and enough weight to stand up to our dinner, the Brassfield Estate 2023 Viognier is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

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The Magic and the Math: How a Tech Engineer Is Building a Winery for the Long Game in Paso Robles | Monarch Wine

The magic of wine is seductive: rolling vineyards, your name on a label, and the intoxicating idea of calling yourself a vintner. And once the wine bug bite ...

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Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Donum 2022 Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

For years, wine drinkers have joked about the "ABC" of wine: Anything But Chardonnay. I have always preferred a different interpretation: Always Bring Chardonnay. That's exactly what I did when friends invited me over for dinner. I knew a well-made Chardonnay would be versatile enough to pair with the entire meal, and the Donum 2022 Russian River Valley Chardonnay proved me right. Elegant, balanced, and incredibly food-friendly, it is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

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Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Unico Zelo 2024 Fresh A.F. Riverland, South Australia

When it is hot and humid A.F. outside, you need a wine that is Fresh A.F. And that is exactly what I brought to dinner at a friend's house in Washington D.C. this week. Friends for more than 30 years, we do not get to see each other as often as we would like, so there was plenty of catching up to do. And as we talked and ate, we enjoyed the Unico Zelo 2024 Fresh A.F., a fresh, juicy, chillable red that was as fun to drink as its name suggests, making it the Please The Palate wine of the week.

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Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Charles Krug 2025 Limited Release Napa Valley Chenin Blanc

When people think of Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon is almost always the first wine that comes to mind. But long before Cabernet dominated the landscape, Chenin Blanc dominated as the valley's most widely planted white grape. As someone who loves Chenin Blanc for its beautiful texture and vibrant acidity, I was excited to taste the Charles Krug 2025 Limited Release Chenin Blanc. Not only is it a delicious wine, but it also revives an important chapter in Napa Valley's winemaking heritage, making it the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

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Do You Really Need a Different Wine Glass for Every Wine? One Gabriel-Glas Does It All.

If you Google the question, "Does the wine glass really matter?" you'll quickly find that the answer is yes. Most experts agree that the shape of a wine glass affects how a wine tastes and smells. The bowl, the opening, and even the thickness of the rim influence how aromas are released, how the wine hits your palate, and ultimately how you experience it. But with Gabriel-Glas, One Glass Does It All.

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Cairjn Wine Cellars - Andy Neja - Wine Soundtrack - USA

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Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Post & Vine 2022 Carignane, Testa Vineyard, Mendocino

A few weeks ago, I shared a Post & Vine Carignane from Contra Costa County that reminded me just how compelling this underappreciated grape can be. This week, I opened another bottle, this time from Mendocino County’s historic Testa Vineyard. I was once again impressed by the character and versatility of Carignane. Farmed by the same family for generations and grown using organic and biodynamic practices, the Post & Vine 2022 Carignane from Testa Vineyard in Mendocino is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

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Bar Xuntos: A Taste of Spain in the Heart of Santa Monica

You do not need a passport or a plane ticket to escape to Spain (although that would be nice!). Instead, head to Santa Monica's Bar Xuntos, where you will be transported to Spain the moment you walk through the door. From the warm, inviting decor and welcoming staff to the thoughtfully curated menu and distinctly Spanish wine list, it feels less like a restaurant in Los Angeles and more like a neighborhood tapas bar somewhere in Spain.

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Alta Collina - Maggie Tillman

What makes a vineyard truly exceptional? Is it the soil, the climate, the people—or the philosophy behind every bottle?In this episode, we take you to the b

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Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Kanpai Wines Hi No Tori 2023 Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon, Meadowbrook Farm Estate, Napa Valley

As much as I love introducing my friends to new wines, I also love when they, especially those who are not in the wine industry, return the favor. A friend of mine, who is a big fan of rosé, insisted I try a wine she had fallen in love with. I love a good rosé wine, but when she told me it was a Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon, I was intrigued. I typically gravitate toward rosés made with Rhône varieties, so this was not a style I would normally choose. But the label caught my eye, and she insisted I take a bottle home. And during the heat advisory this past week, I decided to open it with my favorite salad. From the first sip, I was won over, which is why the Kanpai Wines Hi No Tori Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

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The Habit Burger & Grill Launches Habit & Co. with Chef Jet Tila’s Korean Street Food Menu

For more than 50 years, The Habit Burger & Grill has been known for one thing: fresh, made-to-order chargrilled burgers. While those burgers remain at the heart of the brand, Habit has steadily expanded its menu with salads, wraps, sandwiches, and award-winning sides (tempura green beans), all while earning recognition as the #1 Fast Casual Restaurant in America. Beyond food, Habit established a partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers and is now taking another step forward with the launch of Habit & Co. This new chef residency program brings celebrated culinary talent into the Habit kitchen.

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Ulloa - Nancy Ulloa - Wine Soundtrack - USA

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Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Right Turn Wine Co 2022 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir

With so many wine brands in the world, there are always new ones to discover. I had never heard of Right Turn Wine Co. until my friend Mike selected one of their Pinot Noirs for us to review on Wine Weirdos. From the first sip, I was intrigued. In fact, I liked the wine so much that I took the rest of the bottle home to enjoy with dinner. Sometimes the best discoveries happen when you take a right turn, and that's exactly why the Right Turn Wine Co. Pinot Noir is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

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Grab a Burger, Support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles: Habit Burger’s One-Night Fundraiser on July 16

As someone who grew up in a Dodgers family, any excuse to combine baseball, good food, and giving back is one I can get behind. Grab a Burger, Support Children's Hospital Los Angeles: Habit Burger's One-Night Fundraiser on July 16.

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Vinyl Vineyards - Jeffrey and Dina Hervert - Wine Soundtrack - USA

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Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Lyons Vineyard 2023 Syrah, Los Olivos District, Santa Barbara County

A classic Fourth of July celebration means hamburgers on the grill. And while there are plenty of red wines that pair beautifully with a burger, I reached for something a little more special, a limited-production bottle of Syrah. With its savory character, vibrant acidity, and layered flavors, the Lyons Vineyard 2023 Syrah from the Los Olivos District was a delicious wine and an even better pairing, making it the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

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Please The Palate July 2026 Newsletter

I can’t believe another year has passed, but I’m ready to turn the page. 2025 was a challenging year on many levels. With continued shifts in the wine industry, I felt it in my work: events slowed, writing opportunities disappeared, and the landscape changed in real time. But I didn’t let that stop me, and won't. Enjoy the Please The Palate January 2026 Newsletter.

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Farming for the Future: Why Paso Robles Growers Are Choosing Regenerative Organic Farming - Vintner Project

Discover six stunning Sicilian wine stays, from historic vineyard estates to volcanic Mount Etna retreats, worth exploring beyond the island’s beaches.

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Booker Vineyard - Hilary Graves

What does it take to become one of California's most respected winegrowers—and the first woman ever named Grape Grower of the Year in San Luis Obispo County?

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Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Marbeso 2023 Williams Ranch Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains

I eat sushi for dinner at least once a week. Sometimes I go out, but more often I order in. One of the advantages of eating sushi at home is that I get to choose the wine pairing. This week, I reached for a red wine. I know Pinot Noir, especially one that is fresh, savory, and bring, can work beautifully with sushi, and the Marbeso 2023 Williams Ranch Pinot Noir from the Santa Cruz Mountains proved exactly that. Elegant, energetic, and quietly complex, it is the Please The Palate wine of the week.

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The Art of Quiet Luxury: Three Women-Led Vineyard Retreats in Italy

Life can be hectic. Whether it is the news or work or family, it can be hard to slow down and stop. And even when you do, it is hard to turn off your mind and relax. After my travel experiences in Italy last year, and after three separate stays at vineyard retreats in Piemonte, Maremma (Tuscany), and Sicily, I was inspired to write a story about the art of quiet luxury.

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