California's Napa Valley is the most famous wine region in the United States, and with good reason.
It is a unique valley -- relatively long and narrow, and home to
several microclimates that accommodate the growing of numerous
winegrape varieties. It also is rich in history, yet embraces the
latest in technology.
Some of the wineries are "mom-and-pop" operations, some are owned
by multi-national corporations, and most would be categorized somewhere
between those two extremes.
An extensive "wine country culture" has emerged up and down the valley, as the wineries have been joined...
The first thing that strikes the typical visitor to Artesa Winery is the architecture.
Located on the "Napa side" of the Carneros district, the 352-acre
estate is surrounded by Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards, and the
entrance to the visitor center is designed to blend into the
surrounding terrain harmoniously. Arching waters falling into tranquil
pools impart a feeling of serenity and grandeur.
At the heart of the visitor center is yet another peaceful place
-- the courtyard. On the terrace, visitors can soak in panoramic views
of Carneros and the San Francisco Bay Area while...
California's Parducci Wine Cellars has received the Climate
Champion Award from the California Climate Action Registry, a leading
international thought center addressing climate change issues.
"Winegrowing begins with the health of the land and its
environment," says Parducci partner Paul Dolan. "The wine business must
respond to the challenge...
Vinesse often recommends "Asian fare" in the tasting notes that accompany club wines.
But even when we narrow the focus to Chinese, Japanese or Thai, we
realize we're still painting with a rather wide brush. Each type of
cuisine has unique characteristics and variations, and even the type of
spice or sauce used in a "spicy" dish can impact the wine choice.
Here's one way of looking at it: In Western cooking, the wine often could be thought of as the "sauce" that goes with...
It has been a while since there was a foodie in the Oval Office.
But now that Barack and Michelle Obama have taken up residence in
Washington, D.C., exceptional wining and dining has returned to the
White House -- particularly when there is a state dinner.
When they were still living and working in Chicago, the Obamas
frequented some of that city's most popular dining destinations.
Favorite dishes became...
Nestled within and just beyond the stunning beauty of the Columbia
River Gorge National Scenic Area sits a wine region like no other.
Located 60 miles east of Portland and Vancouver, the region is
defined by the Columbia River Gorge, a narrow passage that marks the
dramatic transition from eastern desert to cool maritime climate as the
Columbia River cuts through the Cascade Mountain range on its way to
the Pacific Ocean.
The region encompasses the corridor flanking the river in both Washington and Oregon, and includes the Columbia Gorge and...
