Wander & Wine

Sparkling Wine & Disgorging Fun at Potek Winery

written by W&W

It’s December, which means it’s bubbles season! With Christmas only a few days away and New Year’s Eve around the corner, I have no doubt that there will be some sort of sparkling wine (Cava, Prosecco, Champagne…) in your near future. So it’s especially fitting that I recently attended a sparkling wine tasting and disgorging demonstration at one of Santa Barbara’s newest wineries, Potek Winery. If you missed my post on Potek Winery, it’s an awesome new winery and tasting room in the newly developed wine/beer/food hub known as The Mill.

December 22, 2015 0 comment

12 Questions

12 Questions with Winemaker Jeff Fischer

written by W&W

I don’t know about you, but I really look forward to my ’12 Questions’ posts. These Q&As with cool and influential people in the wine industry are not only fun to read, but it’s amazing to see how each individual’s personality really comes through in their answers. This next participant in my 12 Questions With, winemaker Jeff Fischer, is no exception.

December 17, 2015 0 comment

Party & Entertain

Celebrating the Holidays with Cultivar Wine

written by W&W

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is in less than 2 weeks… this month is flying by, right? To kick off the holiday season, Nick and I threw a little get together with some friends before the holiday madness takes over, and it was a blast. Instead of heading to Trader Joe’s to stock up on $6 bottles of ‘party wine,’ we decided to go all out and serve fancy cocktails and quality wine because it sounded more fun. From pomegranate sparkling spritzers to French 75’s (one of my favs) to bourbon cider and whiskey straight up, our guests definitely had lots of choices. One of the first things to go, though, was the Chardonnay and Cabernet we served from Napa’s Cultivar Wine!

December 13, 2015 0 comment

Santa Barbara Wineries

Five & 1/4 – A New Place for Old Wine

written by W&W

As you can probably tell from reading this blog, there’s a plethora of good wine being made in Santa Barbara County. As you can also tell from reading this blog, I enjoy wine from my backyard just as much as I enjoy wine from other regions and countries. When it comes to wine, it’s good to switch it up. Variety is the spice of life, right?

December 2, 2015 0 comment

12 Questions

12 Questions with Winemaker Jeff Pisoni

written by W&W

Wow, is it really almost Thanksgiving? Yikes… Since the month is flying by, I’m excited to share the next participant in my ’12 Questions’ series before December is upon us. This month’s Q&A is with winemaker Jeff Pisoni, who makes wine from the grapes grown on his family’s well-respected Santa Lucia Highlands vineyards near Monterey. After earning a degree in Enology, Jeff worked at wineries such as Peter Michael and Bernadus before transitioning to make wine with his family full-time, including the Pisoni Estate, Lucia, and Luli labels.

November 22, 2015 0 comment

What to do in Walla Walla | Wander & Wine

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Where to Eat, Drink & Stay in Walla Walla

written by W&W

If you haven’t yet visited Walla Walla, Washington, then you’re missing out! Walla Walla is a charming, unpretentious wine destination in the southeastern part of Washington, about 4 hours from Seattle and a stone’s throw from the Oregon border (the Walla Walla AVA actually spills over into Oregon). Although it may seem like a quaint and quiet town, there’s no mistaking that Walla Walla is a burgeoning wine destination with great restaurants and awesome wineries producing award-winning wines.

October 16, 2019 0 comment

Spokane-Wedding-Photographer-BNOspokane-090

Party & Entertain

Tips For Choosing Your Wedding Wine

written by W&W

Well before I was engaged or married, I wrote an article for a bridal blog with my tips for choosing wedding wine. Although my advice was fine, I underestimated the amount of work that goes into planning a wedding. Sure, it can be fun, but with all there is to think about (venue, money, guest list, seating charts, etc.), it’s mostly just stressful and overwhelming.

November 4, 2015 0 comment

Santa Barbara Wineries

Blueberries & Wine at Cebada Winery

written by W&W

When you think of blueberries, you probably don’t think of wine. Shocking, I know. :) Well, at Cebada Winery, blueberries have everything to do with wine… and here’s why.

Horticulturist Sandra Newman is the owner of the Lompoc-area boutique farm, Forbidden Fruit Orchards, a working farm on a beautiful 100-acre property on the outskirts of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. When she first purchased the land back in 2002, the area’s cool coastal weather (it’s about 12 miles from the ocean) made her think this was a perfect place to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. However, because she put most of her money into buying the property (planting a vineyard takes a lot of dough), she put her idea aside.

October 27, 2015 0 comment

Santa Barbara Wineries

Wenzlau Vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills

written by W&W

Just before we left town for our wedding, Nick and I went to a local wine bar to do a tasting of some wines I’d been hearing about. Those wines were from Wenzlau Vineyards here in Santa Barbara County. After spending some time talking with the owners, Bill and Cindy Wenzlau, I knew I wanted to learn more about their story to feature in my wine column… not only because they’re cool people, but also because the wines are fantastic.

October 13, 2015 0 comment

Tasting Notes

Sorelle Bronca Prosecco

written by W&W

Now that summer is fading away, I find myself looking for good summer wines that can easily transfer into Fall and the holiday season. (Side note: it is finally starting to feel a little bit like Fall here in Southern California!) Take rosé for example… it’s a perfect wine for warm summer days, but it’s also incredibly food friendly and versatile. Serve it with charcuterie and cheese, with roasted chicken and vegetables, and even Thai food!

October 6, 2015 0 comment

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