Amador event celebrates barbecue and wine
“As fire’s presence in our everyday lives has diminished, the social magnetism of the cook fire seems, if anything, to … Read more
By Tom Bender
Foothill wineries shine at SF judging
We are only a few weeks into the new year and we are already weighing … Read more
Find some local bubbly for the New Year
With New Years looming it is time to turn to sourcing wines with bubbles. But … Read more
Share the red and white this Christmas
No other holiday signals overindulgence more than our usual Christmas and New Year’s activities. It … Read more
Brew-tap dancing through the Mother Lode
It is Oktoberfest time, and there are plenty of opportunities for us to celebrate with … Read more
Barbera the star at annual wine fest
Attention Barbera fans! Just in case you have not heard and you thought you missed … Read more
College to offer wine tasting class in October
Columbia College will offer a community education class, Wine Tasting Global While Staying Local, in … Read more
Give pink a chance, and chill it
When the Trinchero family winery in Napa accidentally made a white zinfandel wine in the … Read more
Foothills wines score big leaps at annual judging
For more 35 years, I have been fortunate to organize the annual Calaveras County Wine … Read more
Columbia celebrates 41 years of tasting
41st annual Columbia Wine Tasting, 1 to 4 p.m., Columbia State Historic Park, (209) 588-5089, … Read more
Wines from the Bordeaux region return to excellence
“California vineyards have it too easy. To make good wine, the grapes need to struggle.” … Read more
Local wineries score big at San Francisco judging
The country’s largest and one of the most popular wine judging events is the San … Read more
Find a wine movie for a quiet New Year's Eve
The holiday stretch has always been a popular time to check out current movies and … Read more
Whiskey barrels get a second life
Whether it is wine, whiskey or beer, for more than 150 years, the American oak … Read more
Wine harvest time signals celebrations in the Mother Lode
This year’s grape harvest has been a good one, and as the long days and … Read more
Columbia College offers wine education
Wine enjoyment has become a popular lifestyle choice as interest in international wines continues to … Read more
Foothills wines show up big at State Fair
Spring time has no shortage of wine competitions and wineries looking to these evaluations as … Read more
Keep it pink for summer refreshment
Summer is officially upon us and, with this week’s temperatures heating up, it’s time to … Read more
Historic French tasting celebrated
Every year on May 24, the California wine industry pays homage to an event that … Read more
Amador’s ultimate food, wine pairing event set May 7
In my 30-plus years of restaurant food and wine experiences, some of the most memorable … Read more
Ireland goes beyond the traditional brews, food
With St. Patrick’s Day closing in, a number of celebratory food and beverages will kick … Read more
Red wine, bourbon combine for cool cocktail
Wine is an overlooked mixer, but it can add complexity, intense flavor and bright acidity … Read more
Amador wineries to open cellars
This coming weekend offers a don’t-miss opportunity to expand your wine knowledge of Amador County. … Read more
Italian wines send tasty message
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to attend VINO 2016 in New York City, … Read more
Presidents’ Wine Weekend celebrates 20 years
The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance will present its 20th annual Presidents’ Wine Weekend at all 23 … Read more
Boxed-wine cocktail big on flavor and easy to make
Fruity, fresh and tart, with a swift kick of ginger, this blackberry and pomegranate cocktail … Read more
Foothill wines strike gold at Bay Area competition
Wine judging competitions are big in California and growing in popularity across the country. With … Read more
Regional winemaking legend Hovey recovers from stroke at home
If this were any other year, Chuck Hovey would be evaluating his wines, looking at … Read more
Bubble up on New Year's Eve
No other night of the year sees champagne corks flying like New Year’s Eve. And … Read more
Fine wines and craft brews great for gift-giving
Every year at the holidays I come face to face with customers who look like … Read more
Day set aside to celebrate Zinfandel
There is not a day that goes by that there is not some declared national … Read more
Apples have hard history
Late last month I attended the Sunset Magazine’s annual “Savor the Central Coast” wine and … Read more
Calaveras Grape Stomp embraces the unusual
Calaveras Grape Stomp returns to Murphys
The 22nd annual Calaveras Grape Stomp returns to Murphys Community Park on Saturday.
The stomp … Read moreState fair yields wins for foothills
This time of year runs rampant with statewide wine competitions. From our local county fairs … Read more
