California wine

Pairing Merlot while the kitchen is out of service (#winePW)

Have you ever expected house guests in the middle of a kitchen remodeling project? This was the situation I faced last week when two bottles of Merlot were due to arrive. Both wines are from highly respected producers that I’ve gotten to know. So, in a sense, I regard them as old friends rather than […]

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For veggies, my vote is Merlot over Cab (#winePW)

When rummaging through my wine stash for a red to pair with vegetarian fare, I will always pick a Merlot over Cabernet Sauvignon. Don’t get me wrong: I enjoy a powerful, structured Cabernet Sauvignon. In my home state of Washington, Cab is the most planted grape. Washington Cab is prized for its fruit-forward intensity and

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Cab Franc meets Turkey Day thanks to Tessier Winery (#CabFrancDay)

At this time last year, I was craving another Thanksgiving dinner to pair for Cabernet Franc Day (#CabFrancDay). Then voilá! Like magic, a Cab Franc from Tessier Winery in Healdsburg, CA, arrives at my doorstep. Well, not exactly. First, I had to sign up with Lori Budd of Exploring the Wine Glass, creator of #CabFrancDay.

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Let’s enjoy Napa Valley Merlot while we still can (#MerlotMe)

As I sit here in western Washington state taking shelter indoors from smoke-induced, unhealthy air – in mid-October, no less – I can’t help but think about the Napa Valley, California, Merlot in my glass as an endangered species. How long will famed Napa wine producers be able to ward off the ill effects of

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Kicking off #MerlotMe month with Napa Valley wine and lasagna soup (#winePW)

October is #MerlotMe month. Hooray! An entire month for tasting smooth, luscious and fruity Merlot, one of my favorite reds. What better way to start the party than by tasting two wines from Markham Vineyards in California’s Napa Valley. Here are five reasons why Markham is kicking off my celebration of #MerlotMe month this year:

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