Many wineries in the Napa Valley craft stunning examples of cabernet sauvignon because the grape flourishes in our Mediterranean microclimates and varied soil types. However, the Napa Valley is more than corporations and cabernet sauvignon. In my most recent contribution to Snooth, I debunk this myth and share with you why common Napa Valley stereotypes are […]
Tag: Napa
Pride Mountain Vineyards
After traveling in a tour bus along curvy Spring Mountain Road, which changes to Saint Helena Road at the Napa and Sonoma County line and leads to the far-removed estate, I knew I had discovered a remarkable location for grape growing and winemaking. *CLICK HERE TO READ*
What’s in My Glass: Random Napa Sips
Interestingly enough, I rarely review Napa wines. Occasionally, I receive Napa wines from friends to enjoy, but I don’t receive Napa wines specifically as media samples. I am not sure if that’s because I live here and work in the wine business? The winery for which I work now encourages comparative tastings and even hosts […]
Mini WSET-Style Review: 2011 Chateau Montelena Estate Zinfandel
Last night I participated in a live event at ToutSuite Social Club in Napa called Montelena Live: 2011 Ain’t So Bad. The name is ironic, as the 2011s from Chateau Montelena are nothing short of spectacular. As Bo Barrett and winemaker Cameron Parry explained, the goal at Montelena is to stay as true as possible to the […]
The Move To Napa: Chatting with Elizabeth Smith on Blog Talk Radio
On February 22, 2014, I had the pleasure of chatting with The Iowa Wino, Dan Goderis, on Blog Talk Radio about my journey to Napa. You can also catch up with Dan on Twitter. I hope that you will listen and remember that you can have anything you want, as long as you have the […]
What I know after four weeks in Napa
Part of me feels like I should apologize to you, my readers, for my absence from writing. The other part of me is still trying to realize that my life in Napa is real! I still can’t believe I live here. I am also still adapting to a new time zone and a new life […]
Napa, here I come!
No, it’s not a just a trip, but it’s a brand new life for me! Taking off the end of 2013 really allowed me to relax and open my heart and mind. When my part-time wine business employment ended, I didn’t panic, but just decided to breathe. I reached out to my wine and travel […]
Jaffe Estate Transformation and Metamorphosis
Recently I wrote about Jaffe Estate and participated in the fourth annual #CabernetDay with the 2007 Metamorphosis, Jaffe Estate’s Cabernet Sauvignon. I posted a review of the Metamorphosis as part of a fun, collaborative, he said, she said post with one of my favorite up-and-coming wine bloggers, Uncorked Remarks, so get over there and check […]
Being thankful in spite of adversity: saying goodbye to 2012
I really thought 2012 was going to be my year. However, beginning in the summer, life began to change for the worse. I had a few health scares and issues. I had to move suddenly due to leak and mold issues in the place I had lived for 16 years. Out of the blue, my partner walked […]
The heart and soul of MTGA Wines: winemaker Mike Anderson in his own words
I was born and raised in the Napa Valley after my parents and grandparents had moved to St. Helena to get into the wine industry in the early 1980s. It was a fantastic place to grow up, but as with many small towns, it became far too small after 18 years, so it was time […]