June 2025

Vineyard in Marlborough, New Zealand. Back in January 2024, I took part in a three-day Decanter panel tasting of NZ Sauvignons that highlighted stark contrasts in craftsmanship and style. It left me pondering: has the magic of New Zealand, and especially Marlborough, faded? It’s a fair question. The success of NZ Sauvignon Blanc on a …

Roger Jones: ‘Recent experiences have reignited my enthusiasm for NZ Sauvignon’ Read More »

The Balvenie 50-Year-Old Private Cask #16560 Trunk. Some of Scotland’s most high-profile whisky brands faced contrasting fates during a brace of recent auctions. Bottles of The Dalmore and Bowmore fell short of their pre-sale estimates, while a lot featuring The Balvenie failed to find a buyer. ‘The Rare’, the third bottle in The Dalmore’s ‘Luminary’ …

Mixed fortunes for Scotch labels at auctions Read More »

Like any gig, bartending has its pros and cons. On one hand, bartenders get to meet new people every day, craft cocktails, and discover new spirits. On the other hand, it’s a job marked by long weekend shifts, being tethered to “the stick” for hours at a time, and physical pains ranging from thrown-out shoulders …

Bodega Cups, Clandestine Cocktails, and Camaraderie: The Secret Culture of ‘Boomerangs’ Read More »

June 6, 2025 — SACRAMENTO – The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) today announced next steps in the joint-and-mutual development of […]

June 6, 2025 (Sacramento, CA) — California winegrape growers are asked to have ballots postmarked by Thursday, June 12, on a referendum for extension of the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Assessment Program, […]

TASTE will Kick-Off with Taste Our Terroir, the Annual Livermore Valley Food and Wine Competition, and will Take Place on October 16-19, 2025 June 6, 2025 (Livermore, CA) – Livermore Valley Wine […]

June 6, 2025 (Lompoc, CA) — Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance revealed Flying Goat Cellars Founder and Winemaker Norm Yost as the 2025 “Vintner of the Year.” OG (Old Goat) […]

June 6, 2025 (Arlington, VA) — The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) issued a strong statement in response to the Department of Energy’s surprising decision to abruptly terminate funding for multiple […]