(Post by Nanci Hemminger) Awhile ago I lead the Enology Club from Northrup through a tasting of several Champagnes and other sparkling wines. In preparation I researched the wines I would be pouring and also delved into the fascinating history of Champagne. This is what I learned…

(Post by Alyssa Barron) Who am I and why do I care so much about Music, Yoga & Booze? Music: I’m a professional singer and particular yet avid music lover Yoga: I’m a yoga practitioner and teacher Booze: Because WINE. Also, I’m a wine seller and Level 1 Sommelier… but who’s keeping score? Music has…

Sparkling wine is, well, wine that has carbon dioxide added to make it fizzy, during a secondary fermentation.  Of course the most well known example of sparkling wine comes from France (so do French bulldogs but I won’t hold that against ‘em) and is known as Champagne, a sparkling wine that is made in the…

The Region: Burgundy Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. ‘Nuf said. Unless you’ve been under a rock or drinking Colt 45 since you were 12, you know these two grapes. They are the two main grapes of Burgundy (if you’re lookin’ at a bottle of French wine don’t be confused by the term “Bourgogne”-its’ just the French…

The Spanish were the first winemakers in California-they planted vineyards along with each mission they built. Well, I mean…you need wine for communion, right? For the most part they planted what has become known as the “mission grape”. The Gold Rush (1849) brought an influx of winos and hence a new demand for wine; it…

We headed out from the South Bay on a beautiful morning in search the perfect zinfandel. Instead of going someplace close like Uncorked, I was headed up to Paso Robles to meet some friends for a weekend of wine tasting, in the town where I first learned to drink wine. Well, I already knew how…