Latest dispatches

Wine Interview: Katie Madigan Winemaker at St. Frances Winery | Making Great Wine at Great Scale!

This week, a behind-the-scenes look at how great Sonoma wine actually gets made. Katie Madigan of St. Francis Winery shares how she went from chemistry student to winemaker, why sustainability is more than farming, and how to keep soul and quality in wines priced around $15–$18. Katie breaks down St. Francis Winery’s approach to balance, aromatics, and vintage expression, plus what it takes to produce accessible wines at scale without losing identity. We taste and discuss: • 2023 Sonoma County C

A semi deep dive into Rioja Reds: Episode 747

Stan reviews three Riojas from Spain and talks about the region without getting too geeky. Thus, the semi-deep dive into this prestigious region of Spain. One is from the sub-region Rioja Alavesa, and two are from Rioja Alta. All are under twenty bucks.

2022 Pievalta San Paolo Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva

🎙️ Host: Advanced Sommelier Laura Koffer & Certified Sommelier Eduardo Dingler 🥂 Join our Discovery Club: https://www.wineaccess.com/discovery-wine-club/ 🍷 Try this Wine: 2022 Pievalta San Paolo Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva https://www.wineaccess.com/catalog/2022-pievalta-san-paolo-castelli-di-jesi-verdicchio-riserva_6ba30f24-a466-480c-9879-891982cd05dd/ Brilliant straw-gold in the glass ✨🥂. Aromas unfold with Meyer lemon 🍋, chamomile 🌼, and white almond 🌰, accented by crushed shells 🐚 and wild herbs 🌿. The palate is textured and precise 🎯—ripe pear 🍐, citrus oil 🍊, and yellow apple 🍏 glide over a taut backbone of acidity ⚡ and chalky minerality ⛏️. Lees aging adds subtle creaminess 🥛, while a saline edge 🌊 and the gentle bitterness of almond skin 🌰 lend depth to the long, elegant finish ⏳. Drink now–2029 🗓️. 🔔 Subscribe for More Exclusive Wine Discoveries and Reviews!

2022 Chateau Puy Castera Haut-Medoc

🎙️ Host: Advanced Sommelier Laura Koffer & Certified Sommelier Eduardo Dingler 🥂 Join our Discovery Club: https://www.wineaccess.com/discovery-wine-club/ 🍷 Try this Wine: 2022 Chateau Puy Castera Haut-Medoc https://www.wineaccess.com/catalog/2022-chateau-puy-castera-haut-medoc_aa9b9b3f-c5ee-4f92-a2de-ae819617b7f6/ Perfumed, rich, and elegant 🌸🍷, with toasty notes of mocha ☕, smoke 💨, and toasted vanilla 🍦 merging gracefully with aromas of black currant 🍇, blueberry 🫐, blackberry 🍇, and a hint of tobacco 🚬. The wine reveals a serious and youthful expression on the palate ⚡, with firm, grainy tannins 🪵 and a muscular texture 💪. Ripe blackberry and boysenberry 🍇🍓 flavors are rounded out by pleasantly toasted oak 🌳. A modern style of Bordeaux 🇫🇷, well-structured for cellaring over the next 10–15 years ⏳. Drink now–2035 🗓️. 🔔 Subscribe for More Exclusive Wine Discoveries and Reviews!

2024 Stolpman Vineyards BLRDCYN Syrah Ballard Canyon

🎙️ Host: Advanced Sommelier Laura Koffer & Certified Sommelier Eduardo Dingler 🥂 Join our Discovery Club: https://www.wineaccess.com/discovery-wine-club/ 🍷 Try this Wine: 2024 Stolpman Vineyards BLRDCYN Syrah Ballard Canyon https://www.wineaccess.com/catalog/2024-stolpman-vineyards-blrdcyn-syrah-ballard-canyon_f9a13a00-04fa-4ae3-97fa-a0cf5963bcc2/?srsltid=AfmBOoo9YdsBGFAP35EGbaCBIXIHKjVNzZR0LDITDbI8CrsBH-NUopN6 An inky red ruby core 🟥🍷. Aromas of dark plum 🍑, cherry compote 🍒, and chocolate 🍫, with hints of lilac 🌸 and black pepper 🌶️. The meaty palate 🍖 is full of dark fruit 🍇, herbs 🌿, and cocoa 🍫, with rich tannins 🪵 carrying a long-lasting finish ⏳. A muscular 💪, rich 💎, and memorable Syrah 🍷. Drink now–2035 🗓️. 🔔 Subscribe for More Exclusive Wine Discoveries and Reviews!

2023 Sturm Friulano Collio

🎙️ Host: Advanced Sommelier Laura Koffer & Certified Sommelier Eduardo Dingler 🥂 Join our Discovery Club: https://www.wineaccess.com/discovery-wine-club/ 🍷 Try this Wine: 2023 Sturm Friulano Collio https://www.wineaccess.com/catalog/2023-sturm-friulano-collio_98c286fd-8998-40ba-ae46-9f80a49485de/?srsltid=AfmBOoqI9m95v5vAQgsgzr8d7HYS6EapoSwUH6Et_43JPI4Exb-B9wXE Pale straw with green highlights 🌾💚. Leaping from the glass 🍷 are aromas of pear 🍐, white peach 🍑, and citrus blossom 🌼, accented by chamomile 🌼 and a trace of fresh almond 🌰. The palate is supple yet bright ✨—ripe orchard fruit 🍏🍐 and lemon zest 🍋 are carried by crisp acidity ⚡ and a fine mineral thread ⛏️. Layers of melon 🍈, herbs 🌿, and wet stone 🪨 unfold with air, offering both depth and lift 🎈. The finish is long and refreshing 🌊, tapering with almond skin 🌰 and saline energy 🌊. Drink now–2030 🗓️. 🔔 Subscribe for More Exclusive Wine Discoveries and Reviews!

Introducing The Discovery Wine Club! The Vineyard Voices Shipment.

Bacchus is live 🍷

We’ve been building this with you. Now it’s finally on the App Store. Download it and start exploring👇 https://dvin.app/BacchusAppStore

Why Chenin Blanc Might Be the Most Underrated Grape

Foxen Chenin Blanc Old Vines Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard 2024 Link to Wine: https://www.winex.com/foxen-chenin-blanc-old-vines-ernesto-wickenden-2024.html Join our Daily Email Offer List: https://cdn.forms-content.sg-form.com/f3da488a-d10b-11ee-94a3-62718bdc6118 Most people think they don’t like Chenin Blanc. But the truth is, most people have just never had a great one. The Foxen Chenin Blanc Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard 2024 is a perfect example of what this grape can do at its highest level. Planted in 1966, this vineyard delivers old vine Chenin Blanc with real depth, balance, and character. As vines age, they develop a natural equilibrium, allowing the wine to show both richness and precision at the same time. And that is exactly what you get here. The wine is fermented and aged in neutral oak puncheons, with no new oak influence, preserving purity while adding texture. In the glass, it delivers everything you want. Peach, stone fruit, and citrus layered with bright a

Tasting and Discussion of Spain’s Trendiest Wine

In today's video, Bob Paulinski takes a deep dive into Albarino, with a primary focus on the wines of Rias Baixas, Spain. Albarino is one of the rising stars in the wine world. The video includes a tasting and discussion of four bottles to consider when you're out wine shopping. Rias Baixas is located in Galicia in NW Spain. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west and Portugal to the south. It's split into five sub-zones, each producing slightly different wine styles. Over 90% of the wine produced in the region is made from Albarino. It's a green gold grape variety with thick skin that helps it remain disease-free and allows for a wide range of winemaking techniques. The vines are routinely grown well above ground on elevated overhead trellises, promoting airflow to counter the region's high humidity. The region is rainy, lush, and greener than most other places in Spain. Soils vary, but fractured granite is a common and important trait, allowing for quick drainage of water.  Alba

What Is a Non-Fortified Sherry? This Rare Spanish White Will Change How You Think About Wine

What happens when you take a Sherry grape, age it 18 months under flor, and bottle it WITHOUT fortification? You get one of the most fascinating white wines on the planet — and one that Chris and Nick at SaratogaWine.com say is unlike anything they've ever tasted. 🛒 Find this wine: https://www.saratogawine.com/department/wine/?_group= 0c99db9&utm_source=social&utm_medium=youtube 🥂 Food Pairings: Oysters, grilled fish, seafood preparations, summer vegetables, grilled foods 💡 Pro Tip: Give this wine 10–15 minutes in the glass. The more time you spend with it, the more it reveals — nougat, salinity, stone fruit. It's a grower. ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 – Introduction 0:13 – What Is This Wine? 0:28 – How It's Made (Flor Aging) 0:54 – Tasting Notes 1:31 – Critical Acclaim (96–97pts Wine Advocate) 2:04 – Food Pairings 2:52 – Why You Shouldn't Be Afraid of It