The Next Generation of Rhône Rangers

For three days every May, winemakers and wine enthusiasts gather in Paso Robles, California, for the largest international celebration of Rhône wines in the world. Now in its nineteenth year, the Hospice du Rhône’s seminars, exhibits, and large- scale wine tastings attract throngs of eager attendees.

Creating a New Breed of Vine with Randall Grahm

Can you imagine using a jeweler’s eyepiece and tweezers to pull the male organs off a grapevine?

Randall Grahm can. It’s a patient task, but he’s doing it because he’s impatient.

Rhône Rangers: Distinctive California Wines from Old World Varieties

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the 13th annual Rhône Rangers Grand Tasting in San Francisco, featuring over 500 wines from more than 100 wineries. Rhône Rangers has grown from the original 13 producers to include 200 wineries from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Michigan, and Virginia. In order to join, a winery must produce at least one Rhône-style wine, comprising a minimum of 75% of one or more of the 22 Rhône grape varieties approved in the Cotes-du-Rhône. Probably the best known of these are syrah, grenache, mourvèdre, and the white threesome of viognier, roussanne, and marsanne.

Wine Writing in the Time of Technology

Ultimately, those of us who write about wine are looking for the best way to describe an experience that is inherently personal and subjective. Is there anything wrong with using scores to accomplish this? I think this is something each writer has to answer for themselves.

The Upside of Doon

An exclusive visit with the inimitable Bonny Doon Vineyard “President for Life” Randall Grahm on the eve of the publication of his much-anticipated book, Been Doon So Long. By Meg Houston Maker.