EXPLORE THE WINE BLOG
Wine is a fascinating subject that often draws attention. Some love it; some don't care about it; I live it as a centerpiece of my life. Wine and spirits it have been an essential part of my life for 50 years. So follow my journey, and we will share our vinous exploration.
A six-pack of delicious Sauvignon Blancs
Our good friends Dave and Fran Copland will be vacationing in Tuscany, and probably other places in Italy. (My darling Alice and Fran worked together a long time ago) and we have remained close. Like many food and wine international travelers, they were drawn to this beautiful and outstanding wine-growing region. Through my five decades in the wine industry, I have been to Italy numerous times, and aside from Rome, Milan, and the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany has always been a treat for me. Here are six Tuscan Treats recently released in the United States, that I found beautiful and compelling.
Six Tuscan Treats
Our good friends Dave and Fran Copland will be vacationing in Tuscany, and probably other places in Italy. (My darling Alice and Fran worked together a long time ago) and we have remained close. Like many food and wine international travelers, they were drawn to this beautiful and outstanding wine-growing region. Through my five decades in the wine industry, I have been to Italy numerous times, and aside from Rome, Milan, and the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany has always been a treat for me. Here are six Tuscan Treats recently released in the United States, that I found beautiful and compelling.
Six Exciting New Releases from the Tyler Winery
Justin Tyler Willet founded the Tyler Winery in 2005 at the age of 24. I never heard of the winery until I joined Wine.com in 2014. My friend and colleague, Jonathan Han, had put the wines in front of me knowing that I would become, and I became an instant fan. Each year, I look forward to tasting these delicious Sta. Rita Hills wines. These are not prefab, cookie-cutter wines; they are authentic representatives from this AVA. I tasted these six wines at the Chambers & Chambers 50th Anniversary Tasting at the Terra Gallery in San Francisco.
My love affair with Geyserville
In the summer of 1975, I wandered into the Union Street Wine & Cheese Center and stumbled onto a flight of 1972 Ridge Vineyards wines. My friend Elaine McIntosh was pouring behind the counter, and that was behind the tasting bar, and that is how I discovered the Ridge Geyserville Zinfandels—later to be reclassified as a red table wine giving the winery more flexibility with its percentage of Zin in the blend. A year later, I contacted the winery and sold the 1973s at our family store, Ashbury Market, and my nearly five-decade love affair continues to grow.
A Luncheon with Beni di Batasiolo
In November 2022 with the San Francisco International Wine Competition in full swing, I took a day off to attend a luncheon with Fiorenzo Dogliani, his associates, and members of the wine trade. The respite from judging was well worth it. With a backdrop of the cuisine from Perbacco, Mr. Dogliani featured five single vineyard Barolos from 2013, a reserve from 2012, and an old soldier from 1996. This opportunity allowed all of the guests in attendance to take a slower and more deliberate look at the wines as opposed to the usual “cattle call” crowded events. Here are my impressions and scores of the eight wines that were presented.
Three Saint-Julien 2020s that hit my sweet spot
At the 2020 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux tasting in San Francisco on January 27, 2023, I tasted nearly all the wines poured, and in the end, three Saint-Juliens hit my sweet spot. While this is not an exhaustive look at the appellation—since many of my favorites (Ducru-Beaucaillou, Léoville-las-Cases, and Branaire-Ducru were not present, or I missed. Nevertheless, Châteaux Léoville Barton, Lagrange, and Gruaud Larose showed very well and are worthy choices for wine lovers.
New Releases - Dry Creek Vineyard
I was in my early 20s when I tasted my first Dry Creek Vineyard wines. Two wines remain memorable to this day. The 1972 Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc and the 1973 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. The former was distinctive, earthy, and reminded me of Bordeaux Blanc and the latter was bright with berries and finely balanced. That was just the beginning. Now five decades later, I can report the winery’s wines continue to be excellent in the face of a more competitive marketplace.
Pauillac 2020, Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux San Francisco
Ever since my first travel to Bordeaux, the region, the history, the wines, and the people have stayed in a special place in my wine journeys. As a young professional, I always dreamed of visiting Bordeaux, and in 1996 it came to pass. When I first experienced Bordeaux wines in the early 1970s, I knew that my education would be incomplete without tasting the wines and talking with the vintners on their own turf.
An Epiphany in La Consulta and when I began my love affair with Malbec
On February 3, 2011, I discovered that Malbec was more than a pretty face. While I routinely drank everyday Mendoza Malbec, savored a few Cahors, I did not put this grape variety into the iconic world. That day opened the doors to further exploration of Malbec.
Albariño, An Alternative White Wine
Albariño from Galicia, Spain (or Alvarinho, as it is called in Portugal) is an excellent food-paring wine. When I discovered the grape variety over 40 years ago, I immediately knew it was a wine I could serve often. Yet, with so many other wines in the mix, I sometimes went away from it, favoring the more well-known grape varieties (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio). As I transition from retail to full-time wine research, tasting, and writing, I can give more attention to the entire field of wine.
American Sparklers let’s celebrate them!
One of my favorite movie lines in the Sound of Music (1965) was when Liesl von Trapp (Anne Farmon aka Charmain Carr) asked Captain Georg von Trapp, “I like to stay and taste my first Champagne, yes? He is smiling and responds, no!” While my mom loved that movie, and we watched it every Christmas, she gave us our first taste of Champagne. She was also present for my next memorable sparkling wine experience.
Rosés, rosés, and rosés
In the 1970s, pink wines were mostly “soda pop offerings” that included White Zinfandels, Cold Duck, and other wines with sugary finishes. While these wines are and will always have a following, rosé wines have graduated into the category of distinctive, high-quality food wines.
Cava and Prosecco, budget beaters for the holidays
While Champagne and other ultra-high-end bubblies get plenty of attention, they are often too expensive for the average household. What are the alternatives?
Isn’t It Time for More Rieslings in Your Life?
Each year as I plan my wine-tasting schedule, I grapple with fixed events—ZAP Experience, Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, Premiere Napa, numerous wine competitions, etc. These popular events exist because their categories are active in the marketplace with consumers and professionals. Rieslings are another story, and I should have tasted more of them.
To Gamay or Not to Gamay
I have often followed the easy way out, but when I drank my glass of Gamay over the Thanksgiving holiday, I thought this Gamay, “This wine is so delicious that I have another glass.” Additionally, Gamays at the “crème de la crème” class is more affordable than the best Cabs or Pinots. This is my list of top Gamays I have tasted in 2022.
My Ten Most Memorable Wine Moments in 2022
2022 is another year in transition as we crawl out of the pandemic and enter the endemic. I have tasted close to 3,000 wines (I may have passed that number, but some of my notes were still scribbled from crowded events when I used pen and paper and squeezed my way to get to the wines. Nevertheless, I should hit my annual goal of wines I needed to taste.
Celebrating National Zinfandel Day, November 16, 2022
I started my career tasting Zinfandels from a difficult 1972 vintage, and my love of Zins grew from that point on: Here are 10 Zinfandels I found memorable from my 2022 tasting experiences.
Ten Delicious Red Wines $20 or below Ready for the Thanksgiving Table
Thanksgiving in America is a great time for family and friends. While I have made lists of my best red wines with a turkey and all the trimmings, I needed to create another list of the most affordable wines to help ease the budget crunch. Here is a list of ten delicious red wines $20 or below ready for this primetime occasion (alphabetical order)
Ten Cabernet Sauvignon Under $40
Cabernet Sauvignon under $40 exists; you just need to expand your search.
Rhône Blends, Carignane, Grenache, Oregon Pinot Noir, and Other Reds for Thanksgiving
I created two lists of my favorite Thanksgiving wine choices and received comments that I neglected some possible excellent decisions from what I have tasted this year. So, I went back to my spreadsheet and found ten wines that would be outstanding. This list includes wines I highly recommend.
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Articles | Food, Drink, & Travel
Food, drinks, and travel—are three categories that can be difficult to navigate. My goal is to guide you and simplify the process.. Please join me on this journey, and we can enjoy the road together.
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Let's Connect
Please contact me for any questions. I am available to write stories, taste, and evaluate wines.
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About Wilfred
Wilfred (Willie) Wong’s 50-year wine career includes roles as Imported Wine Buyer for BevMo!, Chief Storyteller at Wine.com, Wine Judge, and Wine Journalist.
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Wine Stories
Wine and spirits have been an essential part of my life for 50 years. I spend plenty of time researching the subject, and over the years I’ve collected stories I look forward to sharing with you.
