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.
Six Red Wines for Thanksgiving
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.
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.
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.
Discovering and re-discovering the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
The Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains website states, “More than 70 wineries and 200 growers produce wines shaped by the elevation and the ocean’s cooling influence. The region yields elegant wines from small producers specializing in pinot noir, chardonnay, and cabernet sauvignon.” I attended Mountain Wine: Rare trade-tasting with Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers on October 19th and enjoyed an excellent and up-close look at what this AVA is bringing to market.
Bringing the Russian River Valley to my old nearby San Francisco neighborhood- Porter Creek Vineyards
One of the advantages of being in the wine trade is the opportunity to attend vendor and supplier tastings. I recently tasted Porter Creek Vineyards wines at the Cole Valley Tavern, less than six blocks from where I grew up. Tasted eight high-quality well-made wines and opened up another window into what is happening in the Russian River Valley
Returning to a Tuscan Classic – Rocca delle Macìe Sergio Zingarelli Gran Selezione
What is the true essence of Tuscan red wines? Over the last few decades, the best wines are often almost New World in style and reminiscent of Bordeaux and the Napa Valley. Rocca delle Macie Sergio Zingarelli Gran Selezione shows a way back to how it used to be.
Ridge Vineyards: Come for the Monte Bello, and stay for their cool small lots
While Monte Bello, Geyserville, Lytton Springs, and others are headliners, one must never forget the less heralded ones—Valdiguié, Carignane, Grenache, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, and other sideline players
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting- 2019 vintage: My Top Ten Wines
The UGC Bordeaux Tasting is an annual event for wine professionals from all over the world. I have attended this event in Bordeaux in the spring where châteaux pour their barrel samples.
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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.
