Category Archives: Experiences

Sampling odds and ends

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Bill Ward

So I’ve been taking some antibiotics that set me even further behind on my sampling. But like the wine stores that finish the year with a blitz, I’m aiming to clear them all out by Jan. 1, a pre-New Year’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Appellations, California Wines, Experiences | 2 Comments

Like a movie – or three

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Bill Ward

I expected to find swell wine during two weeks in Italy. I also expected to find cool wine bars. What I didn’t expect was that one of the very best wines would be made across the street from our hotel. … Continue reading →

Posted in Experiences, Italian Wines | Leave a comment

Gleanings: 10-1-13

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Bill Ward

When hanging around grape nuts, it doesn’t take much of an ear to pick up some nice tidbits. A few recent gleanings: • The conversation was about Vouvrays, and how tasty the ones that get to the hinterlands generally are. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in Experiences, Loire, Restaurants, Terroir | Leave a comment

Pairings of a different sort

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Bill Ward

I’ve really been into pairings lately. Not, though, of the food-wine-matchup variety. It just has turned out that a buttload of recent gatherings have included a few of the same varietal – three rieslings or zins here, two aglianicos or … Continue reading →

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Wine that makes you think, but not too much

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Bill Ward

One of the great things about wine gatherings is that there’s lively discussion on matters we agree upon, and on matters we don’t. But with the right crowd, resolving the latter is great good fun. Last weekend’s confab, which I … Continue reading →

Posted in Bubbles, Burgundy, California Wines, Experiences, French Wines, Oregon Wines | Leave a comment

In the bag: Making blind tasting fun

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Bill Ward

Blind tastings with friends can be a lot of fun, and my friend Bill Jacobs recently came up with an especially interesting way to conduct one with three other couples. His account: The wines: A: 2010 14 Hands Hot-to-Trot Red … Continue reading →

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Older? Nope. Wiser? Well, I tried.

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Bill Ward

It’s been an amazing week of treasuring good friends and great wines. Last night the revelry continued with a lamb dinner at my friend Lonny’s house, where I had a revelation of sorts. Most of the guests are part of … Continue reading →

Posted in California Wines, European Wines, Experiences | 8 Comments

Coravin: First-class solution to a First World problem

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Bill Ward

I’ve been reading and seeing some pretty positive stuff about a new device called the Coravin, potentially the best preservation system to date for those wanting to enjoy wine by the glass. Unfortunately, the company has yet to send me a … Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment & Storage, Experiences | Leave a comment

Old wine and friends to treasure, especially the latter

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Bill Ward

So I recently reached a landmark birthday, and one of the very best parts of a multi-day celebration was spending an afternoon and evening with my friends Nick and Larry. Not because they are even older than me , or … Continue reading →

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All too rare grapes: expressive, distinctive, delicious

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Bill Ward

You needn’t have visited this site much to notice my ardor for varieties that are considered “secondary” in the wine world’s weird pecking order. I’m a huge fan of cabernet and sundry expressions of Burgundy’s grapes, chardonnay and pinot noir. … Continue reading →

Posted in California Wines, Experiences | 3 Comments