Randall Grahm is one of the coolest winemakers. Not only does he do a ton of experimenting with his Bonny Doon wines, but he has a ton of fun with the names (like the 2013 I’m Not Drinking Any £#ƒ€!¢ Merlot!) and gives them whimsical labels with alien spaceships (full story on that here). He recently launched a crowdfunding … Continue reading
You probably haven’t had a ton of wine from Virgina. Maybe you haven’t even had any. But with over 200 wineries and 7 AVAs, Virginia’s the 7th largest winemaking region in US and the 5th largest wine grape producer (not wine, but wine grapes). A lot of the wine produced there isn’t awesome, but a handful of … Continue reading
Check out this excellent halibut I made! Was so easy too! Just butter and loads of black pepper on the halibut, then roast it over tomato slices and basil leaves. Recipe here but definitely add some fresh basil on top once it’s out of the oven! Perfectly paired with some crisp Sauvignon Blanc. This one … Continue reading
Mick Rock is a British photographer who’s shot everyone from the Beatles to Blondie, and is still clicking away. In this new show On The Record With Mick Rock, Mick heads to the hometowns of musicians like Kings of Leon and The Flaming Lips to see what’s inspired them. Well aside from awesome music, we all know what … Continue reading
We’ve made it all the way to the #1 rosé of the summer: Chateau d’Oupia! Man, this is a KILLER rosé! Absolute perfect balance of fresh strawberry and raspberry juice with an excellent nerve of minerality. So I’m sampling and sipping away and thinking this is probably in the $20 or even $30 range. But … Continue reading
Why mess with the good stuff? Charles & Charles is always one of my go-to rosés. The blend of Syrah (72%), Mourvedre (8%), Cabernet Sauvignon (8%), Grenache (6%), Cinsault (3%), Counoise (3%) gives it vibrant strawberry, light cherry and and easy drinking goodness. Perfectly delicious at the perfect price – $13.99 here. Continue reading
Today Rosé Week takes us to Tuscany with our 3rd summer selection! Castello di Bossi is one of those savory rosés that goes great with food. 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon make it heartier than other rosés, and this one has earthy and herbal notes. Kinda better with dinner rather than porch pounding. (16.99 … Continue reading
#4 in our Rosé Week countdown is suuuch a good one! This Balletto ($20.99 here) from Russian River Valley is made from Pinot Noir – hands down one of my favorite rosé-making grapes. They’re really light and refreshing, but still have a lot of strawberry fruit and the best ones balance that with great acidity … Continue reading
In grapefriend’s long-standing tradition (ok, three years – and counting), Rosé Week is back in action! In past summers we’ve gone through how rosé is made, what songs it pairs best with, and which celebrities are making the pink. I’ve tasted over 75 of them since June, so this year we’re getting back to basics and … Continue reading
So in the midst of all the Auction madness, every night winemakers host these incredible dinners all over the valley. On Thursday we went to Clif Family Winery, where they love biking almost as much as wine. Their tasting room is full of bike gear, trip photos, delicious little snacks, and of course wine. A … Continue reading
