Leave it to the free-spirited winemakers of Paso Robles to make rosé blush. While the French may claim rosé royalty status, Paso Robles is all about that adventurous West Coast spirit. We’re talking unusual blends, unconventional grapes and dry, sophisticated…
When it comes to wine varietals, the French are hard to argue with. Thanks to a similar climate and growing season, Rhone and Bordeaux varietals rule Paso Robles Wine Country, as you already well know. But did you know that…
Wine compounds—especially “polyphenols”—are a lot like stars. Your body knows what they are when you experience them, but you’d have a doozie of a time explaining exactly what they’re made of when asked. Just as heavenly bodies are composed of…
You may think that wine comes in three primary colors: white, red, and pink. What a dull way to live! You certainly aren’t looking long enough to notice the subtle nuances in the glass, and that’s a darn shame. Chances…
Grapes aren’t just nature’s candy: they are also nature’s antioxidant! By now, we all know that drinking a moderate amount of wine daily can benefit your health and that red wine is linked to buffering away oxidative damage as well…
Better your wine show signs of age than your skin right? While you’ve been romping through spring wildflowers and soaking in the summer sun (whilst wearing loads of broad spectrum SPF), your Paso Robles reds have been maturing into wise,…
We all know that “opening up” a bottle prior to pouring will bring out more flavor and aroma, but it all seems like so much extra bother, doesn’t it? Who has the time or expertise to properly decant each bottle?…
Walking through any wine shop is enough to make your head spin. Each label, it seems, is calling out for your undivided attention. They’re all so beautiful, and—at a glance—there’s no easy way to tell the fakers from the fabulous.…
Did you know that Italy has a free, 24-hour wine drinking fountain? It’s true! This odd attraction opened this year, much to the excitement of wine lovers across the land. This magical offering can be found along the Cammino di…
What’s in a word? Well, a whole lot. Ever realize how using “lazy” words can really bog down a conversation or even make it harder to get your point across? Consider these two descriptors of a sunset—“nice,” and “breathtaking”—and tell…
We all know kicking back with friends and a bottle of wine is a fabulous way to de-stress. But did you know that your fondness for wine, especially red wine, also happens to come with some amazing health benefits? From…
So, you’re out wine tasting and having a grand old time. Everything tastes delicious—in fact, most of the wines you taste are starting to blur into an unmanageable haze. Was it the first white you liked or the fourth? Or…
Why is it that you can drink the same varietal from the same winery grown on the same piece of land, and it tastes so different from year to year? What makes a particular winery’s 2009 Tempranillo so vastly different…
Some wine descriptors have a way of making us giggle, at least internally: “Worn leather,” “decomposed earth,” and “forest floor” are big ones that always make me crack a playful smile. Not to say that these terms are BS, because…
“Wine” probably isn’t high on your list of budgetary priorities under “groceries” and “saving for the bathroom remodel.” I mean—it really shouldn’t be (if it is, you might have a problem on your hands). However, as a true Paso wine…
We know, we know. Aren’t there enough rules to the wine world (swirl this, spit that—don’t add ice cubes, blah, blah blah)? We aren’t saying you can’t add a splash of soda water to your chardonnay if you find a…
Performing stomach crunches, keeping up with regular dental cleanups, and drinking wheatgrass are all “good for us.” They’re also all less than enjoyable experiences. But what about red wine—something we all love to sip and share with friends? Could it…
Why is yawning contagious? Why is the sky blue? Why is my terrier always so damn hyper? Why do wine bottles have that funny little hollow space at the bottom? Some questions are as old as time. Unlike most of…
There’s just way too much to know about wine! We could go on for ages just talking about where to store it, how it’s harvested, and (of course) what to pair it with. Alas, we wine nerds love the unknowable…
Have you ever pulled an open bottle of wine out of the fridge, questioning whether or not it has turned? Well wonder no more; our wine guide has a definitive list that you can keep on hand, which will inform…