Sauvignon Blanc is produced in so many styles in so many places, from the mineral-driven wines of France’s Loire Valley, to the racy iterations of New Zealand and Chile, to the floral elegance of those from Bordeaux, to name just a few. The grape is exceeded only by Chardonnay as the most planted “international” white […]
Hours after Mary Palac competed in the national finals of Speed Rack Season 7, she chopped off the bulk of her long, luminous black hair onstage and donated it to charity. In both instances, she blew the crowd away with her graceful energy and strength under pressure. Born in the Philippines and raised in the […]
Russian River is a trendsetter. More than a decade before people were camping out for can releases, Russian River attracted thousands to its brewpub in Santa Rosa, Calif. The primary draw? Its annual release of Pliny the Younger, the intensely hopped triple IPA that continues to draw crowds today. The craft brewer was also among […]
“There’s no mistaking that we are living in the heyday of IPA,” Dick Cantwell, brewer and author of ”Brewing Eclectic IPA: Pushing the Boundaries of India Pale Ale,” says. He’s absolutely correct. The Brewers Association ranks IPAs just behind American lagers and light lagers in nationwide popularity. Beer styles within the category span all-out hop […]
Here’s the thing about drinking wine with tacos: you can’t be too serious about it. After all, when you’re hanging at your local taqueria or ordering Mexican takeout, you’re more likely to crack a beer or sip a Margarita.
Joel Gott wasn’t born a winemaker, of course. But it sometimes seems that way. Born in Napa Valley, he released his first vintage over 20 years ago, and the roots of his winemaking heritage stretch deeper still. Gott is a fifth-generation California vintner. His 1997 Amador County Zinfandel earned the label widespread acclaim, and he hasn’t […]
Most of us have a pretty good idea of how we’re supposed to be eating — less sugar, more fiber, more good fats. Shop local, pay attention to labels, blah blah blah. We know the drill. If you try to hold your wine to a similar standard of transparency, however, you’ll end up frustrated. There’s […]
I was into my third 10-ounce glass of Pliny the Younger when I noticed the line snaking outside Russian River Brewing’s taproom in downtown Santa Rosa, Calif. “Five hours,” a bouncer told me. That was the estimated wait time to enter the hallowed halls of Sonoma County’s most revered brewery. Beer pilgrims hailing from 40 […]
Laboratory analyses can’t identify anything special about the water Hangar One Vodka Distillery collects from Bay Area fog to produce its limited edition Fog Point Vodka. But head distiller Caley Shoemaker can. She says it’s the taste of San Francisco. At the height of summer, when inland temperatures soar above 90 degrees, San Francisco is […]
