Author: topochinesvino

A winery my mother would have loved

A winery my mother would have loved

My wife and I have been visiting Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery in the Sonoma County town of Graton for quite a few years now.  We went back again this week and had another great food and wine experience. Founded by Marimar Torres, a member of the prominent Torres winemaking family in Spain, Marimar Estate … Continue reading A winery my mother would have loved

Grateful for Great Wines at Gratus Vineyards

Grateful for Great Wines at Gratus Vineyards

We lived in Napa for nearly five years and did our best to visit wineries across all of the far-flung American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) that make up the larger Napa Valley AVA. Of course, we tasted on the valley floor at many wineries on Highway 29 . . . along Silverado Trail . . . … Continue reading Grateful for Great Wines at Gratus Vineyards

Great Wines of Lodi, Part IV

Great Wines of Lodi, Part IV

It is hard to believe that it has only been one year since our inaugural visit to Lodi wine country. In that time, we have made several return trips and have added three Lodi wines to our web wine store: http://www.topochines.com. A couple of weeks ago, we decided that it was time to take advantage … Continue reading Great Wines of Lodi, Part IV

Yes they make killer wines in Contra Costa County

Yes they make killer wines in Contra Costa County

Wine country snobbiness is easy to fall victim to when you live in or close to Napa Valley or Sonoma County. Sure, the wines from there are mostly very well made and some of them are among the best in the world. But the excellence of Napa and Sonoma wines in no way cast a … Continue reading Yes they make killer wines in Contra Costa County

Original Zin: The Real Story of This Unique Grape

Original Zin: The Real Story of This Unique Grape

We read an article recently in a reputable publication that proclaimed Zinfandel as California’s “heritage grape,” and went on to describe this grape varietal as “a quintessentially American phenomenon.  It’s zesty, rugged and loud, challenging to rear, a lover of barbecue.”  This characterization of Zinfandel is not uncommon and we have even heard more casual … Continue reading Original Zin: The Real Story of This Unique Grape