Category: blogging

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

Our Iberian Adventure, Part II: Sevilla

Our Iberian Adventure, Part II: Sevilla

After a very short (one-night) stay in Madrid, our Iberian adventure started in earnest with a trip to Sevilla - my first trip to this beautiful city in Andalucía.  In pre-historic times John visited Sevilla, but since I wasn't with him it doesn't count.  Anyway, we decided not to drive a car from Madrid to … Continue reading Our Iberian Adventure, Part II: Sevilla

Our Iberian Adventure, Part I: Getting Around

Our Iberian Adventure, Part I: Getting Around

We have been to Spain many times - individually and together - and John has a whole bunch of cousins living in Madrid.  A place neither of us had ever ventured, though, was Portugal.  This seems strange even to me, since Spain and Portugal are, well, part of the same peninsula and getting there is … Continue reading Our Iberian Adventure, Part I: Getting Around