Adventures in Tasting

Robert Lewis Stevenson said:
"Wine is bottled poetry."
That about sums up the fascination and romance humankind has had with wine for thousands of years. I thoroughly enjoy exploring the broad spectrum that winemakers constantly offer up to us. Living in California with an airplane affords my wife and me ample opportunities to easily reach wineries, big and small, all over the state. The more we see and taste, the more amazing the sheer variety of excellent wineries appears. In an attempt to make some sense of it all, I've started compiling impressions of our tastings - both at home and on the road. Some of these are listed here for your consideration.

Of course, these notes are highly subjective. I tend to prefer reds, while my wife tends to prefer whites. We both love a good port or dessert wine on occasion. The 1-5 rating system I use reflects my overall judgment of the wine's quality and character. The 1-5 value system tempers the overall rating by considering the wine's price. So, a wine's value can be boosted if it's available at a lower price than a wine I deem of similar quality, but sold at a higher price. Disclaimer: the prices I list are those I encountered. Your mileage may vary. Enjoy!