Dr. Liz Thach, MW

A Heavenly Visit to Hanna Winery in Sonoma County

In October the Wine Sense Club put on an extravagant field trip out to Hanna winery in Alexander Valley. Driving up the long and beautifully landscaped driveway of Hanna Winery, the Wine Sense club was able to take in the picturesque views of the valley. The club’s wine tasting excursion took place under the large oak tree below the tasting room. Shelby Lozinto, the President of the Wine Sense club arranged a private tasting for the club and presented a selection of the Hanna wines to the club members. Hanna Winery in Alexander Valley, Sonoma County. Photo Credit: Hanna [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-30T21:52:03-08:00May 15, 2020|

How I Fell in Love with Wine in Montenegro

(Contributed by Makenna White) My relationship with wine is different from most Americans growing up. I have Danish family members that we would visit every couple years and my cousins, a couple years older than me, would have their own glasses of wine at dinner. After our first visit there, my parents introduced us to alcohol the same way many Europeans introduced their children to alcohol. They made it accessible for my brother and I to try, making drinking alcohol not seem forbidden and therefore “desirable.” As a kid having a sip of mom’s wine and dad’s rum and coke, [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-30T21:54:37-08:00May 12, 2020|

South African Wines Now Shipping Again After COVID Halt

During the middle of harvest season for South African vintners in March, business activity was ordered to stop by their Government to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Alcohol production, national sales and tasting rooms were prohibited, followed by an export ban on April 16th, grinding the entire industry (except sanitizing alcohol) to a halt. Vineyard in South Africa Wines of South Africa Wines of South Africa, the organization representing all exporting South African wine producers, has been actively lobbying to lift restrictions. Their efforts were successful when Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma announced permission of packaged and bulk [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T19:47:20-08:00May 7, 2020|

Best Wine Tasting Experience at Serego Alighieri Winery in Italy

(Contributed by Gabriele Brusamarello) - My best tasting room experience was at the Serego Alighieri Estate, in the heart of the Valpolicella wine region in Italy. Located just a few miles away from the historic and magical city of Verona and beautiful Lake Garda, the winery estate was establish in 1353. It was a sunny and warm day in spring 2012, and I went to visit the winery with some basketball teammates since we were playing for the Verona basketball team. When we first arrived, we were surrounded by nature, astonished by the historic beauty and uniqueness of the location, [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T19:47:56-08:00April 30, 2020|

Learn About Champagne from the Experts – Free!

What do you think of when you hear “Champagne”? While the name is sometimes used generically for sparkling wine especially in the United States, Champagne only comes from Champagne, France. The name is actually protected by French statutes since 1887, with over 120 national jurisdictions today restricting the use of the name to sparkling wines exclusively produced from grapes in the French region and using the traditional method (méthode champenoise, also is a protected designation). Sparkling Glasses of Champagne. Photo Credit: Comité Champagne The Official Comité Champagne Behind its exclusivity and luxurious connotations, Champagne – both the wine and [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T19:48:18-08:00April 23, 2020|

Grapes Still Stomped by Foot at Pax Wines in Sebastopol, CA

Contributed by Keira Fernandes - Have you ever felt the soft squishy feel of grapes underneath your bare feet? Well, this is the way they still make some of the wine at Pax Winery in Sebastopol, California. That’s because owners Pax and Pam Mahle believe in making wine the old-fashioned way. Not only do they stomp their wine grapes by foot, but they refrain from using chemicals or any unnatural additions to their wines. Pax Winery also leaves the skins on the grape for as long as possible to allow for natural fermentation as well as getting maximum flavor. [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T19:48:45-08:00April 21, 2020|

Bored? Here are 7 High-Quality Wine Education Videos to Watch for Free!

Are you looking for something that’s both educational and fun while you are “Sheltering in Place?” Well, let’s talk wine and television! Here is a great new online wine show with Vince Anter, a certified sommelier, takes viewers on a journey around the world in the hit wine TV show, V is for Vino. Each episode of V is for Vino explores a wine region and its history. There are 7 free shows that can be accessed HERE. Vince Anter, Star of V is for Vino Spreading Grape Knowledge Vince is passionate about spreading the knowledge about where the [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T19:49:09-08:00April 6, 2020|

New Relief Fund to Pay Restaurants to Cook for Those in Need – Jordan Winery Donates $150,000

Sonoma Family Meal, a disaster-focused non-profit providing chef-made meals to those in need, announces the creation of the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund—a new initiative to help restaurants remain open for disaster-relief cooking by providing healthy, chef-made meals to those in desperate need of food. John Jordan, the owner of Jordan Winery, and the John Jordan Foundation have made a $150,000 investment in the fund, and the non-profits are teaming up for a match drive to raise an additional $150,000. “With many businesses shuttered, demand for prepared meals is at an all-time high due to the Coronavirus pandemic,” said Heather Irwin, founder of Sonoma [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T19:49:39-08:00April 4, 2020|

Elephant Motif and Farm-Stay Wine Experience at Zo Winery

Contributed by Keira Fernandes – This month we had a great educational wine-tasting on the campus of Sonoma State University with Zo Winery. They are located in the Dry Creek AVA of Sonoma County, just three miles outside of the town of Healdsburg. What is unique about Zo Winery is that they not only offer wine-tasting, but a farm-stay wine experience. They also have a very special focus on elephants, with every wine label graced by an elephant motif. The Elephant Connection The 11-acre vineyard was purchased by David Eckert in 1999 and named after his son Enzo. Enzo’s name [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T19:50:29-08:00February 23, 2020|

Elegant Greek Wine Tasting with Poolside Lunch at Ktima Kokotos Winery

(Oct. 2019) We arrived at Ktima Kokotos Winery two hours before lunch, and immediately after our tour of an ancient Savatiano Vineyard nearby. Kokotos winery was established in the 1970’s by George Kokotos and his family. Located in the area of Stamata, the winery is less than an hour’s drive north of Athens. Pool at Ktima Kokotos Winery in Greece Nestled amongst rolling hills at an altitude of 450 meters, the winery boasts seven hectares of organically farmed Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. An impressive feature of the estate is the large blue swimming pool situated on wide [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T21:54:32-08:00November 8, 2019|

Which Type of Wine Label is Most Attractive to US Consumers?

(Contributed by Shane LaChance) Think about when you last purchased a bottle of wine. Maybe it was for a dinner party, a get-together with friends, or a night-in with the spouse. Let’s say you walked into the store with somewhat of a game plan; in search for a domestically grown red wine in the price range of $12-15. Now, what happens next? Shopping for Wine Survey Shows 80% of Consumers Select Wine Based on Label What guides us to pick up the 2 or 3 bottles that catch our eye. Better yet, what are the deciding factors that [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T19:50:52-08:00November 7, 2019|

Seven Days of Greek Wine

(Oct. 2019) I just returned from a seven day tour of the major Greek wine regions as part of an Institute of Masters of Wine trip. Like most trips organized by the IMW, it was truly amazing, but allowed for very little sleep — usually about 6 hours per night. However, despite this small set-back, it was a great whirlwind adventure of tasting (and spitting) nearly 100 Greek wines a day. Along the way, I learned so many new things, and my appreciation for Greek wines, cuisine, and culture has grown dramatically. The Parthenon in Athens, Greece Quick [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T21:54:53-08:00November 6, 2019|

What Are the Major Wine Grapes of the Czech Republic?

Portions of this post were originally published in WineBusiness.com The Czech Republic has been making wine since the 13th century, yet most global consumers only know the country for Czech beer. So what are the major wine grapes that are grown and produced in the Czech Republic? Czech Village with Grapevines The answer is a little fuzzy because many of the ancient vineyards of the Czech Republic were torn out during the Soviet Era and replanted with wheat. It has only been about 30 years now that Czechs have been reclaiming their wine-making heritage. Now with more than [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T21:55:15-08:00August 18, 2019|

Four Wineries to Visit in the Czech Republic Wine Region of Moravia

If you’re planning a trip to Prague, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, then consider adding a couple of extra days to your trip so you can visit Moravia- the major wine region of the Czech Republic. Only a short 2 hour drive south of Prague, this region delights with its landscape of rolling hills, tiny flower-bedecked villages, and delicious fresh wines paired with regional Czech cuisine. Wine Village in the Czech Republic Region of Moravia I was fortunate enough to be able to visit this region in September of 2018 with my mother, right at [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T21:55:36-08:00August 11, 2019|

Maury Magic – Wineries to Visit on Your Next Trip to Roussillon, France

If you are lucky enough to be headed to the Roussillon wine region in the South of France, and decide to visit the historic Maury wine region, consider some of these innovative wine brands. While visiting there in May of 2019, I was treated to a tasting of Maury wines with ten producers, each presenting three wines. The tasting, followed by a delicious lunch was held at Department 66 (D66) Winery in Maury. This domaine was started by Dave Phinney from Napa Valley who visited the Maury region and fell in love with the terroir. Therefore, he started the winery, [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:21:35-08:00August 2, 2019|

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