Dr. Liz Thach, MW

Domaine Carneros – Still Enchanting Young and Old Visitors Over the Years

(March 2017) “Mommy, can we stop at the castle winery with the long flight of stairs?” This was the question my 6-year old daughter asked me every time we drove past Domaine Carneros coming or going from Sonoma to Napa Valley. Since she was three when we first moved to California wine country, I have joined many winery wine clubs over the years. One of the first was Domaine Carneros, because I love their delicious bubbly wine as well as the expansive view of the vineyards from the terrace of the massive chateau designed after one in the Champagne region [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-14T13:22:31-07:00March 20, 2017|

The Route of the Cathars & Wines of Limoux and Maury, France

June 2012 – Before leaving the US, I read several articles on the Cathars and their unusual and tragic history in the Languedoc-Roussillon area of France. Therefore, I was anxious to visit some of their territory, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Route of the Cathars coincided with my planned visits to the wine towns of Limoux and Maury. (Wine was introduced into this region in 600 B.C. by the Phoenicians and Greeks.) Lonely Region of France -Route of the Cathars The Cathars were an usual sect of Christians who were vegetarians and believed in reincarnation. [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-14T13:13:00-07:00March 17, 2017|

Wine in Tahiti

May 2013 – My husband and I decided to celebrate our anniversary in the Tahitian Islands on an 8 day/6 night trip. The reason it was 8 days is because the non-stop flights from Los Angeles to Papeete only fly at night, so we spent two nights trying to sleep on a plane, and the other 6 nights sleeping in beautiful resorts. On the Island of Moorea Naturally we packed some wine to take with us – 3 bottles – but quickly discovered that we should have brought more, or purchased it in duty free as we [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:07:38-08:00March 14, 2017|

Tasting the Wine of Dreams at Domaine Romanee Conti

(May 2014) It is the dream of every wine lover to someday have a chance to visit “the Mecca of Wine” - Domaine Romanee Conti. So when the opportunity finally came for a private tasting at DRC, I couldn’t believe it was actually true. I won’t go into details of how I finally received an invitation. Just know that it took months, and contacting many people – to whom I say thanks to in my dreams every night. Statue of St. Vivant in Courtyard of DRC The Gates of DRC There is no sign announcing the entrance to DRC, but [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-14T13:13:00-07:00March 12, 2017|

Searching for Mexican Wine on the Mayan Riviera

(Dec. 2016) The last time I visited Mexico was in Cabo San Lucas where you can buy a glass of Mexican wine in almost every restaurant. This is because more than 80% of Mexican wine is produced there in the Baja Peninsula, south of California. The climate is Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and cool wet winters, and is ideal for wine grape growing. Beautiful White Sand Beaches of the Mayan Riviera, Mexico However, this time I traveled to the opposite side of the country to the Mayan Riviera located on the Yucatan Peninsula and bordered by the Caribbean Ocean. [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:08:55-08:00March 11, 2017|

Wines for the Lawyer and Sicilian in Your Life – Emmitt-Scorsone Winery

(Contributed by Jane Hofmeister) This week, Palmer Emmitt, CEO of Emmitt-Scorsone Winery, visited SSU to share his beautiful artisan wines with us. Palmer and his partner produce two brands: Judge Palmer and Domenica Amato. Emmitt-Scorsone Wines The Judge Palmer Wine Brand This wine was name for Palmer’s grandfather James Palmer. He served as a judge in El Dorado County, California in the 1960s and 1970s. Palmer said this wine is a favorite of lawyers, and also is a great gift for anyone working in a legal environment. However, the velvety and rich taste of this wine will satisfy [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T19:55:32-08:00March 8, 2017|

The Unknown Story of Gloria Ferrer Champagne Cave’s First Venture into the US Market

Contributed by Jennifer Schiff – The SSU WineSense Club’s first meeting of the Spring 2017 semester featured Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves, a prominent bubble house located in the southernmost part of Sonoma. The sparkling wine house was established in 1982 by the same folks who brought us the globally distributed Cordon Negro, Freixenet. However, there is a little known story about their first venture into the US in the early 1930’s. Multiple Wars and Unrest Delay Arrival to California After years upon years of producing cava and becoming the largest producer and exporter of sparkling wines in the world, the [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T19:55:56-08:00February 24, 2017|

SSU Wine Sense 2017 Spring Schedule Focuses on Napa and Sonoma Wineries

The Sonoma State University (SSU) Wine Sense Club has announced their Spring 2017 meeting schedule, featuring seven exciting wine education sessions. Each two hour meeting, held from 7:00pm to 9:00pm in the Bennett Valley Room includes a presentation from a winery professional and a guided tasting. Appetizers are served to pair with the wines. Participants must be enrolled as a student at SSU and be 21 years of age or older. The Spring 2017 Schedule is: Feb. 9 – Gloria Ferrer Winery – bubbles, chardonnay and pinot noir Feb. 23 – TBA March 2nd – Russian River Vineyards March 23 [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-05T20:08:48-08:00February 18, 2017|

Snapshot of the Mexican Wine Industry – Home of Oldest Winery in the Americas

(Excerpts of this post are from an article co-authored with Jorge Covarrubias in Winebusiness.com) (Dec. 2016) One of the distinguishing features of wine from Mexico is that the country is reputed to be the home of the oldest winery in all of the Americas. This winery is Casa Madero and is located in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in the state of Coahuila, about one hour’s drive east of the city of Monterrey. Records show that in the 1520’s after conquering the Aztecs, Cortes had Spanish grapevines sent to Mexico in order to plant vineyards and make wine in this region. [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:10:08-08:00December 27, 2016|

A Visit to Villa Margon and a Dinner with Ferrari Winery at Locanda Margon, Italy

(November 2016) On our last evening in Trentodoc we were truly spoiled with a tour and seated tasting at Ferrari Winery, followed by a visit to their historic Villa Margon and dinner at their Michelin star restaurant called Locanda Margon. Entrance to Ferrari Winery Tasting Room in Trento, Italy Ferrari was started in 1902 by Giulio Ferrari, who had a dream of creating world-class sparkling wine in his homeland of Trentino. After studying winemaking in France, he returned and started Ferrari and today it is one of the most well-respected sparkling wines of Italy. See video When we asked if [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-14T13:16:21-07:00December 12, 2016|

Visit to Five Sparkling Wineries of Trentodoc, Italy

(November 2016) When you next find yourself in the breathtakingly beautiful Dolomite mountains of northern Italy, make sure to take a few extra days to visit these wineries which specialize in producing the sparkling wine of Trentodoc, made in the traditional method with secondary fermentation in bottle. During our visit, we were able to enjoy tastings with the following producers: Dolomites Mountains of the Trentodoc Wine Region in Italy. Photo Credit: Trentodoc Wines Cesarini Sforza – Sparkling Wine from the Land of the Eagle We met with the owner and winemaker of Cesarini SforzaWinery while having dinner at Maso Franch Restaurant [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-14T13:16:21-07:00December 9, 2016|

A Tasting of 115 Sparkling Wines from Trentodoc, Italy at Palazzo Roccabruna

(November 2016) On the morning of our second day in Trento, Italy, we were invited to experience a grand tasting of 115 sparkling wines from the Trentodoc DOC. The event took place at the Palazzo Roccabruna from 9am to 11:45am, and was a self-paced tasting with several producers in attendance to answer questions. Tasting of 115 Sparkling Trentodoc Wines at Palazzo Roccabruna in Trento, Italy As you enter the ornate stucco Palazzo, there is a plaque above the door illustrating the date of 1554, when it was first constructed. Owned by a series of families over the centuries, it was also the [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-14T13:16:22-07:00December 7, 2016|

Three Days in Trentodoc Italy Tasting “Sparkling Wine from the Mountains”

(November 2016) Did you know that high in the Dolomites Mountains there are vineyards that produce the first sparkling wines in Italy using the “metodo classic” with second fermentation in bottle? Even more amazing is the fact that the Trentodoc region became the first DOC classic sparkling wine region in Italy in 1993, second in the world to Champagne. Steep Vineyards of Trentodoc Italy with Dolomite Mountains (Italian Alps) Known as “Sparkling Wine from the Mountains,” the taste of the delicious bubbly from this northern part of Italy is fresh and exciting with zesty citrus and mineral notes. With only [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-14T13:16:22-07:00December 6, 2016|

Starving in the Jura and Sipping Vin Jaune in Chateau Chalon

(October 2016) Reminder to self: do not visit the Jura wine region on a Saturday at the end of October. It was Halloween weekend when I decided to visit the Jura wine region, one-hour drive south of Burgundy. For years I’ve wanted to travel here to taste the famous “yellow wines” or Vin Jaune of Jura. In addition, I’ve read repeatedly of the miraculous match of this wine to the Bresse chicken cooked in a cream and mushroom sauce. Little did I know that the week of All Saints Eve is a time when many restaurants and domains decide to [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-14T13:13:01-07:00November 26, 2016|

Larson Family Winery – A Tale of Rodeos, Race Horses and $4 Million Dollars

(Contributed by Jennifer Schiff) The SSU Winesense Club was honored to host Larson Family Winery at one of our recent tastings. We were all entranced to learn their amazing history, and then very pleased to taste such delicious wines. Picnic Tables at Larsen Family Winery The Colorful History of Larson Family Winery The 100-acre winery has been around since 1899 when the Millericks purchased the property. They began to hold the rodeo on the property in the 1920’s until the 1950’s, and it became the largest rodeo in the west. The rodeo attracted many people as well as [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T19:58:34-08:00November 23, 2016|

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