Dr. Liz Thach, MW

A Visit to Cristal and Roederer Champagne in France

Wines Served at Lunch at Cristal Champagne Press House in Ay, France It was such a treat to receive an invitation to visit the Cristal Champagne Press House and Champagne Louis Roederer Maison in France this September. My friend and colleague, Xaviar Barlier, who is SVP of Marketing & Communications with Maison, Marques and Domaines, extended the invitation. So I flew to Paris for one week, inviting my friend, Lupe Leon, as companion. One of the very fascinating aspects of the trip was being seated next to Frédéric Rouzaud at lunch. He is the 7th generation family member and current [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-11-10T12:24:32-08:00November 10, 2024|

Enjoying a Historic Wine Tasting at Ridge Lytton Springs Winery in Sonoma County

Line-up of Old Vine Zinfandel Wines Tasted at 50th Anniversary of Ridge Lytton Springs WineryThach Recently, I was invited to a historic wine-tasting and lunch at Ridge Lytton Springs Winery in Sonoma County. It was to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the winery, and we were treated to some very old zinfandels sourced from their 100+ year vineyards. A true treat! A Brief History of Ridge Lytton Springs Winery In the winter of 1971 , Paul Draper, winemaker with Ridge Vineyards, visited a 100-year old vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County, California. He was searching for old-vine zinfandel [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-09-14T13:19:49-07:00September 30, 2024|

A Simple Guide to Hosting a Wine-Centric BBQ Party

BBQ and Wine - A Great Combination. Photo Credit: Splash.com (Contributed by Kevin Fagan) Warm weather ushers in the fun tradition of hosting family BBQ parties. Grills and smokers nationwide are lit up and filled with succulent meats, veggies, and even pizzas and grilled fruits. While it’s common for many people to crack open a cold beer or soda to enjoy with these BBQ delights, others enjoy pairing their grilled treats with wine. If you want to try this idea, here’s our guide to hosting a wine-centric BBQ party. #1) Create An Inviting Atmosphere While most wine tastings are elegant [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-10-02T07:27:06-07:00September 30, 2024|

Celebrating Food & Wine at the ‘Taste of Sonoma’ Festival

Guests Enjoy Socializing With Friends at the Taste of Sonoma Food & Wine Festival. Photo Credit: Thach As a Sonoma County native, over the years I've attended the Taste of Sonoma Food & Wine Festival on multiple occasions. However this year I went with the express purpose of interviewing strangers about why they decided to attend. I learned some interesting facts! The 'Taste of Sonoma' festival has been offered for more than a decade at different locations around Sonoma County. This makes perfect since, because Sonoma County is not only home to more than 500 wineries, but also some of [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-07-17T09:33:24-07:00July 17, 2024|

Tips to Select Wines for Your Superyacht Parties

Tips for Selecting Wines for Your Superyacht. Photo Credit: Pexels.com (Contributed by Kevin Fagan) Yachting is a luxurious experience and a time for you to sit back, soak in the serene views and enjoy a superyacht party. That's why it is natural to expect an impressive wine selection on board. But sometimes it can become rather difficult to experience such a luxury that meets perfectly with your standards. To say it simply, having an exceptional wine tasting list on the yacht is rare. Generally, there is no experienced sommelier on board, so it becomes the host’s, or the chief steward’s/ [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-07-17T09:18:59-07:00July 17, 2024|

Celebrate Wine With New ‘Come Together Community’ of Wine Events

Friends Enjoying Wine and Socializing. Photo Credit: 123RF.com Good news, a new wine company called, ‘COME TOGETHER—A Community for Wine Inc,’ has just been launched this May 2024. It is a mission-driven company committed to creating and sharing positive, inclusive consumer information about moderate wine consumption and wine’s historic role as a communal beverage. The company was formed in May 2024 by three wine industry professionals who are donating their time and efforts to the company and its projects and events. They are: 1) wine journalist Karen MacNeil, author of the Wine Bible; 2) Gino Colangelo, CEO of public relations [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-06-26T18:09:28-07:00June 26, 2024|

The Inspiring Story of Calera Winery and Josh Jensen

Josh Jensen, Calera Winery Founder and Mike Waller, Current Calera WInemaker CALERA Not only do I believe that the Pinot Noir wines from Calera are some of the best in California, but the story of how this historic winery and vineyard came to be is equally compelling. Here is quick recap of the visionary story of Josh Jensen and his successor winemaker, Mike Waller. Upon returning from a wine trip to Burgundy in 1971, Josh Jensen spent two years driving up and down the coast of California in search of a location that had limestone soil and the right climate [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-06-11T20:48:40-07:00June 11, 2024|

Men Drink Pink Too: A Sophisticated Rosé Wine for Father’s Day

Real Men Drink Rosé Wine. Photo Credit: Pexels.com, Ryan Holloway One of my favorite memories is coming across a group of men in leather jackets standing next to their motorcycles and drinking rosé wine. This happened in Italy, and I still kick myself that I didn't get a photo of them. However, perhaps it doesn't matter, because there are many men who drink rosé wine. Take my neighor, Paul, who enjoys drinking one of the most expensive rosé wines in the world - Garrus by Chateau d'Esclans, which costs around $125 per bottle. It is made in Provence, France, from [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-06-11T20:18:00-07:00June 11, 2024|

U.S. Wine Sales Increase 46% Between 2018 and 2023

Title Page of 2024 BMO Wine Market Report BMO A new report by Bank of Montreal (BMO) shows that, though wine volume sales are down, actual dollar sales from consumer expenditures on wine have increased in 2023. In fact, if analyzing the BMO report data from 2018 through 2023, wine sales in the U.S. (both domestic and imported wines) increased by 46%. Though part of this is due to inflation and necessary price increases that wineries had to take to keep up with rising supply and labor costs, a good portion is also due to consumers spending more on wine. [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-05-25T11:39:08-07:00May 25, 2024|

The New Hillside Wine Tourism Experience At Shafer Winery in Napa Valley

Enjoying the New Hillside WIne Tourism Experience at Shafer Winery in Napa Valley. I've visited Shafer Winery many times over the years, but have never had a chance to explore the famous hillside vineyards behind the winery until they just created this new hillside wine tourism experience this year. It is fascinating to taste the wine while surrounded by these amazing vines that birthed the Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon. About Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley’s famous Shafer Hillside Select wine has been reaping top reviews for more than 40 years now, but this is the first time [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-05-25T11:18:54-07:00May 25, 2024|

California Poppies Adorn The New Korbel California Champagne Limited Edition Bottle

New Limited Edition Bottle of Korbel California Champagne with Orange California Poppies. Photo Credit: Korbel I love the vibrant orange color of California poppies. In fact, in the Spring time, they cover the slopes of the hills around my house in Sonoma County. You know Spring is here when the poppies bloom, and they are perennial, so they return each year. Now Korbel California Champagne is releasing a new, limited-edition bottle wrap inspired by the season. It features a vibrant, beautiful orange petal design with the “Poppy” bottle heralding the return of warm weather in style with a nod to [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-04-12T16:23:57-07:00April 12, 2024|

Portuguese Wine Week to Enchant Los Angeles

The Famous Sintra Castle in Portugal. Photo Credit: Pexels.com by Frese Get ready to savor the flavors of Portugal as Portuguese Wine Week descends upon Los Angeles from June 2 through 9, 2024. Hosted by Diniz Cellars, importer of fine Portuguese wines, this week-long celebration promises to captivate wine enthusiasts with a series of enticing events, including wine tastings, dinners, and other immersive experiences. Renowned for its diverse terroirs and unique grape varietals, Portugal has emerged as a rising star in the global wine scene. Portuguese Wine Week offers an unparalleled opportunity for wine lovers to explore the depth and [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-04-03T07:15:48-07:00April 3, 2024|

Wine And Seafood Pairings That Are Easy For Beginners

The Joy of Pairing Seafood and Wine. Photo Credit: Pexels - Chayko Contributed by Kevin Fagin - Whether you’re a professional wine connoisseur or a casual drinker, you can always enhance your eating experience by choosing the right pairing of wine with your favorite seafood. But why do we have to create pairings? Can’t we just drink any wine with any seafood of our choice? Well, technically yes, but the experience can be far more enjoyable if you balance the flavors of the wine and seafood. What Is Wine and Food Pairing? Wine pairing is the delicate art of matching [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-03-27T16:33:10-07:00March 27, 2024|

Visiting the Livermore Valley Wine Region of California

Wente Winery in the Livermore Valley, Birthplace of California Chardonnay. WENTE Though I live in the Napa/Sonoma wine region, I still enjoy visiting other parts of California. One that is very historical, and only a little more than an hour's drive from my house, and only 45 minutes from San Francisco, is the Livermore Valley Wine region. Called a ‘hidden gem’ by Forbes, this historical region is home to the first California wine to win a competition in Paris, France, with an 1884 vintage from La Cresta winery. “We are a unique wine region, because we are home to grape [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-03-21T15:33:54-07:00March 21, 2024|

Visiting Doug Frost’s New Winery in Walla Walla – Echolands

New Echolands Winery in Walla Walla, Washington. RICHARD DUVAL I have visited Walla Walla on two previous occasions, and both times I was impressed with the very friendly and laid-back wine town in the far southeast corner of Washington State. But now they are growing so fast, with new wineries popping up all of the time, and top scores from wine critics. After interviewing Doug Frost, MW/MS about his new winery there called, Echolands, I can't wait to visit again! I should mention that I've known Doug for over 15 years. He was one of my instructors in the Masters [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-02-15T12:15:16-08:00February 15, 2024|

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