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Dr. Liz Thach, MW

The Marselan Wine Grape Gaining Popularity In Bordeaux, China And Napa Valley

Global warming has forced wine regions around the world to consider new grape varietals that can better withstand the forecasted rise in temperatures. One such wine grape, Marselan, appears to be gaining more traction in Bordeaux, China and Napa Valley. A Selection of Global Wines Made from the Marselan Grape L. THACH “We set up a test plot of Marselan in 2016,” reported Laurent Rousseau, owner of Vignobles Rousseau in Bordeaux. “It gives a powerful wine, very colorful but fleshy and elegant…. We will produce this (as Bordeaux) AOC in 2021.” Indeed, the Marselan grape is one of four red [...]

By |2022-02-18T14:40:33-08:00November 15, 2021|
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Wine In Peru

Given that Peru is considered to be one of the top culinary capitals in the world, it is not surprising to learn that they also produce wine. However, most people are not aware of the small wine region in Southern Peru that has been producing wine since 1540, and is actually the oldest wine-producing country in South America. Today, the Peruvian wine industry still struggles for both national and global recognition, but there are forces in play that suggest the future may become brighter. Panoramic view of the city of Macchu Pichu in Peru GETTY Peru Wine Region, Varietals and [...]

By |2022-02-17T13:27:30-08:00November 15, 2021|
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Jordan Winery Wins Prize for Best Halloween Party

There are many wineries in the US that are known for their innovative wine events, such as lobster dinners, dog walks through the vineyard, and colorful holiday wine-themed parties, but no one can compete with Jordan Winery’s Annual Halloween Party.  Each autumn, members of the wine trade and special clients pray they receive an invitation to attend.  If they don’t, they can request a position on the waitlist, and hope someone cancels. But this rarely happens. Galactic Queen and Avatar Attend Jordan Winery's 2021 Halloween Party Unusual Invitations Part of Jordan Winery’s Appeal Part of the pleasure in receiving an [...]

By |2021-11-01T10:37:29-07:00October 31, 2021|
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How Napa And Sonoma Vineyards Are Going Beyond Sustainability To Embrace Climate-Positive Goals

Climate positive (carbon negative) goals in Napa and Sonoma vineyards. PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY California wineries have long been leaders in environmentally friendly practices, because they recognized early on that wine grapes are one of the most susceptible crops to global warming. Indeed by 2019, 99% of Sonoma County vineyards were certified sustainable and 94% of Napa vineyards and wineries achieved certification under the Napa Green program. However, now both counties have established even more aggressive goals to reduce their carbon footprint and become climate positive – which is beyond carbon neutral, with negative emission reductions. The sustainability certifications the vineyards achieved [...]

By |2021-10-18T17:50:21-07:00October 18, 2021|
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How Quintessa Winery Honors The Passing Of Grapes Through The Value Chain

Harvesting grapes by hand. Photo Credit: L. THACH During harvest in wine regions around the world, it is useful to examine some of the practices that go into picking the grapes and transforming them into the delicious wine in your glass. One winery that has a unique practice is Quintessa, nestled in the Rutherford AVA of Napa Valley. Here they perform a harvest opening ceremony to pass the grapes through the value chain. “It’s a practice that we have been doing for many years,” reports Rebekah Wineburg, Winemaker at Quintessa. “Early in the morning, as the first delivery of grapes is [...]

By |2026-09-14T13:19:51-07:00October 18, 2021|
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The Greening Of Bordeaux: The Two-Pronged Approach Wineries Are Taking To Address Climate Change

With the UN Report on Climate Change 2021 calling for a 'code red for humanity', the timing for the Bordeaux wine region to ramp up its environmental efforts couldn’t come any sooner. This is because wine grapes have long been considered “the canary in the coal mine,” in terms of notifying vineyard owners around the world that climate change is here and real. Indeed, in a 2005 scientific report entitled Climate Change and Global Wine Quality, Dr. Greg Jones and his colleagues warned that the 2∘C warming environment would make some wine regions, such as Bordeaux, “exceed a climatic threshold [...]

By |2021-09-14T15:55:07-07:00September 14, 2021|
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How a Football Player Saved a Nearly Extinct Portuguese Wine Grape

Just as a bird or animal species can come close to the brink of extinction, so too can wine grapes. Currently there are over 1300 vine varieties in the world, but most people are only familiar with the commonly produced ones, such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet Sauvignon. However, there are a few countries in the world, such as the Republic of Georgia, Greece, Italy and Portugal where very rare indigenous wine grapes are found. In fact, Portugal, with a surface area six times smaller than France, has over 250 varieties. This gives Portugal the highest density of indigenous [...]

By |2021-08-11T11:15:07-07:00August 11, 2021|
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Wine in Belize

Belize is known more for its beer and rum than wine, but when traveling I always enjoy checking out wine lists in restaurants, shops, and grocery stores.  As a small Caribbean country of only 420,000 people in 2020, located south of Mexico, Belize has a warm tropical climate that is not ideal for fine wine-grape growing.  However, they do have fruit-based wines, with the most well-known made from dried hibiscus flowers, which they call sorrel wine. CocoBeach Resort - View from Our Room, San Pedro, Belize Common Wine Brands in Belize Like most first-time visitors we immediately took the 15 [...]

By |2021-07-15T11:16:39-07:00July 15, 2021|
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Materra-Cunat Family Vineyards – A Unique Napa Valley Destination Known for White Wines

Entrance to Materra Cunat Family Vineyards in Napa Valley. Photo Credit: NapaWineProject Napa Valley is known world-wide for its famous wines made from cabernet sauvignon and cab blends, so it is unusual to find an estate winery in Napa that doesn’t grow cabernet sauvignon. Instead, Materra, located in the Oak Knoll AVA, a mere 10-minute drive north from the town of Napa, is known for its white wines. “Many visitors come here because they hear that we have a good selection of white wines,” says winemaker, Chelsea Barrett. In fact their 39 acres of vineyards are planted not only to [...]

By |2026-09-14T13:20:47-07:00June 30, 2021|
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Meditating with Champagne

NOTE: Portions of this post were originally published in Forbes. Meditating with Champagne Recently I was invited to attend a Zoom webinar where we learned how to meditate with Champagne.  It was organized by Champagne Henriot, who developed a partnership with Dr. Elisha Goldstein, the Founder of the Mindful Living Collective. At first I was a little skeptical, but after we completed the 10 minute meditation and debriefed it, I found it was not only an eye-opening experience for me, but for others as well. In fact the process has been so successful, that Champagne Henriot trade-marked the experience as [...]

By |2021-06-24T16:09:01-07:00June 24, 2021|
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Acquiesce Winery – Where the Queen of White Rhone Lives

Earlier this Spring I was honored to visit Acquiesce Winery in the Lodi Wine region of California. Tucked away on a small farm road 13 minutes north of the town of Lodi, you will come upon a charming barn and tasting room, surrounded by verdant green vineyards. After parking in the small gravel parking lot, you will most likely notice a large imposing round sign on the red garage door of the barn. It depicts a woman standing on a grape vine with the words: Awaken, Transcend, Acquiesce. Acquiesce Winery Barn Door with Logo Immediately I was fascinated by the [...]

By |2021-05-24T10:20:29-07:00May 21, 2021|
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Migliavacca – Resurrected Napa Winery Focuses on Italian Varieties

“What does Migliavaca mean?” I asked, sitting at the kitchen table of Katie Migliavacca, founder and co-owner of Migliavaca Winery in Napa Valley. We were tasting the wines of her family’s newly resurrected wine brand, Migliavacca. “Roughly translated it means ‘thousands of cows,’” replied Kate, “but it is a common surname in Italy.” “Fascinating,” I said, delighted to have the opportunity to participate in another Covid-safe winetasting during the pandemic. Katie had carefully spaced us 6 feet apart, opened the patio doors and windows wide, provided hand sanitizer, and insisted we wear masks until it was time to taste. “Tell [...]

By |2026-09-14T13:20:47-07:00April 17, 2021|
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Constellation’s Wine Premiumization Strategy Is Starting To Pay Off

Originally published in Forbes. Constellation’s sell-off of its lower-priced wine brands to E&J Gallo seems to be paying off in terms of promoting their “premiumization” strategy in the wine arena. In an April 2021 earnings call with investors, President and CEO Bill Newlands reported, "Our retained wine and spirits portfolio, excluding divested brands, delivered net sales growth of 5% for the year, driven by double digit volume growth for Meiomi, Kim Crawford and the Prisoner Brand Family." Bottles of Constellation Brands Inc. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc © 2018 BLOOMBERG FINANCE LP Newlands also admitted that these three “wine power brands” [...]

By |2021-04-14T13:31:43-07:00April 14, 2021|
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