Wine Stars

Wine Stories and News for the Young at Heart

Favorite Wine Tasting Experience at Domaine Carneros

Contributed by Meriha Eby - My favorite wine tasting experience was at Domaine Carneros. It was for my 23rd birthday. The reason I chose this place was because my favorite wine is sparkling wine and that is what they specialize in. Also I love the location and how beautiful the scenery is. I had my closest friends and family and my boyfriend come and it was perfect. We sat on the outside terrace so we could see all the gorgeous vineyards surrounding us. My favorite sparkling wine from there was the Blanc De Noir. They usually sell out of this [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:27:57-08:00August 27, 2014|

Three Perfect Places to Have a Wine Tasting Party

Contributed by Nicole Nowlen Wine tasting has been a favored activity of those who love this elegant beverage since time immemorial, and can be a great reason to get friends together and impress them with your knowledge of fine wines. No matter where you hold such an event wine-tasting will bring an air of sophistication to the proceedings, and serves as a wonderful excuse to share your favorite vintages or to introduce new wines to your repertoire. Where you hold your wine-tasting can be just as important as what types of wine you bring, and the two can serve to [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:28:21-08:00August 21, 2014|

Wine: As Wonderful for your Kidneys as for Your Heart?

Contributed by Jenni Phelps: The fact that wine promotes cardiovascular health has long been espoused by scientists, but exciting news suggests that wine may also be linked to healthier kidneys. A study carried out by Dr. Tapan Mehta and his team at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Centre, in Aurora, has shown that those with healthy kidneys who consumed a moderate amount of wine per day (in the region of 4 ounces) had a 37 per cent lower likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease. Additionally, those who already had kidney disease who drank the same amount per day had a 29 [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:28:43-08:00May 19, 2014|

My First Wine Experience in the Gardens of Ferrari Carano

Gardens of Ferrari Carano Contributed by Araceli Campos - I wasn’t introduced to wine until I immigrated to the United States. I was born and raised in Michoacán Mexico until I was 10 years old. Mexico is not known for producing much wine, though they do make it in the Baja Peninsula. Therefore, I had never seen a bottle of wine before – even though my dad worked in the vineyards of California. It wasn’t until I arrived in the US that I started seeing wine on the shelves in grocery stores, at special events, and holiday gatherings [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:29:04-08:00May 5, 2014|

Three Fun Facts to Pair Dessert and Wine

Wine Pairing Guide Contributed by Bryan Vu - Pairing wine with dessert isn’t always easy, and often the task can seem daunting. However Shari's Berries has put together a handy little guide to make pairing desserts with wines a little bit easier. The task of choosing a matching wine for dessert can be daunting for a person if they don't really know where to start. The chart helps to demystify the process: http://www.berries.com/blog/dessert-alcohol-pairing-guide 3 Important Fact When Pairing Dessert and Wine How did these pairings come about? The key to a great pairing is not necessarily how similar [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:29:26-08:00April 29, 2014|

The Joys of Dessert Wine – 3 Great Choices for Under $20

Contributed by Nicole Nowlen - There is a scene that appears frequently in movies, books, or even just the homes of wine connoisseurs we know and love. You can picture it, the imbiber curled up in a chair with a blanket and a pleasant book, perhaps even the ubiquitous cat purring on their lap. Upon their nose is perched a pair of reading glasses, brought out only for these moments of quiet consumption of literature. Perched on the table next to them is a somewhat diminutive wine-glass filled with a rich, almost viscous liquid. At moments spaced by the beat [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:29:55-08:00April 22, 2014|

Positive News on the Health Benefits of Wine

Sparkling Wine & Salad Contributed by Jenna Phelps - Although Millennials rarely drink wine for its health benefits, it’s reassuring to know that drinking wine in moderation promotes physical and mental wellness. Indeed, an article recently published in the scientific journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings highlights that a daily drink of alcohol for men and women, ideally red wine, reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. This is good news, as cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the US. However, the researchers point out that this moderate dosage is the key to good health, as excessive intakes of alcohol [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:30:14-08:00April 14, 2014|

My Favorite Tasting Room Series: Stephen & Walker’s, Healdsburg, CA

Stephen and Walker Tasting Room (By Guest Author Emily Mobley) As soon as I walked into Stephen & Walker’s Wine Tasting Room located in Healdsburg, I knew I was going to have a good time. Enticed with excitement and enjoying the atmosphere of summer, I could not wait to have my first sip of “real” wine. I had recently turned 21, and wine was still a mystery to me. What was so special about it? “Real” wine was everything I didn’t know and was looking forward to experiencing. It was August and my neighbors invited me to go wine tasting [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-05T14:18:04-08:00February 20, 2014|

My Favorite Tasting Room Series – Del Dotto Vineyards

Tasting in the Caves of Del Dotto Winery (By Guest Author Lauryn Mitrovich) My favorite tasting experience occurred in Napa Valley. It was my boyfriend’s birthday, and his parents rented us a fabulous limo to drive to several wineries. The one that really stood out to all of us was Del Dotto Vineyards. We arrived at the cave and barrel tasting location for Del Dotto and were greeted by our guide Brandon. Brandon had taken the parents on a tour before and they had an amazing time so they specifically asked for him again. Obviously, something stuck out [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-05T14:18:04-08:00January 30, 2014|

My Favorite Tasting Room Series – Testarossa Winery

Testarossa Winery (By Guest Author Nicholas Giampaoli) Growing up in the city of San Jose, I was not very familiar with wineries. I always figured that wine came from Sonoma and Napa County. After coming to Sonoma State and becoming more familiar with wine country, when I visited home I wanted to check out some local wineries. I had no idea they even existed in the south bay until I did a web search. During my web search I came across Testarossa Winery. It turned out that the winery is very historic and is considered the fourth oldest [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-05T14:18:04-08:00January 23, 2014|

My Favorite Tasting Room Series – Pride Vineyards in Napa and Sonoma

Tasting at Pride Vineyards (By Guest Author Daniel Walsh) It was the middle of January in 2012 with open skies and a beautiful coastal breeze in the air. Two coworkers and myself had made an appointment a month prior to visit Pride Vineyards and Winery on Spring Mountain. The tasting room was located on the estate, sitting atop the mountain, which is split between the Sonoma/Napa county lines. Upon arrival, we entered the tasting room and were greeted with a glass of their estate viognier and the Hospitality Manager, Mike Campbell, who lead us on a tour of [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:32:01-08:00January 14, 2014|

SSU Students Love Turley and Miraflores Zinfandels at ZAP Tasting

Rebecca Robinson of Zap with Ray Johnson The SSU WineSense Club was thrilled to have Rebecca Robinson, Executive Director of Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP), conduct the most recent tasting. Rebecca regaled the students with the history of ZAP and shared fascinating information about the Zinfandel grape. Fun Facts About Zinfandel The grape is originally from Croatia where it is called Crljenak Kaštelanski Also quite famous in the Puglia region of Italy where it is known as Primativo Brought to America in the 1800’s Zinfandel Grapes Planted throughout the Sierra Foothills, Napa, Sonoma, Lodi, Paso Robles, [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:32:18-08:00October 25, 2013|

Schug Winery Kicks Off SSU Wine Sense Club Tasting for Fall 2013

Harrison from Schug Winery By Guest Author Dominique Levenberg. There was excitement in the room for the first Sonoma State University Wine Sense Club meeting of the Fall 2013 semester. Harrison from Schug Carneros Estate Winery was a hit with the 38 students who enjoyed tasting five different wines paired with cheese, meats, and crackers. Favorite Schug Wines The line-up included Schug’s sparkling Pinot, a Chardonnay, two different Pinots from the Sonoma Coast and Carneros appellations, and a Cabernet Sauvignon. At the end of the tasting, everyone voted for their two favorite. The winners were the 2012 Schug Chardonnay [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:32:35-08:00September 19, 2013|

What are the Major Cool and Warm Climate Grape Varietals?

Cool climate Riesling grapes By Guest Author, Sumun Rahim - Any wine lover who has studied the French concept of "terroir" knows that the same grape varietal can produce vastly different wine depending on what type of soil and in what climate it's grown. Some wines do best in cool, even cold, climates; others are better-suited to warm, sunny weather. Knowing which wines thrive in which climates can help you enjoy local wine more fully when you travel as well as be a guide to help you choose from the selection available at the average wine store. Below is a [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-05T14:30:53-08:00August 29, 2013|

Two of the “Grand Cru” Wineries of Sonoma County Pour at SSU

Though Sonoma County doesn’t technically have any “grand cru” wineries, it does have some very well established wine estates with stellar reputations for producing award winning cabernet sauvignons from Alexander Valley. At the last SSU Winesense Club tasting of the year, we were graced by two such wineries -- Jordan and Silver Oak, both established in 1972. Indeed, these two legendary wineries have so much brand power, that students waited in line to get into the tasting, and some were turned away when the room maxed out at 50 people. Silver Oak Rocks Silver Oak winery was represented by [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:33:41-08:00April 27, 2013|

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