Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2022 Bubbly Riesling Takes Top Honors November 15, 2024 — Winners have been announced in the 2024 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging,Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2022 Bubbly Riesling took the top prize. It was also awarded Best of Show Sparkling Wine. Coming in at 97 points, judges praised the wine for its “Mouth watering citrus and honeysuckle”; “Lingering tropical finish”; and “Perfect bubbles.” They also called it “Well balanced.” With a record number of entries from across the globe, the Harvest Challenge bases judging on a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions and grapes that combine to give personality to the wine. In other competitions, terroir is ignored. At the Harvest Challenge, judges taste wines alongside other wines of the same appellation. W

Lula Cellars 2020 Rescue Block Pinot Noir Takes Top Honors November 17, 2023 — Winners have been announced in the 2023 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging, Lula Cellars 2020 Rescue Block Pinot Noir took the top prize. It was also awarded Best Red Wine and Best of Anderson Valley AVA (Mendocino County, Calif.). Coming in at 98 points, judges praised the wine as “rich, ripe” and for its “Bing cherry,” and “hint of orange peel.”  Lula Cellars is a boutique winery located in California’s Anderson Valley. Its focus is on world-class Pinot Noirs both from its estate and across Anderson Valley, as well as other single-vineyard offerings from the greater Mendocino County. When preparing to plant their own vines, Lula owners discovered some-1,000 old vines “literally lying down, as if waiting to be rescued.” Lots of TLC later, these mystery Pinot Noir grapes have thrived. There’s no in

Five Prestigious Napa Valley Mountain AVAs, One Extraordinary 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

“The Five Peaks of Napa Valley” 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from The Vice Wines Blends the Finest Fruit from Atlas Peak, Mount Veeder, Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain District Napa Valley, CA – October 15, 2021 – What happens when the highest quality fruit from Napa Valley’s 5 prestigious mountain AVAs are blended […]

Five Prestigious Napa Valley Mountain AVAs, One Extraordinary 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

“The Five Peaks of Napa Valley” 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from The Vice Wines Blends the Finest Fruit from Atlas Peak, Mount Veeder, Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain District Napa Valley, CA – October 15, 2021 – What happens when the highest quality fruit from Napa Valley’s 5 prestigious mountain AVAs are blended […]

Afternoon Brief, June 3rd

Napa Tourism Industry Bouncing Back, but Post-COVID Job Growth Slowing: An economy sent reeling by the coronavirus has in many ways bounced back far faster than in past recessions – but a North Bay economist is cautioning Napa city leaders to be mindful of slowing job growth and the pandemic’s outsize blow to employment in the tourist industries that have driven much of the city’s prosperity...

Atlas Peak Wines Are the Pinnacle of Napa Valley Perfection

Legendary winery comes back to life through Quintessential NAPA, CA (June 3, 2021) — Family-owned Quintessential announces the reintroduction of Atlas Peak wines, one of Napa Valley’s most illustrious labels from the premier Atlas Peak AVA. Each of the wines were produced under the experienced eye of industry veteran Bob Pepi. Atlas Peak AVA Cabernet […]