FROM THE VINE Who says California wines don’t age long, you’ll never believe that once you taste Lane’s library wines. Cheers!
FROM THE VINE I am so happy to report the good news that our great Central Coast wineries are reopening quite successfully. Not only that, the…
FROM THE VINE It’s really quite rare to find a winery that sells exclusively to wine club members and online, or to anyone visiting the tasing…
FROM THE VINE Wine tasting is back in SLO and Santa Barbara counties, although it’s still limited to small parties of six or less. That’s okay…
FROM THE VINE Last weekend I attended a wine club pick up party that was practically in my backyard, it happened in Avila Beach at the Sinor-L…
FROM THE VINE While Los Olivos gets plenty of tourists, locals are eager to check out Nella Kitchen. So should you.
FROM THE VINE Rick Longoria makes an array of fine wine varietals, from Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the Rhone to Italy, Spain, and Port style wine…
Most people think of an India Pale Ale (IPA) as bracingly dry and bitter, and practically no one expects that to taste great with dessert. But…
FROM THE VINE As soon as February rolls around it always feels like the month of romance. It’s all about sweet pleasures like dining out in sp…
FROM THE VINE Our great restaurants are quite focused on local wines, and most of them at reasonable pricing. Now, during this pandemic, the r…
Happy New Year! We often have a bone-in prime rib roast for Christmas dinner each year. When we do, I always make a vegetable beef soup with t…
FROM THE VINE We may still not be allowed to visit wineries to (gasp) taste their wines, at the least until Jan. 29. But the wineries are offe…
Rabble Wines in Paso Robles has been acquired by O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, producers of northern, Central Valley and California Centr…
Happy New Year! We often have a bone-in prime rib roast for Christmas dinner each year. When we do, I always make a vegetable beef soup with t…
FROM THE VINE Let’s all raise a toast to welcome in 2021, and a healthier, happier new year.
With Christmas right around the corner, I’m always looking for an eye-popping appetizer that is sure to please everyone. The kids will probabl…
FROM THE VINE I believe we wine aficionados all love Champagne and sparkling wines for celebrating special moments in our lives. Yet I intend …
In an effort to support those in need this holiday season, the Santa Barbara County Women Winemakers collective is hosting a virtual fundraisi…
Does this look like a high protein dish? Believe it or not, it is! Chickpeas (garbanzo beans), and lentils are both high in protein and fiber.
The good news is that you will still find some of your favorite Central Coast tasting rooms open and they’re quite happy to accommodate you. T…
With Thanksgiving Day looming in the foreground, it doesn’t hurt to think beyond the main event to leftovers on the weekend.
There are many artisan producers here that make a single bottling of bubbly, but they usually come at steep prices. I highly recommend our loc…
Where else would Italy meet Thailand except in the pages of our local Santa Barbara County newspapers! Although the default approach to pairin…
FROM THE VINE While it seems most of us have little patience for this pandemic, let alone unexpected accidents such as a bad spill I had that …
Recently, my wife, Jan, and I visited the Lafond Winery. Several years ago, we had been members there, but let our membership lapse. Everythin…
What makes Cuban sliders “Cuban?” Answer: I don’t know, but this ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickle sandwich on a slider bun topped with a Dijon m…
Pair this dish with Grassini’s 2019 Happy Canyon Sauvignon Blanc. This wine opens with aromas of fresh honeydew melon, white spring flowers, a…
Proceeds from the annual women winemakers celebration are donated to a local nonprofit organization of choice. This year the Foodbank of Santa…
