Category: Ramblings and Rants

Sorry, We Own That Color
In the world of wine, trademarks are fiercely defended, usually in direct proportion to the net worth of the organization

What Did Rudy Ruin?
Not since the Mondavi brothers faced each other in a San Francisco courtroom has there been so much drama in

Vinography’s Flipboard Magazine Honored
For the past few months I’ve been publishing a Flipboard Magazine version of Vinography. You can view it on the

Bulk – The Quiet Wine Economy
Stand long enough by the side of any major highway that traverses one of California’s major wine regions and you’ll

Jury Convicts Wine Collector Rudy Kurniawan of Fraud
If I lived in New York, I would have spent the last eight days in an uncomfortable bench seat in

Urban Renewal Through Wine
Cities all over the world flounder in various states of decay, as municipal and regional governments go bankrupt, or at

Introducing The Essence of Wine Book
Almost two years ago now, I began a collaboration with superstar food photographer Leigh Beisch that I called The Essence

When Should You Not Be Allowed to Be Biodynamic?
Spraying biodynamic teas at Seresin Vineyards, Marlborough, NZ As the father of a kindergartener it will come as no surprise

California’s Current Wine Revolution
What does the world look like to those in the midst of a quiet revolution? As with the frog in

Finding Treasure in the Wine of Vienna
The streets of Vienna are like nowhere else in the world. Culture all but oozes out of the cracks between

Almost 70% of the Wine Sold in China is Fake, Says Expert
Who needs John Grisham when we’ve got real, live anti-counterfeit attorneys such as Nick Bartman running cloak-and-dagger operations in China

An Open Letter to the United Kingdom
Old Chap, I miss you terribly. Especially as Guy Fawkes day approaches. It seems like just yesterday that we were

Wine Writing Income Continues to Challenge
By Susan Kostrzewa Gloria Steinem once said that writing was the only thing she ever did where she felt she

Hang Out with America’s Top Wine Writers. For Free.
One of the great perks of having been at this wine writing thing for some time involves my association with

Buzzwords of America
Following trends in America on any subject can be a recipe for motion sickness. As anyone who has spent time

Delectable: The Only Wine App Worth a Damn
A dismal state of affairs Ever since the iPhone was first released, I’ve been trying apps that are aimed at

Vinography: The Complete Story
I’ve done a lot of radio interviews, and a few TV interviews since I started tapping away on this keyboard

San Francisco Wine Bars and Wine Stores: The Map
Looking to get your vino fix in San Francisco? Look no further. I’ve created a map of San Francisco wine