Wine Wednesday Archives - The Philly Files

February 26, 2020

Rare success story shows why winemaker stability is so important

California wineries are often burdened by a turnover of winemakers. The most elite wineries hang on to their winemakers because, well, there’s no place…

February 19, 2020

California winery has great weather for its grapes, worth for your wallet

Plus, Wine and the White House on this Presidents Day week Steve Rogstad knows Los Carneros. After college, he worked at Saintsbury, Rombauer and…

February 12, 2020

The right wine for your Valentine’s Day dinner

We always have found Valentine’s Day a bit galling. Steeped in mythical interpretations, it is a holiday cleverly marketed by greeting card companies, florists,…

February 5, 2020

Napa not so significant when it comes to California wines

Paso Robles is an up-and-coming area for several reasons, including price. Most people think of Napa Valley when it comes to California wine. However…

January 29, 2020

Why pinot noir prices are at a peak, and the best of the bunch

We often wonder how pinot noir got so expensive. There was once a time in our early years of winemaking when burgundy cost considerably…

January 22, 2020

Cold weather wines: Season dictates what’s best to drink when

We may make too much of weather when it comes to enjoying wine. But why is it that a crisp sauvignon blanc tastes better…

January 15, 2020

A mother-daughter Napa Valley winery started by accident

We recently met with Remi Barrett from La Sirena, a small production Napa Valley winery project of Remi’s mother, Heidi Peterson Barrett. Heidi Peterson…

January 8, 2020

Burgundy: Some of the best bottles without the big budget

When we became interested in wine, we first visited France, arguably the most revered wine-growing region in the world and certainly one with the…

January 1, 2020

Weighing the past 10 years in wine, and what to watch in the next decade

The beginning of a new year gives us the opportunity to set personal goals and reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going….

December 25, 2019

Sparkling below. Speedy above. Be careful with that cork!

When the Washington Nationals celebrated their World Series victory a few months ago, the locker room was awash in sparkling wine. Players and coaches…

December 18, 2019

A gift of good wine isn’t a waste when it’s for the right person

Spending $50 to $100 on a gift of wine may be beyond your means, but put it in perspective. You may be spending more than…

December 11, 2019

10 gift suggestions: Wine accessories as stocking stuffers!

This is the time of year we take to the malls – or the web – to find the perfect gifts. No matter who…

December 4, 2019

Experts: Ramey is the top chardonnay

If there is only one more bottle of chardonnay you intend to drink, let it be a Ramey. We’ve been tasting chardonnay for decades…

November 27, 2019

Hispanic immigrant families’ hard work make Thanksgiving wines

For centuries, immigrants have been coming to California to live their dream of making a living from West Coast’s fertile soil. Italian immigrants with…

November 20, 2019

10 wines that’ll impress your holiday guests

As we close in on the mother of all feasts, the last thing on your mind is probably wine. Most likely, you are more…

November 13, 2019

America’s zeal for zinfandel

Zinfandel is considered to be America’s red grape, although its origin is hardly American. Thanks to the advent of DNA grape analysis, zinfandel’s origin…