The 2005 Tempranillo. That’s what got me hooked on Pierce Ranch Vineyards wines. Until that wine, I didn’t even know Iberian varietals could be successfully grown in Monterey County. For decades, Monterey County has been widely known for its Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. But when it comes to reds, I generally … Read Entire Post
Peter B’s Brewpub, Monterey’s original craft brewery, is a regular stop of mine when I’m in downtown Monterey, Calif. The brewpub offers a wide range of house styles, seasonal styles, barrel-aged beers and cask ales. Like many talented brewmasters, Kevin Clark began his career in beer as a homebrewer. He joined Peter … Read Entire Post
My friends and I rarely leave the coast. (It’s a graysuit thing.) So, when we do head for the hills, we have to have a really good reason—like fabulous wines. If you want a quick getaway to a wine lover’s paradise, try Murphys in the central Sierra Nevada foothills in Calaveras County, … Read Entire Post
Looking for something romantic for Valentine’s Day? Add a hibiscus flower to your Valentine’s champagne or sparkling wine! Simply place the flower inside your champagne flute, fill it with champagne & watch it unfurl among the bubbles. For an extra dash of romance, add some of the hibiscus syrup to get a reddish … Read Entire Post
Which wine goes better with turkey—Chardonnay or Pinot Noir? The Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association has published a handy “Thanksgiving Wine Pairing” infographic. Check it out to see which traditional Thanksgiving foods pair best with which wines—and then taste for yourself. (For a larger downloadable version of the infographic, … Read Entire Post
Once again, I’m in search of the perfect fish taco—this time on the northeastern shore of Kauai. I sampled fish tacos from a health food market in Kapaa, a Mexican restaurant in Hanalei, and a fish market in Kilauea. But, so far, the best one I’ve tried is less than … Read Entire Post
Third Street Aleworks in Sonoma County, Calif. gravitates toward Anglo-Celtic style ales and more aggressive West Coast style (yum!) ales. But the Santa Rosa brewery also brews lagers, lager-ale hybrids, and beers that don’t fit into any category. My favorite was the Zero Dark Thirsty Cascadian Dark Ale (6.7% ABV)—the darkest … Read Entire Post
During my Northern California road trip up Highway 101, I decided to trek across the Oregon border and visited the Brookings Harbor location of Wild River Brewing & Pizza Company. The real reason I made the journey was that I was having technical issues with my e-book conversion and needed a … Read Entire Post
Six Rivers Brewery in McKinleyville, Calif. calls itself “The Brew with a View.” It offers binocular-equipped window tables for gazing over the landscape toward the Pacific Ocean. A member of Humboldt Made, Six Rivers Brewery prides itself on utilizing local and organic ingredients whenever possible. My favorite beer was the Paradise Moon … Read Entire Post
It’s no secret that vampires crave tasty red liquids. West Coast style red ales are one of my all-time-favorite beverages. Night dwellers also like all things dark—like dark ales, porters and stouts. So on a recent road trip on Highway 101 from the Monterey Bay to Crescent City and back, I … Read Entire Post
