If you’re looking for a great outing in the Bay Area wine country, consider the Wine and Food Affair in Northern Sonoma County on November 7th and 8th. Similar to other such “wine road” or “passport” events, participants purchase a ticket that provides them a glass and entrance to multiple wineries on a given route. In this case, you select one of the over 100 participating wineries to start your day’s journey which appears to avoid overcrowding at any one place. In addition to the wine tasting at each winery, one thing that looks great about this is that each location will […]
Snob Free Photo Contest: Get Holiday Gifts and Great Wine!
WIN YOUR SNOB FREE HOLIDAY STOCKING STUFFERS EARLY! Our readers are in widespread agreement; they love reading Snob Free Wine Tasting Companion (Napa & Sonoma Edition) AND it’s a great gift item. We’re giving away 3 complimentary books (over $60.00 in value) and a bottle of great Napa or Sonoma wine (if you are 21 or over and in the U.S. in a state that allows shipping wine) to one lucky Snob Free photo contest winner. Here’s how to play: 1. Post a photo of yourself on THE SNOB FREE WINE TASTING FACEBOOK PAGE showing your Snob Free Wine Tasting Companion book […]
It’s Harvest: Grape Stompin’ & More!
Somehow we’ve all grown up with images in our heads of the ancients stomping grapes to produce wine. Well, now you too can have the pleasure. According to USA Today, it’s not just us wild and crazy Californians who indulge in this; it appears that folks across the U.S. crave the feel of grapes between their toes. From Northern California’s wine country to SoCal’s Santa Barbara, north to Oregon and Washington and east to New York, Virginia and North Carolina, harvest festivals are in full swing including some that feature grape stomping contests. And by the way, we’re celebrating our own harvest season. No, […]
Snob Free Book at Robert Mondavi Winery
Last week was a exciting time for Snob Free Press: Constellation Brands, which owns Robert Mondavi Winery purchased books for many of its locations! While you have likely heard of the iconic Mondavi brand you may not know that Robert Mondavi is considered the visionary behind a shift in Napa Valley to world-class wine making in the last half of the twentieth century. His wife Margrit, also an inspiring leader, was recently honored for her contribuiton to the arts in the area. How Mondavi Got his Start Emigrating from Italy, Robert’s family settled in Minnesota, where Robert was born. The family later […]
Now that our last kid is off to college we’re catching up on a couple of decades of media consumption. You know, gorging on episodes of series that were popular five or more years ago. Lately we’ve been really appreciating both historical fiction and non-fiction and in that context found our way to Ken Burns’ three episode series, Prohibition, (easy access on Netflix), an apt pursuit given our Snob Free Wine Tasting Companion book. What an eye-opener! While much of our prior reading about Prohibition revolved around the impact on wine-makers and the corresponding upsurge in crime, bootlegging and black market […]
Coming Soon: Snob Free Wine Tasting E-Books!
We’re excited to share that we’ve completed the work to convert our book for Kindle, Nook and all Apple readers. Onward to uploading them online so you can have the pleasure of reading on your digital device while sitting at the beach, drinking ice tea at your favorite cafe, picnicking in the park or dare we say…sipping wine at home or out and about at a winery. We’ll keep you posted as they come online!
The wine spritzer, seemingly cast aside as “less than” for many years has made a comeback. An amusing excerpt from a July 2014 post on VinePair illustrates: Contrary to popular belief, the wine spritzer was not invented for the sole purpose of being slurped down by extras on the show Dallas, the guests at your grandmother’s weekly mahjong game and ladies who lunch everywhere. In fact, the spritzer is in vogue once again, currently making a comeback on hipster rooftops, garden parties across the nation and even Shark Tank, where a new product, Bon Affair, was recently funded. And there’s […]
Wine Pairing on the Fourth of July
We have much to celebrate in the U.S. While a host of problems are still in the foreground, it’s time to laud the accomplishments resulting from years of hard work by activists and leaders who have devoted themselves to positive change. Raise a glass this weekend to those who have fought the fight for marraige equality. While you’re toasting, pair a complimentary wine with whatever you may be throwing on the grill. Try these popular red wines with barbecued meats: Grenache Merlot Sangiovese Nebbiolo Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah/Shiraz Malbec Enjoy!
Book Signing April 26th: Sonoma Dry Creek Valley Event
If you want to taste a variety of wines and check out different wineries don’t miss the opportunity coming up at the end of April. On April 25 and 26, Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma welcomes “Passport Guests” to 45+ wineries throughout Dry Creek Valley, each offering a unique pairing of premium wine, gourmet food and entertainment. The best entertainment of course will be Andy’s book signing at the Pedroncelli Winery, Sunday, April 26th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Stop by and say “hi”. Pedroncelli is a beautiful place! The Passport to Dry Creek Valley event will have plenty of other […]
One of the many memories I have of childhood Passover was graduating from grape juice to wine at the Seder. And I don’t recall that it was much of a jolt from a taste standpoint. Manischewitz, which tasted pretty much like grape juice, was the wine of choice at the host’s home that I went to, year after year. Later, Carmel wine came onto the scene. While the 50’s and 60’s left little choice for the person shopping for kosher wine for Passover, the world of kosher wine has since transformed. Not only are there countless kosher wines produced in […]
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