Wine Tasting & Fine Dining

The wine industry has exploded with wine experts who share their knowledge at wine tastings, wine festivals, wine classes, wine tips, wine books. Today we have wine e-commerce, wine credenzas, wine storage options, wine refrigerators, wine magazines, wine newsletters, wine seminars, wine bars, wine tasting, wine dinners, wine careers, wine franchises, and wine tours and wine tourism. More than a decade ago, wine drinking was thought to be a snooty pursuit for the rich and wannabe-famous but now wine is accessible and affordable. Ordering a wine flight while you’re out is a great way to taste a variety of new wines. So is joining a wine club. Good wines can be consumed for less than $5 a bottle and great wines can be consumed for less than $10 a bottle. Of course, if the wallet has no rules - the sky is the limit. 

Wine regions include not only the traditional France and Italy but California, from the Temecula Valley to world-famous Napa and Somona. The movie, Sideways, put Central coastal Santa Barbara on the map along with boosting the popularity of Pinot Noir. Celebrity turnout put the Naples Florida Wine Festival on the map (all for a good cause as well.) Exciting vintages from Australia, Argentina, Spain, Chile, and parts of Oregon and Washington continue to surprise the palate. Let’s not forget California organic wine either.

Whether it’s a rare slab of steak with hearty Cabernet, or seafood pasta with sophisticated Chardonnay, or spicy poblano chicken enchiladas with a slightly sweet Gewerztraminer - pairing wines and food should be an artful journey just as sharing it with good friends is.

We’d like to share some of our memorable times and hopefully inspire you on your own journey to discover good wine and fine dining pleasures.