Being a big fan of weekly "Date Nights" myself, I absolutely loved the story behind the Phifer Pavitt "Date Night" Cab. This is an exceptional red wine find that holds your attention and claims your palate. Lovely, ripe fruit - mainly dark cherry and juicy plum are well supported by a rugged earthiness in the form of garden herbs, a layer of mocha and wisps of smoke. The attack is engaging, the evolution is full of dense fruit and earth and the finish is strong, persistent and well played. This particular wine was founded on a "date night" and stakes its claim for inspiring many future date nights for its partakers. Phifer Pavitt presents a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon that would be a versatile addition to your own date night, or keep in mind as the holidays start rolling in for hostess or Christmas gifts. Give it a go with smoked or braised meats, your favorite cut of steak or a well seasoned pork roast.

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This year's Sonoma County grape harvest is one of the earliest harvests that the area has seen in over two decades. Warm weather has been given much of the credit for hastening the grape's delicate ripening process. Harvesting grapes to make wine is not only the first step individual grapes make towards the finished bottle, but it is also the busiest time of the year for a winery. Festivals and events focusing around the excitement of the annual grape harvest keep the tradition and anticipation in full bloom. Read more...

The 2005 Flying Fish Merlot, from Washington's Columbia Valley, is an attention getter! From the dark purple, ink-like hues to the unmistakable mocha tones - this wine was a winner right from the start. The flavor profile consists of the expected cherry and a bit of blueberry, followed by lovely, almost smokey mocha flavors and pliable tannins. A fun, budget-friendly wine to pair with steak, pizza or spaghetti with smoked sausage.

Spain's Rioja wine region has long been one of Spain's crown jewels. Is it any wonder that one of the regions oldest wineries is a shining gem itself? Introducing, Bodegas Montecillo, owned and faithfully operated by the Osborne family since 1973. This winery was established in the Rioja Alta region in 1874 and is the epitome of tradition - from housing an onsite cooperage, to using traditional Bordeaux methods to make their wines, to heavily relying on Spain's traditional red grape, Tempranillo, to make expressive wines at good price points that are versatile and extremely food friendly - Bodegas Montecillo is living its legacy. Read more...