If the history of wine could be made into a movie western, David Ramey would be the maverick of the American West.   “I’m a winemaker. It’s all I’ve ever done as a grownup.” says David Ramey in his signature off-handed way as we sit down to discuss his revered winery of 20 years, Ramey Wine Cellars. And sitting before us, a... Read more →

“We’re making honest wines,” says David Ramey as we start to taste through the current and future releases of Ramey Wine Cellars and, newly under the winery’s umbrella, Sidebar Cellars. It’s a statement best left open to interpretation and the imagination. But, by the time we near the end of the tasting it’s very clear to us what... Read more →

Welcome to the house of Boulay — these are some of the greatest white wines in the world.   Dry white wines would not be the first choice among wine consumers in the U.S. We have a sweet tooth, so Moscato and Riesling fit the bill. We like things big like our SUVs, so a jammy Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel-based red blend... Read more →

We see troubling signs ahead. One expects to pay a premium for wines from the Napa Valley, which no one can argue is the premier wine growing region in all of America. However, it’s getting harder for us to recommend wines without any reservation after we look at how much they cost. Sonoma Valley has the perception of being Napa’s more... Read more →

Israel can lay claim, as evidence suggests, to be the first major winemaking region in history. The oldest wine cellar on record dates back to 1700 BC, discovered in the town of Nahariya in Northern Israel. We generally credit the 6th century Roman Catholic Benedictine Monks for giving birth to the modern wine world, but the earliest wine... Read more →