Tag Archives: chardonnay

Henri Giraud IPNC Champagne and Barrels Seminar

Posted on August 18, 2016 by waywardwine

After IPNC’s casual Saturday lunch with endless Pinot poured under Linfield College’s ancient oaks, I toddle across campus for a class. Yes, about Pinot Noir. My highlight at last year’s IPNC was trying Claud Giraud’s barrel-fermented Champagnes. By chance he came back to do: … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Champagne, chardonnay, drink, France, ipnc, Oregon, pinot noir, travel, wine | Leave a comment

Domaine Chandon Winery Review Napa Valley California

Posted on June 6, 2016 by waywardwine

Winding down our eight year anniversary trip to Napa Valley, we start our last day with bubbly for breakfast. Yesterday, Stags’ Leap stained us with their cabs (read here). So we may be a bit biased with fizz in our future.

Our rainy drive South finds Yountville and Chandon’s first vineyard: Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bubbly, California, Champagne, Chandon, chardonnay, drink, drinks, France, moet, Napa Valley, parklarkr, Pinot meunier, pinot noir, tasting, travel, wine, Winery | 2 Comments

Winery Review Mumm Napa Valley

Posted on May 16, 2016 by waywardwine

These weekly(ish) recaps of our Napa Valley, eighth anniversary, wine whirlwind tour continue to Mumm. We already enjoyed a light breakfast of Pinot Noir at Etude (read here), but actually hungry now, and already late for lunch reservations, we bomb North. Then something surprises our bleary eyes… Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged California, Champagne, chardonnay, France, grapes, mumm, Mumm Napa, Napa Valley, pinot noir, Sparkling wine, travel, wine | 4 Comments

Black Stallion Winery Napa Valley

Posted on March 29, 2016 by waywardwine

Our Napa Valley tour keeps rolling. Our morning snuck around Pine Ridge (read here). Our mid-day got blasted by Lewis Cellars’ monster wines (read here). By now, our palates feel numb. Our teeth look black. But ever the professional, high-functioning alcoholics, we head South on the Silverado Trail to Black Stallion.

Past the big metal horse, the winery campus feels vast, dry-scaped with olives and citrus, and recalls a mission. Here 32 acres served as Silverado Horseman’s Center until 2007, when it became a winery. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Black Stallion, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, chardonnay, drinks, merlot, Napa Valley, travel, Viognier, wine | 4 Comments

Tasting at Lewis Cellars Winery Napa Valley

Posted on March 24, 2016 by waywardwine

We leave the vast caves and hobbit-infested knolls of Pine Ridge (read here). Already late and marginally sober we bolt south. Stags Leap AVA flattens into the vine-plain of Oak Knoll. We blast past the winery, turn around and pull up a long drive to the innocuous, tall, grey, free standing building with a big L on it: Lewis Cellars.

Inside, white wash and windows feel like a Southern tea room. We sit with two other couples on a long table.

Lewis owns no vineyards. They started sourcing grapes in ’89 as Oakville Ranch Winery. A car crash in 1991 ended Randy Lewis’ 23 year Formula 1 and 3 career. So he turned to completely to wine. Being Napa, it did not hurt being rich. Today they make 6,000 cases, 1/3rd of which are Chardonnay… Continue reading →