2009 – Page 4 – Ward Kadel

5 Questions with Jake Lorenzo

July 19, 2009July 19, 2009Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNo3 Comments

I solved a wine mystery recently, one that had been bothering me for years. Around the time that The Lady and I bought our home in the Bay Area, I was allowed able to buy a decent wine fridge, my Danby 75/100 bottle. Just as I was headed out the door from Wine Hardware with my affordable new wine storage, I spotted an interesting book on their shelves entitled, Cold Surveillance. It was interesting not that it was a set of wine memoir columns (right up my alley), but that it was written by a Wine Country private eye...¿que? I turned back to the counter and added the book to day's purchases!

Santa Lucia Highlands "Highlands' Fling!"

July 10, 2009July 10, 2009Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNo

A few weeks back, I was treated to an enlightening appellation-specific tasting of Santa Lucia Highlands wines courtesy of the host, Hahn Family Wines. Santa Lucia Highlands sit on the southeast facing slopes of the Santa Lucia mountain range, on one side of the plentiful Salinas Valley. I made the somewhat significant trek down there with my trusty vinopanions, the Brix Chicks' Liza (Twitter) and Xandria (Twitter). I hadn't been down in the area since I was but a wee lad, noshing with me folks, so it was a treat to see the Valley again. It was in all of its late Spring splendor and we enjoyed taking in the bountiful scents of the fruits and vegetables growing near the highway.

ACME Atelier Tasting: An Assembly of All-Stars

June 24, 2009June 24, 2009Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNo

A little while back I was given the chance to attend a very special gathering of established winemaker luminaries and taste a whole slew of outstanding wines, courtesy of a very gracious invite by Monica Collins of All Access Napa Valley. I've never seen such a lineup of All-Star winemakers, nor the chance to have such access to speak with those that make or have made famous wines such as Kamen, Screaming Eagle, Scarecrow, The Prisoner, Rocca Family and L'Angevin. The event was held at the innovative ACME Fine Wines in St. Helena. Ever since opening their doors in April of '03, co-owners and organizers of this event Karen Williams and David Stevens have consistently reinvented the wine retail, storage and event industries. Their efforts have been noticed by numerous newspapers and wine writers.

A Toast to Pops

June 20, 2009June 20, 2009Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNo

It takes a lot to make us who we are. Genetics, environments and most importantly, people help shape the person that we become as we continue to get older. I have been blessed with a number of good, warm people that have surrounded me as I stumble through this life. Friends, family and on this particular day, Fathers, have been a major positive influence on whom I'd like to be whenever I finally grow up.

5 Questions with Lisa Rigisich of Pinot Days SF

June 17, 2009June 17, 2009Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNo

Another exciting wine festival is coming to Fort Mason this month and I'm very excited to have to have the opportunity to get the inside scoop from the festival Director. Pinot Days San Francisco crushes SF with five days of great, varietally-correct Pinot Noir festivities, starting on June 24th. Lisa Rigisich, together with husband Steve and partners Eric and Teri White are bringing over 200 Pinot Noir producer and vendors of the delicate grape to Fort Mason in San Francisco on Sunday June 28th for the finale Grand Festival Public Tasting, where I will be delighted with the outstanding array of tasty Pinot available to taste!