Wineries – Page 15 – Ward Kadel

JJ Buckley's Tuesday Night Bordeaux at La Folie

December 19, 2009December 19, 2009Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNoOne Comment

I attended a most enlightening Bordeaux tasting a couple weeks back, courtesy of JJ Buckley Fine Wines, an outstanding online purveyor of wine based out of the SF Bay Area. The event was held at the well known French restaurant La Folie, which also provided the nibbles that were served alongside the wines that night. Tuesday Night Bordeaux aimed to prove to its lucky attendees that good to outstanding quality wine can be had in Bordeaux at affordable prices. All of the wines were $35 and under, with most falling into the $25 and under range.

Espiritu de Argentina Winemaker Dinner @ Destino SF

November 27, 2009November 27, 2009Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNo3 Comments

One recent bright evening in San Francisco, The Lady and I had the opportunity to head below the border, as in below the Equator…to Argentina! A new wine label is set to drop on our half of the Earth called Espiritu de Argentina. Combining the efforts of the US-based Cecchetti Racke, Espiritu de Chile and Argentine winery Bodega Monte Real, it will feature a full line of affordable and Argentine wines. Lady and I met in front of the resto Destino, where we would have the lucky opportunity of getting a sneak peak at these quaffable wines paired with a one-time 7 course small plates meal, all courtesy of Balzac Communications.

Beaulieu Vineyard 2006 Georges de Latour Release Party

October 17, 2009October 17, 2009Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNo5 Comments

Sometimes life just nicely comes together. Sitting down at the end of the 2009 North American Wine Bloggers Conference in the sunny courtyard of Dry Creek Vineyard, I happened to sit across from one Jill Dever (Twitter). She being the Visitor Center Coordinator at Beaulieu Vineyard and the newly minted social media queen of all that is BV. We got to chatting and she mentioned that BV was really looking to expand its presence in social media, particularly with wine bloggers. A card swap, a few introductions and a new wine journey had begun!

Rubissow Blogger Day on Mount Veeder

October 8, 2009October 8, 2009Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNo7 Comments

Any vinopanion of mine can tell you that I love wines made from mountain fruit. Give me those highly structured, dark and angry-fruited wines any day of the week! They also might be able to tell you that I grew up in Napa Valley and so I have tasted quite a few wines from its many appellations. What they may not be able to tell you is that I grew up at the base of one of my top two favorite wine regions of the world...Mount Veeder. One morning in late August, I had the lucky opportunity to take part in an intimate escape to one of the few Mt. Veeder wineries that I had yet to visit, the craftsman Estate of Rubissow Wines.

Bloggers Forum 2.2: Hahn Bloggers Block Vine Planting

August 28, 2009August 28, 2009Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNo

A few months ago I attended what is currently the most innovative wine event of which I've been lucky to be a part. Hahn Family Wines invited a group of bloggers and social media wonks down to their stunning Estate in the Santa Lucia Highlands for a day of tasting, touring and most of all...planting. Yes, I am now the proud father of one+ Pinot Noir vitis vinifera grape vine in the SLH appellation, replete with distinguishing placard!