Author Archives: thewineraconteur

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About thewineraconteur

A non-technical wine writer, who enjoys the moment with the wine, as much as the wine. Twitter.com/WineRaconteur Instagram/thewineraconteur Facebook/ The Wine Raconteur

“He Looks Like a Burned Out Old Hippy”

Posted on June 14, 2012 by thewineraconteur

That was a statement I heard from a lady talking to her companion after meeting the gregarious Jim Prager of Prager Winery and Port Works.  We entered a very quaint tasting room and retail shop, and everybody’s whispers could be … Continue reading →

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Domaine Chandon

Posted on June 13, 2012 by thewineraconteur

  The first French owned winery in California is by Moet & Chandon, called Domaine Chandon.  A beautiful designed winery that blends into the hillside and the environment.  I wish that I could show you the pictures that we took, … Continue reading →

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St. Supery

Posted on June 12, 2012 by thewineraconteur

I remember trying a St. Supery Cabernet Sauvignon in a restaurant on a business trip to Chicago and thought it was a great value.  When I got home, I had no luck finding any of the wines.  So when we … Continue reading →

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The Hess Collection and a Flaming Underwood Typewriter

Posted on June 11, 2012 by thewineraconteur

Since we were staying in the City of Napa, one of the first wineries we visited was about ten miles away on Mount Veeder.  I had never tasted any of their wines as I had never encountered them back home, … Continue reading →

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Bouchon

Posted on June 10, 2012 by thewineraconteur

In France it means a cork, in Yountville, Napa Valley it is the name of Thomas Keller’s bistro.  Thomas Keller is a name that is respected by gourmets and “foodies’ alike.  Thomas Keller has The French Laundry in Yountville, but … Continue reading →

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Mumm(s) The Word

Posted on June 9, 2012 by thewineraconteur

OK, I couldn’t resist sounding a bit like a Damon Runyon character, on the day we made a trip to Mumm Napa Valley.  We stopped by, just in time to take a tour of the winery; they have several tours … Continue reading →

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Pampering, Wine and Shopping

Posted on June 8, 2012 by thewineraconteur

One of the first things we did in Napa was to take a drive to the north end of the valley to Calistoga.  We were going to a spa.  I had never been to a spa before, and had never … Continue reading →

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Plumpjack

Posted on June 7, 2012 by thewineraconteur

Queen Elizabeth dubbed Sir John Falstaff from Shakespeare’s “Henry IV” and the owners of a restaurant in San Francisco in the Fillmore district liked it and used it.  When we were at Caymus Winery, there was another group that was … Continue reading →

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Chanterelle – Voted Napa Valley’s Most Romantic Restaurant

Posted on June 6, 2012 by thewineraconteur

With a tag-line like that, we knew that we had to try this restaurant.  This series on Napa Valley will be interspersed with visits to restaurants, as this is part of the allure of Napa.  Quality food is integral to … Continue reading →

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Caymus and Conundrum

Posted on June 6, 2012 by thewineraconteur

A conundrum is an enigma, a puzzle, a mystery or a riddle.  Conundrum on the label humbly states that it is a California White Table Wine.  The Wagner family has a proprietary blend that makes this wine, much more than … Continue reading →

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