Ron Rubin Wines Late in 2011, in fulfillment of a 40-year dream that began in his student days at UC Davis studying viticulture and enology in the early 1970’s, he purchased River Road Family Vineyards and Winery. Rubin was sold on the area, in th...
2019 Scaia Garganega / Chardonnay ($14) The Scaia project was launched by Tenauta Sant’Antonio in 2006 with the aim of creating wines with a modern style outside the restrictions by Italy’s denomination system. In Veneto dialect, the word “scaia” ...
2018 Tempest Bay Chardonnay ($7.99) The Carneros AVA in California includes an eastern half in Napa and a western half in Sonoma. It’s known for producing high-quality wines, especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. And that’s why this wine caught my...
2018 Pfendler Vineyards Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($45) This 100% Chardonnay comes from Pfendler Vineyards which is located in the hillsides of Sonoma Mountain in the Sonoma Coast region. The Petaluma Gap is sub-region of the Sonoma Coast that has ...
2017 Hess ‘Lion Head Collection’ Panthera Chardonnay ($45) Here’s a returning star to Behind the Cork™. This 100% Panthera Chardonnay, from the Russian River Valley, is part of the Hess ‘Lion Head Collection’ of wines. According to the notes, “...
2018 Left Coast Truffle Hill Chardonnay ($24) This Chardonnay is from Oregon’s Left Coast “Truffle Hill” vineyard that contains four acres of European Black Truffle-inoculated hazelnut trees, shrub roses and holly oaks. This 100% Chardonnay is f...
2017 Phantom Chardonnay by Bogle ($20) Here’s a “scary” one from Bogle that is very appropriate as we approach Halloween. This Phantom Chardonnay is inspired by a ghostly figure that wanders the Bogle cellars at night. And, there are also some par...
Viognier (Vee-own-Yay) is a wine that has taken an extreme backseat in the past to Chardonnay, yet shares a lot of similarities. This grape is originally from the Northern Rhône region of France. And, while France still grows approximately one-thi...
2017 Duckhorn Napa Valley Chardonnay ($19) Here’s another ‘big name’ Chardonnay that’s worth checking out. Dan and Margaret Duckhorn founded Duckhorn Vineyards in Napa Valley in 1976, which was one of the first 40 Napa Valley wineries. Keenly foc...
2016 Sonoma-Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($19) This Sonoma-Cutrer is one that is easy to pass-by on the wine aisle. It’s from a big producer and it’s widely availability. But, this is a solid wine. Which makes it perfect for a Behind the Cork™ f...
2016 Panthera Russian River Valley Chardonnay from The Hess Collection ($45) This 100% Chardonnay comes from The Hess Collection of wines from the Russian River Valley. Hess Family wines was founded by Donald Hess in 1978. Today, Tim Persson (Don...
2017 Left Coast Truffle Hill Chardonnay ($24) This Chardonnay is from Oregon’s Left Coast “Truffle Hill” vineyard that contains four acres of European Black Truffle-inoculated hazelnut trees, shrub roses and holly oaks. This 100% Chardonnay is f...
Champagne is probably the best known wine in the world. And, there’s a lot to know it about this wine. Here are some fun-facts about Champagne: Champagne is not made from Champagne grapes Champagne is typically produced from three grapes — Pinot ...
During a recent stroll through the produce aisle of my favorite grocery store, I saw a display labeled “Champagne Grapes.” They are beautiful bunches of small red-ish grapes. And, they look really good. But, the first thing that came to my mind was ...
On a trip to wine country earlier this year, I picked up several bottles of wine. Included in my wines was a Reserve Chardonnay that I had gotten in Alexander Valley. In the tasting room it was excellent. After purchasing the wines, I was very care...
2016 Daou Chardonnay Paso Robles ($13) I was well aware of the excellent red wines being produced by Daou in Paso Robles, but was extremely surprised by their Chardonnay. This wine seems to fall somewhere in between a bright, crisp, fruity Chardon...
2015 Hess Select Monterey County Chardonnay ($9) Several wines from the Hess Collection of wines have been featured in my reviews, and this Chardonnay from Monterey County shows the consistency of their wines. With just a bit of a chill on this o...
2016 J. Lohr Arroyo Seco Monterey Chardonnay ($10) I recently visited J. Lohr in Paso Robles and gained a whole new appreciation for their wines and the man behind them all, Jerry Lohr. This 100% Chardonnay from J. Lohr exhibits aromas of peaches...
2015 The Hess Collection Napa Valley Estate Chardonnay ($22)  This week’s feature is The Hess Collection’s 2015 Napa Valley Chardonnay. This wonderful 100% Chardonnay features flavors of appl...
2012 Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Sonoma Chardonnay ($15) This is an “Estate” wine meaning that Rodney Strong grew the grapes, crushed them, fermented, aged and bottle the wine. This Chardonnay has the nice fruit flavors of golden delicious apple and ...
There was a time when ordering a glass of Chablis meant that you wanted a glass of white wine. No specific wine, just a white wine. But there is so much more to Chablis than just a white wine. Chablis is a region located in the northwest corner of t...