Earlier this year (2025), I was once again fortunate enough to be asked to judge the annual Colorado Governor’s Cup wine competition, part of a group of industry veterans who evaluated over 250 wine submissions from 40+ Colorado wineries. This year, we were also treated to entries from 8 Idaho wineries, 1 Arizona winery, and…
Category: on the road
“The World’s Oldest Startup” (Catching Up With Livermore Valley’s Wente Family)
At this point, I think that I’ve met most of the 5th generation of the Wente family (including jamming with Winegrower & Chief Land and Supply Officer Karl Wente at his then unfinished house several years ago, which is just the kind of thing that happens to people like me on wine travels, I guess)….
“We’re Cooler Than You Think” (Livermore Valley 2025 Tasting Report @ Cristaldi & Co.)
I’m excited to share something that I’ve been working on over the past several weeks (months?), which is one of the first available tasting reports at Cristaldi & Co. Spearheaded by my longtime friend, biz partner, and super-cool Decanter writer buddy Jonathan Cristaldi, this tasting report covers 9 Livermore Valley wineries and 160+ of their…
Uncorking Livermore Valley’s Best (Uncorked! 2025 Wine Competition Winners)
I feel as though I have a long history with a crap-ton of wine regions at this point… because, well, I do. Livermore Valley is one such region, and I was thrilled to get back there on a media jaunt late in 2024 after several years of being away. I can now top that off…