2004 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $21.99 www.adelsheim.com They say imitation ... a couple of weeks back when I bought this bottle of Adelsheim. You see, Adelsheim isn’t new or flashy ... . Adelsheim’s 2004 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir showed a plum red in the glass with light to medium color ... , Adelsheim Pinot Noir will appeal to the purist, and like an old Blue Note recording should provide...

Arroyo Seco is a little-known AVA outside of this area, but one that I think deserves some attention.  It sits between the Santa Lucia Highlands to the north and the San Bernabe AVA to the south, and extends west-southwest into the Arroyo Seco canyon. Most of the AVA is at about 300-400 ...

... and Escafeld .  Look for either these vineyard designations or their estate wines in the future...

  I love this kind of stuff—this is what gets me out of bed and into the winery or the vineyard...

A healthy vineyard environment is resistant to pests and disease, which protects the longevity of the vineyard, and results in the production of quality fruit, year after year. Sustainable agriculture is like exercising— it may seem like a lot of work, but the dividends in terms of health, longevity and balance are great...

This time of year vineyards look so bare and sad; their last scrap of glorious, gypsy-colored leaf blown away and trampled into the mud. Vines are chained together like prisoners, gnarled shoulders hunched like beggars against the rain.

... a little more than half the vineyard and winery's annual needs.  The investment was reasonable...

Dear wine lovers, If you are planning a visit in Europe and wish to understand better "terroir" and wines by meeting with autentic winemakers, I will be happy to organize wine tours for you. Depending on your time, budget and your special wishes, I will use my connections to set ...

You think these grapes aren't sweet?  Yellowjackets and honeybees have a feast on ripe grapes as harvest approaches (Mourvedre in this photo).  Thanks to Chandler Smiley for the picture.