Explaining in writing how our wines age can be difficult to comprehend. Actually tasting the differences between vintages gives you a chance to see the aging process in action. That is why we often have vertical tastings, both at the winery for education purposes and at home with family and friends. Inspired by my internship in France, I aim to replicate their style of winemaking by making wines that both age well and pair well with food. Enjoying a vertical tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect way to experience this. Here I share five tips on how to host your own Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical Tasting.

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At the start of September, I moved to Bordeaux to study Vineyard and Winery Management through Bordeaux Science Agro’s Master of Business and Science program. One of the things that I was most excited about my move, in addition to the copious amounts of cheese I was going to eat, was the family of interns that I would get to see. Since 1985, Hafner Vineyard has had a French intern from a university in Toulouse to help with harvest. The young man lives with my parents (and me when I was younger!) and usually is between 19 and 21 years old. Growing up, our interns were always big brothers to me. Soon after arriving in Bordeaux, I started meeting up with them, and so far, I’ve checked seven off the list. 

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Thanksgiving is full of meal planning – roasting the turkey, baking pies, making the stuffing, assembling salads. And the list goes on. Often the “wine planning” can be pushed to the back burner, which means there’s a bit of a scramble as the arrival of guests loom. Choosing wine for Thanksgiving can be challenging, so wanted to share some ideas. Whether you serve Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon or even Rosé, the most important part is to enjoy the meal with friends and family.

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For me, personalized and handmade gift tags enhance the wrapping and make the gifts more enticing. We thought it would be fun to share one of my gift tag templates that you can print and use this Holiday Season and throughout the year. They are great for any gift and wine too. These are some of my favorite watercolors. Enjoy!

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For many years, the front door of Mary and Dick’s Berkeley home has graced the cover of our Holiday gift offering. When Scott suggested that I update the cover by creating a new illustration, the subject of gathering around the table for Christmas dinner came to mind. Dinner with family and friends is always a highlight to our Holiday Season. 

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