Although I have sipped wine for many years, I really didn't discover "fine wine" until 1991 when I attended a July 4th barbecue at Ridge Vineyards in Santa Cruz Mountains. My collection is now well over 50 cases, mostly red varietals.

My collection includes wine from Napa Valley, Sonoma Dry Creek, Alexander Valley, Anderson Valley, El Dorado Hills, Paso Robles, Lodi, and Santa Cruz Mountains appellations. I have explored other California appellations in Monterey, Cambria, and Santa Barbara, as well as places like Long Island, NY. My visits abroad have taken me to Bordeaux, Côte-du-Rhone, and Champagne regions of France. Eventually, I will visit the appellations in Oregon, Washington, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.

I have been working weekends at V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, California in Napa Valley sine March 2000 to learn more about wine-making and to meet people in the industry. As of Aril 2007, I will be working part-time at Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, California. Feel free to browse their web site at www.castellodiamorosa.com to check out this winery in the Diamond Mountain District in Napa Valley. Our neighbors include Schramsberg, Diamond Creek, and Von Strasser wineries, all known for super premium wines.

Some of my favorite wineries include: August Briggs, A. Rafanelli, Brutocao, Chappellet, Chimney Rock, Clos Pegase, Claudia Springs, Chimney Rock, Cuvaison, Elyse, Flora Springs, Frank Family, Franciscan Estates, Greenwoood Ridge, Groth, Husch, Maple Creek, Markham, Merryvale, Navarro, Pine Ridge, Prager, Ridge, Ravenswood, Rombauer, Rosenblum, Seghesio, Stonestreet, St. Francis, Turley, V.Sattui, and of course, Castello di Amarosa. There are so many good wineries. I just hope I can visit them all.

I will update this section from time to time. Be sure to read my comments (below) in The Zin Line on events and wines I discover and recommend. Feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss our mutual interests.

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March 25, 2007 Alameda, CA - I stopped by Rosenblum Cellars in Alameda, California with my good friend, Jennifer of Clos Pegase Winery. We decided to check out their Zins since we had not been their in about four months. Damn! They were sold out of their 2004 Rockpile Zinfandel. However, they made up for this with their 2004 Lyon's Reserve Zinfandel, 2005 Monte Rosso Reserve Sonoma, and the best of the best, 2004 St. Peters Church Vineyard Reserve Sonoma, which took the Triple Gold Medal! Rockpile is deep dark fruit of an Old Vine, with lots of texture and body. Lyon's Reserve is well balanced, moderately jammy. Monte Rosso, albeit young, is very berry up front and with a little aging, will be much more balanced and stunning. St. Peters is one of the biggest and best Zins I have yet to taste. At $55, it rivals the solid premium Cabernets for complexity, deep fruits, along with a deliciously "dusty" finish.

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