I love discovering new grape varieties, especially ones I have never heard of before. That moment happened recently while visiting my friend, wine educator Wes Hagen, who pulled a bottle from his cellar and poured me a glass of something entirely unfamiliar. Curious, I took a sip and was…

At a recent gathering to celebrate World Malbec Day, hosted by the Consulate General of Los Angeles at Fuegos LA, one wine immediately stood out, the Domaine Bousquet 2021 Gaia Malbec. Known for its depth and richness, Malbec can sometimes feel broad on the palate, but this expression offered…

When planning salmon for dinner, Pinot Noir is a classic pairing. But another grape that works beautifully with salmon is Pinot Meunier, a grape I enjoy every time I come across a new bottling to try. The Ancient Oak 2024 Pinot Meunier from Van der Kamp Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain was no exception,…

At a recent lunch with Umberto Cosmo and the wines of Bellenda, I found myself with a pleasant dilemma; I liked every wine. The fresh non-filtered pet-nat Con Alti, the classic Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore San Fermo, the distinctive Metodo Classico Sei Uno, and the special non-dosage Metodo…

From Festivals to Finalists — The Spring 2026 Please The Palate Newsletter Is Here!

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: (Well…Not Quite): Unified Ferments Non-Alcoholic Fermented Tea

A Dodgers-Inspired Night at Habit Burger in Echo Park Last week, just in time for the start of the Dodgers' opening season, I was invited to The Habit Burger & Grill in Echo Park for a special preview event celebrating their new partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers. As a native Angeleno, I…

When my friend came over to watch TV and catch up, we decided to order in Chinese food, and I knew exactly which wine to open. Chinese dishes often balance sweet, savory, salty, and spicy flavors, and Sauvignon Blanc is one of those wines that can handle it all - especially the Crocker & Starr 2024…

At the recent Skurnik portfolio tasting, I stopped to say hello to Martha Stoumen. A fan of her wines, which I have written about before, I noticed the Post Flirtation White. I had tasted the Post Flirtation Red and Rosé before, but had not yet tasted the white wine. With its unique blend of grape…

I first tried Giornata’s Orangotango a few years ago, and it was my introduction to the winery. Since then, I have enjoyed a number of their wines. This week, I picked up some Korean BBQ Beef for dinner and wanted a glass of wine. I didn’t want something big and bold; I didn’t want something crisp…

As I was chatting with a group of colleagues, one of them gestured behind me and suggested I try a wine. I held out my glass, took a pour, and returned to the conversation. But as soon as I brought the glass to my nose, I stopped mid-sentence. The aromatics were absolutely captivating, and that’s…

Emporium Thai Market Makes a Thai-Fecta on Sawtelle

On my way home from a two-week road trip, I stopped at a friend's house for dinner and a long "catch-up." Even after all those days on the road, I still brought a bottle of wine to share. Fresh, lively, elegant, and sparkling, it was a perfect wine for the evening, which is why the Dry Creek…

Nebbiolo Beyond Expectations: Dinner with Luca Bosio at The Hideaway

Lambrusco is one of the most underrated wines out there. Far removed from the sweet, “nice on ice” styles of the ’70s and ’80s, Lambrusco is vibrant, food-friendly, and incredibly versatile, like the Saint Enzo’s 2024 Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

Some days, I do not want to contemplate what I am going to drink. I just want to enjoy a wine without too much thought. With the words "less fuss, more fun" on the label, the Unsanctioned 2024 Pinot Gris from Oregon caught my eye, and I knew that it was perfect for my mood. Crisp, refreshing, and…

Sometimes a wine grabs your attention before you even take a sip. That was the case with the Copain Daybreak Red Wine. It sat on my table and the translucent purple color reflected in the light. I was intrigued. And I was not disappointed when I opened it. Vibrant and compelling, the Copain 2024…

For years, Petit Verdot has played a supporting role, adding color, structure, and depth behind the scenes, rarely taking center stage. But with the creation of International Petit Verdot Day, this often-overlooked grape is finally getting its moment. Celebrated at the end of January, this new wine…

When my friend served a savory mushroom tart at dinner a few weeks ago, I enjoyed it so much that I asked for the recipe. I finally tried making it at home, and to my delight, it worked. That small success felt worth celebrating, so I opened a bottle of sparkling wine. As it turned out, the Josetta…

When it comes to weeknight dinners at home, I often reach for Pinot Noir. It is one of the most reliable food-pairing grapes - versatile, expressive, and rarely overpowering. The challenge, of course, is finding a bottle that delivers both quality and value. Ex Post Facto 2024 Pinot Noir checks…

I will start with a confession: I had not tasted wines from the Red Hills Lake County AVA. And to add another confession, Cabernet Sauvignon is not the grape variety where my palate usually goes first. I tend to gravitate toward wines with lift, energy, and nuance, not power for power’s sake. So I…

When my friends invited me over for dinner, I offered to bring wine. So, I had to ask what was being prepared. Although I didn't receive the full descriptions, I heard the words "mushrooms" and "meatballs". I didn't know what the dishes would be, but I thought I knew which wine would pair well. It…

✨🍷Happy New Year! Welcome to 2026 with the Please The Palate January 2026 Newsletter 🍷✨

New Year’s Eve calls for a wine that reflects both celebration and intention, something timeless, precise, and quietly confident. Laurent-Perrier Héritage fits that moment perfectly. Crafted entirely from reserve wines and rooted in more than two centuries of savoir-faire, it is a Champagne that…

At first glance, this wine tells one story. It is a vibrant purple in the glass, with color and sediment clinging stubbornly to the cork. But the first sip tells another. Dark and brooding on the nose, yet surprisingly light, lifted, and endlessly drinkable on the palate. From the first taste to…

By the second day of blind tasting, I had found a rhythm to tasting the wines. Five wines at a time were poured. We knew the vintage and the region. I tried not to pay attention to anything other than what was in the glass. I swirled the wine. I smelled the wine and wrote down what I smelled. I…

Blind tasting at Nebbiolo Prima was a different experience. It was not a single flight or a short judging session. Over several days, I would taste nearly 160 Nebbiolos blind, spanning nine appellations, four DOCGs and five DOCs, from a region that includes more than 500 producers, 10,000 hectares…

I love discovering new grape varieties, and Italy, especially Piemonte, never stops delivering. I consider myself familiar with many of the region’s indigenous grapes, including Freisa, Ruchè, Nascetta, and Grignolino. But Slarina? That was a completely new one for me. So when I spotted it on the…

Vinomio opened three summers ago, in 2023, and it instantly became my favorite place to go. Whenever I am in Vercelli, I make my way there, sometimes with friends, sometimes alone, but almost every day of my visit. Aperitivo turns into a glass, which turns into another story, another discovery. For…

Moscato is usually synonymous with sweet, which is why I was so surprised when I tasted Forteto della Luja’s Pasucrà. It is a wine that defies the typical expectation of Moscato sweetness and is unique and unexpected. Completely dry, with no residual sugar, it was utterly delicious. That is why the…

With Cabernet Franc Day approaching on December 4th, this week’s choice is a celebration of one of California’s most distinctive red grapes. The Covenant 2023 Landsman Cabernet Franc from Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, delivers exotic aromas, ripe red fruit, and a subtle toastiness. It is a wine that is…

Bellenda: Prosecco, Reimagined. Bellenda doesn’t just make Prosecco. They show us what Prosecco can be.

When Tyler Eck, owner of Dunites Wine Co., told me about the most memorable wine he had ever tasted, he recalled a Rhône wine he once shared with his father over dinner. What stayed with him was how the wine evolved and how each sip seemed to offer something new. I thought about this as I tasted…

What do you think of when you hear "Moscato d’Asti"? Sweet? Simple? Low alcohol? Not Your Thing? Well, you may think you already know it but after a week in Piemonte, I was reminded that most stereotypes barely scratch the surface of what this wine actually is. pleasethepalate.com/moscato-dast...

Family, heritage, and bold flavors come together in the BoaVentura de Caires Winery 2020 Venture Red Wine, an Iberian-inspired blend from Livermore Valley, California. Named after Brett and Monique Caires’ son, Venture, who carries forward the legacy of the family’s wine-loving patriarch, this…

Beneath the Forest Floor: White Truffle Hunting in Piemonte and Umbria

Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a beautifully crafted rosé. The Barton & Guestier Côtes de Provence “Tourmaline” 2024, the Please The Palate wine of the week, combines tradition, artistry, and Mediterranean spirit in a bottle. Limited-edition and collectible, this rosé…

Brughelli Wines: Precision and Patience in Santa Maria Valley

Deep, bold, and layered, the Peltier Schatz Family 2018 Teroldego is a standout expression of a variety rarely seen outside Northern Italy. Sourced from two estate vineyards in Lodi’s heart and Clements Hills sub-AVA, this wine beautifully marries dark fruit, spice, and velvety oak, making the…

Three Expressions of Ribolla Gialla from Tenuta Stella - Same grape, three very different personalities!

Exploring Wine on the North Side of Etna: Eleven Wineries to Check Out!

Growing up in the CA Central Valley, brothers John & Jeff Perlegos inherited a sense of pride from their Greek parents. They farm vineyards & make wine incorporating the Med culture. Meet John and Jeff & get to know them in 30?s on the Wine Soundtrack podcast. www.winesoundtrack.com/us/wineries/...

French Colombard is a white grape you do not often see on a wine label. It is more commonly used in blends or brandy production and rarely gets the spotlight. But in the right hands, such as with Patrick Cappiello of Monte Rio Cellars, Colombard can shine. Bright, fresh, and full of character, the…

Peltier Winery & Vineyards is a 4th-generation farming family The winery was established in 2001 by 3rd-generation farmer Rodney Schatz and his wife Gayla in Lodi. Meet Rodney & his daughter Faryn & get to know them in 30?s on the Wine Soundtrack USA podcast. www.winesoundtrack.com/us/wineries/...

Ruché, pronounced Roo-kay, is a nearly-lost red grape from Piemonte, Italy that was rescued in the late 20th century when a local priest revived his church’s old Ruché vines and began crafting a dry wine. Even today, production remains small in Italy. So to find a Ruché grown and made in the United…

It was an honor to be interviewed and profiled by Voyage LA. voyagela.com/interview/li...

Founded in 1986, Cambria is a women-owned & led producer of 100% certified sustainable, estate-grown Chard & Pinot in the Santa Maria Valley AVA. Winemaker Jill Russell leads a 20-year vineyard & cellar team. Meet Jill in 30?s on Wine Soundtrack USA podcast. www.winesoundtrack.com/us/wineries/...

Shared Notes: From Wine to Coffee - and remember: “Coffee in the morning, wine in the evening. Don’t mix them up.”

I was immediately captivated by the nose of the Lambrusco with its aromatic rush of dark fruit, violets, and spice. Fittingly named Inciostar, meaning “ink” in local dialect, this wine is not like the Lambrusco that I have had from Emilia-Romagna. This Lambrusco is from Lombardy, in the province of…

Attending the annual Etna Days was both thrilling and daunting. On the first day, I walked into a room filled with more than 500 wines from 110 producers spread across every slope of Mount Etna. Where would I even begin? I set my focus on Carricante from Milo on Etna’s Eastern Slope.