Georgia-born winemaker Suzanne Phifer Pavitt explained that she won’t tolerate bad food or bad wine, as my husband Chris Prawdzik and I sipped her excellent Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc over lunch at D.C.’s District Line. Growing up Baptist in rural Georgia, she appreciated the high quality of locally grown food from a young age. But…
California
Heritance Wine: A Reflection of Family, Tradition, and Flavor Around the Globe
Three numbers—1-9-4—appearing on every Heritance wine label describe its heritage, explained winemaker Bernard Portet to wine writers over dinner at Corduroy in D.C. last Thursday. It marks the efforts of one family’s nine generations of winemaking, which now extends to four continents—Europe, North America, South America, and Australia. Born in the same room as his…
Cupcake Vineyards’ Generous Portfolio
What does it mean to call a wine “generous” or “giving?” Ask Cupcake Vineyards’ winemaker Adam Richardson, who uses those words to describe his growing portfolio of wines. According to Richardson, Cupcake wines all share a similar appeal: a balanced style that makes it easy for new wine drinkers to transition from one Cupcake wine…
A Climber to Appreciate: Napa Valley Red Wine
“The Climber,” vintage 2010, is an easy-drinking relatively light red wine with delicate flavors of red fruit, particularly bright red cherry along with a touch of tannic grip. Its eye-catching label alone may be enough for many to try this wine. It bears a black silhouette that cuts through the label, which upon close examination…
Cline Cellars’ Reliably Delicious Wines
Ask me what wineries produce portfolios that are all reliably terrific and Cline Cellars immediately comes to mind. Cline Cellars was founded by Fred Cline, grandson of Valeriano Jacuzzi, inventor of the Jacuzzi tub (Cline also owns Jacuzzi Vineyards). Cline cellars cultivates some grapes from vines from what was once his grandfather’s vineyard in Oakley–located…
