Wine Sediments

Its been a big year for Cakebread Cellars. The label was recently named the number one most frequently ordered wine label in American restaurants by Wine & Spirits Magazine, and the winery just wrapped up the 20th anniversary of its 20th annual American Harvest Workshop. I was lucky enough to be invited to cover […]

While bird lovers might find the image of flocks of small winged starlings soaring above and alighting atop vineyards enchanting, this sight is a nightmare for grape growers and other fruit producers. Starlings are particularly upsetting, since they are quick and efficient when it comes to effectively decreasing crop yields with their greedy beaks.
Traditional […]

With amped-up security at airports banning any liquid carry-on items, travelers heading home from wine country may be faced with a tough decision. The natural inclination for most has been to carry wine aboard the aircraft, which is no longer an option. A McClatchy-Tribune article explain some winemakers’ fears that the new security measure […]

You don’t have to be a wine expert to enjoy a great glass of grape juice from time to time. But sometimes it’s nice to have the upper hand when it comes to wine knowledge. Lots of Wine Sediments readers are impressively informed, but for those who are more oenologically challenged (hey, you gotta start […]

As we walked out the door the other night, headed to dinner at a nice restaurant, I dropped by the wine fridge and picked out a nice bottle of wine that Id been saving for a special occasion.
My husband visibly cringed. I dont often take advantage of the fact that most restaurants where we […]

I thought of beginning this with a pun, but realized that part of the reason Riesling gets so little respect may have to do with too many wine writers giving in to that very same urge. So I resist.
I was in Santa Barbara last week, tasting wines through the Santa Ynez Valley. I think […]

Nancy Smay is a full-time freelance writer who maintains her own blog, AdLib, which offers ramblings on wine, travel and life. Smay currently lives in San Diego, though shes undergoing heavy wine therapy in preparation for an upcoming cross-country move to Maryland, a state that doesnt allow interstate wine shipping. Splitting her efforts between private […]