Why Getting Old Isn't That Bad
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For the love of age and beauty

Why Getting Old Isn't That Bad There aren't many things in life that get better with age.  Cars lose thousands in value once they drive off the lot.  Houses get...

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Not always black and white
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Not always black and white

Blanc Follows on the Heels of Noir The sheer number of wine grape varietals must be overwhelming for most wine drinkers to contemplate.  Even an experienced winemaker can be stumped...

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High praise for the fickle grapes

Introducing California's First Pinot Alternative Grenache is a very interesting and challenging grape.  A wine made from 100% Grenache can have the weight of a Pinot Noir: a medium to light...

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More skin in the game

Why Smaller Can Sometimes Be Better The quality of a wine is not always dictated by the sweetness of the juice.  Many winemakers make decisions on when to pick by...

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Comin’ in cool

Lumen Crush is On! The first fruit of the season came roiling into the winery on August 19, when we picked Chardonnay Wente Clone 15 from Sierra Madre Vineyard in...

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What Lane’s boot tell us

SMV is Ripe on the Vine When Lane puts on her magic yellow boot, we know it's almost time for harvest.  Lane has donned this fine piece of footwear ever...

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Is Wine Alive? – The Debate Over Ripeness

The first glass of wine that I liked was a White Zinfandel.  As hard as that is to admit, many people come to love this beverage (and yes, it is...

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The Metamorphosis of Pinot

One of my father's favorite sayings is that most wines are consumed on the way home from the liquor store.  He is saying that tongue-in-cheek, of course, but says it...

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What Makes Lumen So Cool?

Cool Climate Wines Make for Better Companions   The above shot was taken in September at the Eastern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley, while I was driving up to...

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