In this Wine For Normal People episode, Lane Tanner, the “Pinot Czarina of Santa Barbara County,” shares her journey and the art of crafting exceptional wines at Lumen Wines. She discusses the unique terroir of Santa Barbara, sustainable winemaking, and what sets Lumen Wines apart in California’s wine scene.
“Is that a note of melon or is it a hint of Goodyear rubber?” For the past few decades orange wine has been steadily gaining followers in the world of wine, while also an ever larger stream of dissenters. What is it about a skin contact white that has everyone in such a tizzy? Why…
I have a confession to make: my favorite wine was once White Zinfandel. As a young twenty-something, I was not what one would consider a serious wine drinker: my favorite was a sweet, pink wine that once had a whole section on grocery store shelves. My father, who was in the wine industry, must have…
Some of the greatest discoveries of mankind were made by accident. Perhaps the best known (and beneficial) was made by scientist Dr. Alexander Fleming, who went on vacation for a few weeks and returned to see that his petri dishes had overgrown with mold. His discovery: penicillin. Other examples of benign errors include potato chips,…
In ancient Greece, snails represented fertility and the fruition of hard work. The Aztecs refer to snails as representing cycles of the universe and reincarnation. Japanese culture considers snails the most fertile of beings and the gods of water, while across the African continent, snails take on a variety of meanings from symbols of the creation of man to eternal life.
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 bodied red. I t doesn’t normally lend itself to making big, tannic wines. (Side note: a lot of the Grenache that you see in stores…
I’ll never forget the first time I fell in love with Grenache. I was at a fancy restaurant on an otherwise unmemorable date, and I decided to splurge on the tasting menu with wine pairing. The main course came with a glass of red wine, and upon my first sip my taste buds ignited with…