Stacy Slinkard

Exclusive Andy Beckstoffer interview: Looking to Lake County - Decanter

Iconic Napa winegrower Andy Beckstoffer is betting big on Cabernet Sauvignon from the Lake County AVA

Spring and summer food & wine festivals at Colorado's top ski resorts - Decanter

As winter welcomes many wine lovers and foodies to Colorado's ski towns for skiing, boarding, and snowmobiling, and the tipples and trends of après-ski, spring and summer in the Rockies lure visitors to the mountains with hiking, biking, rafting, horseback and edgy adventure tours.

Santa Cruz Mountains AVA: a profile in sustainability - Decanter

Overlooking California 's Silicon Valley to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is home to more than 75 wine producers and 200 growers - often with remarkably sustainable roots. Pinot Noir , Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon dominate regional plantings, accounting collectively for just over 75% of the vines.

To Kalon: Napa Valley's star vineyard gets organic certification - Decanter

a vineyard regarded as California 's crown jewel thanks to its enduring renown for producing world-class, top-scoring Cabernet Sauvignon , has secured its legendary status with organic certification. Blue-chip producers such as Robert Mondavi, Schrader Cellars, To Kalon Vineyard Company and Cliff Lede have all cemented their reputations on To Kalon fruit.

Decanter Introduces US-based Editorial Team

Sicily 101 - The Tasting Panel

As the largest island in the Mediterranean and a central stop between Europe and Africa, Sicily has served as the cultural crossroads between Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Tunisia, and the Middle East for centuries. Each invading civilization left its indelible mark on the island, reflected tangibly in regional cuisine, traditions, and architecture.

Independence Day Celebrations: Madeira and the Founding Fathers - Decanter

While beer, hard seltzers and fresh summer sippers from US wineries tend to be the drink of choice for backyard barbecues and firework shows to celebrate America's Independence on July 4th, Madeira was the drink of choice that the signers sipped after boldly placing their signatures on the Declaration of Independence.

Custom crush wineries: the California scene and wines to try - Decanter

It's no secret that buying or building a winery requires a significant capital investment. With initial expenditures being cost prohibitive for most start-up projects, many would-be wines might never get made. Enter the imaginative (and relatively economical) custom crush concept. Custom crush facilities are bonded wineries that allow their clients to produce wine on site.

Italian Wine Podcast: Stacy Slinkard | Get US Market Ready With Italian Wine People

Welcome to Episode 907 Steve Raye interviews Stacy Slinkard in this installment of Get US Market Ready With Italian Wine People on the Italian Wine Podcast.

Aspen, Colorado: top restaurants for winelovers

As America's most iconic ski town, Aspen in Colorado is a year-round destination for foodies and winelovers the world over. While winter sees snow-sports fans flocking in, summer lures others to the mountain for hiking, biking and adventure tours. Visitors come to Aspen to play but they stay for the premium food and wine experiences.

Texas Hill Country for winelovers: the places to know - Decanter

As the fifth-largest wine-producing state in the US, Texas is home to more than 400 wineries and eight designated AVAs. Its wine industry contributes $13bn to the Lone Star State's economy. Spanish missionaries are credited with planting the first vines in the 1650s near the modern-day city of El Paso.

Southern Oregon: regional profile and the wines to try - Decanter

Oregon's stellar wine reputation was built on Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and more recently Chardonnay . Yet the wines coming from Southern Oregon are equally as exciting yet far more diverse.

Such Great Heights: Tracking the Trajectory of Colorado Wine

Colorado's Western Slope is home to the highest vineyards in North America. Surrounded by mesas and mountains and experiencing dramatic diurnal temperature shifts, it's a remarkable place to grow grapes.

Texas wine: travel guide plus 10 top bottles worth seeking out - Decanter

Texas is the second largest US state. For perspective, it's about 20% larger than France, and has roughly 200 wineries and eight official AVAs (Bell Mountain, Escondido Valley, Fredericksburg, Mesilla Valley, Texas Davis Mountains, Texas High Plains, Texas Hill Country and Texoma).

North Carolina: travel guide plus eight bottles worth seeking out - Decanter

The geography in this long and narrow state ranges from mountains to coastline; in between the two is where the finest winemaking happens - the North Carolina Piedmont .

Colorado wine: travel guide plus 10 top bottles worth seeking out - Decanter

High in elevation and anchored by the visually stunning Grand Mesa, the largest flat-top mountain in the world, western Colorado wine country is a study in superlatives. The state has two official AVAs, Grand Valley and West Elks, which range in elevation from 1,200m-2,100m, making them among the highest vineyards in the world.

Gary Farrell: Producer Profile - Decanter

Before the Russian River Valley was officially recognized as one of Sonoma County's distinguished AVAs, Gary Farrell was pioneering Pinot Noir in partnership with some of the region's most esteemed growers - Rochioli, Hallberg, Allen and others.

Idaho wine: fresh, fruit-forward and great value - Decanter

When those who know it think of Idaho, which has its western border with and Washington , images of the resort town of Coeur d'Alene and river and snow sports come to mind. For those who don't know Idaho, you probably think: potatoes.

Oliver Winery: The Indiana Winery making waves in the US - Decanter

What began as a winemaking hobby for Indiana University law professor William Oliver in the 1960s has become one of America's fastest-growing wineries. Today, Oliver Winery & Vineyards in Bloomington, Indiana, is the 40 th largest US winery, according to Wine Business Monthly's annual ranking by volume.

Idaho wine: fresh, fruit-forward and great value - Decanter

When those who know it think of Idaho, which has its western border with and Washington , images of the resort town of Coeur d'Alene and river and snow sports come to mind. For those who don't know Idaho, you probably think: potatoes.

Best Zachys wines: top online and instore buys - Decanter

Zachys launched as a liquor merchant in 1944, with a storefront in Westchester County, New York. Don Zachariah bought the company from his father Zachy in 1961 and it remains a family-owned business. Zachys still has its headquarters at that premises on East Parkway in Scarsdale.

Total Wine: the best US buys - Decanter

Established in 1991 by brothers, Robert and David Trone, Total Wine began as a small single store in Claymont, Delaware. Today it is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland and operates 212 stores across 25 states. Consumers can count on a broad selection both online and in-store.

K&L Wines: top online and instore buys from the US - Decanter

Established in Millbrae, California in 1976, K&L Wine Merchants runs retail stores in San Francisco, Redwood City and Hollywood. But it is the family-owned company's online presence that is the cornerstone of the business today. K&L Wines has an impressive selection of old and rare wines plus latest-vintage domestic and international wines.

Wine.com: the best buys available in the US - Decanter

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wine.com bills itself as the world's largest wine store. It is the biggest online wine retailer in the US, offering 17,000 different labels from regions around the world. Featuring a mix of both well-known and well-distributed wines to smaller boutique brands, the company works hard to deliver what consumers want.

Producer profile: Trinchero Family Estates - Decanter

As the world's second largest family-owned winery and fourth largest winery in the US, Trinchero Family Estates traces its humble roots back to 1948 when Italian immigrant Mario Trinchero moved his family from New York to Napa and spent his savings on an abandoned Prohibition-era winery named Sutter Home.

Freemark Abbey's Ted Edwards becomes winemaker emeritus after 40 years - Decanter

As one of Napa Valley's longest tenured winemakers, Edwards will continue to support the winery and intends to spend more time working in the vineyards, especially the Bosché and Sycamore Vineyards, from which Freemark Abbey sources their flagship wines. Beginning his career with Freemark Abbey in 1980, as assistant winemaker, by 1985, Edwards held the ...

Coup de Foudre - striking Napa wines - Decanter

The enigmatic meaning behind the Coup de Foudre label finds inspiration from proprietor John Schwartz's early encounter with his eventual wife, Carrie, while studying in France.

Monterey Bay for wine lovers - Decanter

Just 24km south of Monterey Bay, the Santa Lucia Highlands is one of America's top regions for cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A legacy of multi-generational farming, an authentic commitment to sustainability and winemakers who readily combine technology and tradition to craft expressive, single-vineyard wines have propelled the appellation's prestigious reputation.

Lure of the Loire - How Chenin Blanc Gives Rise to Virtually Every Style of Wine

Chenin Blanc's footing has held firm in the Loire Valley since the 15th century. While the variety also claims significant vineyard space in the U.S. and South Africa, its purest expressions of character and versatility rise from a mosaic of schist-, sand-, and limestone-laden soils between the cities of Savennières and Blois.

Inside Northern Italy's Jaw-Dropping Helicopter Harvests

On the rugged, near-vertical slopes of northern Italy, minutes from the Swiss border, Nebbiolo is harvested by hand - and by helicopter. More than 25 miles of interconnected vineyards span this region, called the Valtellina valley, and its high-altitude grapes produce wines with zippy acidity, bright fruit, and food-friendly versatility.

The Best Italian Red Wines for Beginners | Wine Folly

With estimates of between 500 and 600 grape varieties grown in Italy, it's tricky to distill this iconic wine-soaked peninsula into basic baby sips. If you start at the Italian boot and drill down, you'll find a land of incredible wine growing diversity.

Nantes: Home of Muscadet | France

The regional wines are built on the Melon de Bourgogne grape and are referred to as Muscadet (keep in mind "place" names trump "grape" names in most of Europe), most Muscadet bottles are young, fresh, approachable and super food-friendly with a particular affinity for neighboring oysters. However, that's just the beginning of Muscadet's reputation.

8 Things You May Not Know About Vinho Verde (but Probably Should)

Wildly popular and modestly priced, Vinho Verde brings remarkable versatility and consistent affordability to the glass. An easy entry point to the world of fresh, crisp and sometimes spritzy white wines, Vinho Verde is an enthusiastic ambassador for the rugged and diverse winemaking region of northern Portugal.

Franciacorta: Italy's High-End Bubbly

While prosecco dominates much of Italy's sparkling wine limelight, one tiny wine-producing region in Lombardy has staked its claim to fame with high-end bubbly. Wines from Franciacorta are made using the same method as Champagne and even built on the same key grapes as those from the prestigious region of France, leaning heavily into chardonnay and pinot noir.

Why You Want To Drink More Tannat Wine | Wine Folly

Tannat, with its roots in Madiran (a tiny village in South West France), might just be the next Malbec. Why? Well, it has more gusto than Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tannat wines from up-and-coming Uruguay are surprisingly affordable! Here's what you need to know.

Idiot's Guides: Wine by Stacy Slinkard

This full-color book opens with an introduction to wine--including what it is, how it's made, and the various types of grapes and wines available--and then clearly shows the reader how to read a basic wine label and how to taste wine. The author guides the reader through a wine list and how order wine in a restaurant and explains how to buy wine, serve it at home...

Quick Guide to Vinho Verde | Portugal

Tucked into the upper northwestern corner of Portugal's celebrity slice of the Iberian Peninsula, the mostly white wine region of Vinho Verde (literally "green wine") brags on its oceanside influence with radiant shades of green - echoing Ireland everywhere.

The Rosé Revolution

The revolution shows every indication that it's here to stay. Americans are happily drinking more rosé than any other country (except , whose own rosé obsession has displaced regional white wine sales).

3 German Red Wines That Are Meant For Summer | Wine Folly

Red wine in the summer is usually about as palatable as warm mayonnaise. It may even cause you to sulk in dark air conditioned room just so you can drink one. Fortunately, there are several red wines that are ideal for summer drinking.

5 Uncommon Wines for Valentine's Day Sipping

Valentine's Day and vino - the two go hand in hand. This holiday selection ranges from an ultra-festive pink (!) port by Croft to the world's first single-vineyard lambrusco, and from a tried-and-always-true Champagne with a 2018 pink twist from Moët & Chandon to two top-notch romantic reds out of those lands of love, Napa Valley and Tuscany.

Best Bets for Mini-Champagne and Sparkling Wine Bottles

Fun and festive, with lively bubbles and adorable sizing, the trend of popping off mini bottles of bubbly as bridal shower favors and wedding guest gifts continues with great gusto.

The Albariño-Based Wines of Spain's Rías Baixas Are Well Worth Discovering

Tucked into the cool coastal region of northwestern Spain, the Rías Baixas D.O. is Spain 's premier white wine region. Built on the back of the hardworking albariño grape , its reputation for fresh, food-friendly offerings continues to climb.

Wine Vintages and Why They Matter (Sometimes) | Wine Folly

Wine Vintage Definition A wine vintage is the year in which the grapes were harvested. A wine's vintage can greatly affect the taste and quality, primarily because of the weather that affects the vines throughout the growing season. In the Northern Hemisphere (North America and Europe) the grape growing season is from about April to October.

Styles of Port and Their Pairings | Wine Folly

Port is the most recognizable name in fortified dessert wines. Hailing from the Douro River Valley in northwest Portugal, Port was created in the 18th century by the British who experimented with adding brandy to still red wines, fortifying them in an effort to stabilize them for the extended voyage across the Bay of Biscay and up the coast of France to England.

Riding out Summer with Regional Rosé

Whether it's rosé (France), rosato (Italy), rosado (Spain), Tavel (Rhone Valley) or simply "blush wine" - these region-specific wine terms point unashamedly to pink wine. Rosé wines are the rising stars and delightful chameleons of the wine industry.

An Introduction to Reasonably Priced Bordeaux Reds

Bordeaux: It's all about the blend. Whether your palate preferences steer towards reds or whites, the best wines of Bordeaux lean heavily on a synergistic blend of grape varieties.

Why Does Wine Taste Like Lemon, Cherry, Pepper or Butter?

Have you ever wondered why wine smells ( and tastes) like virtually every fruit in the book, except for grapes? Or how a wine can smell like vanilla, taste like cherries and finish like satin? Welcome to the world of stereoisomers.

5 White Wine Styles to Welcome Spring

As winter chills begin to thaw and both meals and evenings grow lighter and spring is just around the corner, it's the perfect time to pop corks (or twist screw-caps) and explore the ultra-versatile world of white wine.

Riveting Reds from Ribera del Duero

Ribera del Duero - The Place Sitting high on a chalky plateau at 2,500 feet, tucked into northwest Spain, the sultry Spanish wine growing region of Ribera del Duero DO enjoys a heady mix of cool nights and sizzling hot days, showcasing the perfect climate for bringing out the best in the region's dominant grape variety, Tempranillo.

A Beginner's Guide to Nebbiolo, One of Italy's Great Grapes

Northern Italy's most renowned red-wine grape is the classic nebbiolo, which produces wines that are full-bodied and wildly age-worthy. Most know this grape from the two famous regions of Barolo and Barbaresco, both hill towns in the Piedmont region.

When Does Vintage Matter Most?

A wine's vintage is simply the calendar year that the grapes were grown and harvested. Neatly tagged on bottle labels, the vintage year represents one clue, among many, as to what's going on inside of a particular bottle.

The Top 10 Ways to Tour Napa Valley and Sonoma County

Exploring the California Wine Country is an adventure all by itself. However, experiencing it via bike, hot air balloon, train, or horseback adds elements of excitement that can make for a memorable vacation. Luckily, there are plenty of tour operators that have devoted their entire business to providing adventurous excursions set within Sonoma and Napa Valley.

Pairing Wine and Chocolate - Tips and Tricks

Wine and chocolate pairings can be tricky when you factor in the sheer variety in today's chocolate confections alongside the diversity in personal palate preferences. Whether it's chocolate themed desserts, artisan 80% dark chocolate bars or chocolate creations dotted with nuts, sea salt crystals, mint infusions, dried berries or simply caramel, there are versatile wine and chocolate pairings that can accommodate even the pickiest of palates.

Toast the New Year with Sparkling Wines from Around the World

If a region produces wine, then chances are exceptional that it will also try its hand at crafting a sparkling wine in some form or fashion. We've rounded up our favorite renditions of sparkling wine from a variety of countries to toast New Year's Eve with an international flare.

Wine Guide: Best Wines with Seafood

When it comes to pairing wine with seafood, it's easiest to start with the weight and texture of the fish or shellfish. The lighter and more delicate the fish, the more you'll ask the same of the wine with crisp acidity, lean lines and well-managed fruit.

Six White Wine Grapes that Welcome Summer!

While the summer season doesn't "officially" kick off until June 21, the lively white wines of summer have been ready to welcome patio pours for months.

Serious Sweets: Sauternes Wine Guide | Wine Folly

Sauternes represents the sweeter side of Bordeaux and is made from the region's rare white grapes. Built on the thin-skins of Sémillon with a bit of bright acidity, generously donated by Sauvignon Blanc, Sauternes (and Barsac) make exceptional dessert wines that share a particular affinity for oak and will age for several decades.

Labor Day Wine: Griller's Guide to Wine Pairing

Here it is. Labor Day Weekend. Serving as summer's sweet send off, and typically wrapped up start to finish in backyard barbecues, Labor Day marks the transition from the dog days of summer to the revved up renaissance of all things fall. For many it also marks a seasonal switch in wine preferences and pairings.

Tempranillo - The Ultimate Grilling Wine

Located in the heart of Spain, Ribera del Duero is Tempranillo country. Thanks to a heady mix of cool nights and sizzling hot days, it's the perfect climate for bringing out the best in the region's bold style of Tempranillo.

Grab Some Garnacha for #GarnachaDay 2016

Meet Garnacha. Serving diligently as one of Spain's signature red wine grape varieties, Garnacha enjoys extensive plantings worldwide. This hardy, thin-skinned, late ripening red grape is thought by many to have originated in the landlocked region of Aragon in northeastern Spain.

Five Wines to Have on Hand for the Holidays

When the holiday season rolls in, time is short and demands are high. Happily, wine is there to support the food, family and friends in a dynamic role that ranges from subtle to celebratory. We've rounded up some of the high-demand holiday happenings for bringing a bottle to share and given a handful of our favorite recommendations to get the party started.

What Makes a White Wine Sweet?

Sweet wines are a magnet drawing would-be wine lovers away from sweet cocktails, colas, and teas to the wide world of wine. First dips into dessert wines tend towards white wines that lie on the sweeter side of the spectrum. Sweeter-styled white wines are significantly easier to find than their sweet red wine counterparts.

Quick Tips to Store Wine for Optimal Aging and Flavor

There is a reason that wine has been stored in wine caves and underground cellars for hundreds of years - the ideal storage conditions can be consistently met: cool, dark, humid and still surroundings.

Thanksgiving Wine and Pie Pairings

Dessert and fortified wines are one of fall's most delicious wine treats. While many of these dessert-themed wines find happy pairing partners in the traditional blue cheese or salty seasonal nuts, many will shine exceptionally bright when partnered up with the season's favorite pies.

All About Sauternes and the Sweet White Bordeaux Wine Regions

While sweet white wines may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Bordeaux, they can quickly expand a dining palate by bringing a broad spectrum of styles, price points and food pairing versatility to the table. Bordeaux's sweet wines contribute a small, but significant 2% of the region's overall wine production.

Discover the Judgment of Paris, a Wine Tasting Legend

If ever there was a wine-themed Cinderella story, it would have to be the 1976 Paris Tasting, also known somewhat satirically as the "Judgment of Paris." This historic wine tasting has become a landmark event for the California wine industry in general and was a pivotal turning point for the Napa Valley in particular.

A Corporate Retreat for Team-Building, With a Taste of Wine

By Christine Negroni and Stacy Slinkard IT seems counterintuitive for companies to take their employees somewhere where the alcohol begins to flow even before lunch is served. But wineries around the world are increasingly accommodating businesses asking for meeting space, catering and even wine-making lessons for their workers.

Learn About Screaming Eagle Wine (and Her Little Sister too)

Even those with just their big toe in the wine world know the name "Screaming Eagle." It's easily recognizable for its reputation as Napa Valley's top dog in the Cult Cab circle. Nestled in the heart of Oakville, California's Cab country, the 54-acre Screaming Eagle Estate was started by real estate broker, Jean Phillips and set on course by renowned winemaker, Heidi Barrett.

A Beginners Guide to the Basics of Bordeaux Wine

Bordeaux, just the name conjures up all sorts of extraordinary wine expectations. As the fourth largest French city, the largest controlled wine growing region (AOC) in France, home to over 10,000 producers and the artisan of close to 70 million cases of wine per vintage, Bordeaux is the modern-day red wine Mecca, beckoning pilgrims near and far to scout for, speculate on and ultimately imbibe in the crown jewel, Bordeaux's exalted red wines.

Secrets to Discovering Burgundy Wine

Burgundy wine is essentially built on two grapes, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with vineyard locations playing a key role in the wine's ultimate character and expression. The highly regarded wine region of Burgundy ("Bourgogne" in French and on bottle labels, pronounced " Bor-gun-yuh") has welcomed oenophiles for centuries.

Quick Tips to Store Wine for Optimal Aging and Flavor

There is a reason that wine has been stored in wine caves and underground cellars for hundreds of years - the ideal storage conditions can be consistently met: cool, dark, humid and still surroundings.

Find the Best Wines for the Grill

This Father's Day, treat Dad to his favorite grilled fare partnered up with a fruit-forward, versatile wine find in lieu of his go-to brew. The smoky, sweet and savory profiles of many grilled dishes call for food-savvy wines that can buffer the variables of heat and sweet in turn.

7 French Wine Regions Where Your Favorite Grapes Are Born

There are seven primary wine-producing regions in France: Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Provence, and the Rhone Valley comprise the dominant French wine regions. These regions are known for particular grape varietals as dictated by the district's indigenous terroir. With over 10,000 winegrowers and over 60 diverse growing appellations, it is no wonder that Bordeaux is the red wine round of France.

12 Spooky Wine Labels for Halloween | Wine Folly

All Hallows' Eve is nigh! Here are 12 popular wine producers who are known for their wines with spectacularly spooky labels. Forget the sweets. Wine is adult candy. GSM Blend This is a classic Rhone-inspired blend delivering Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsaut (or Cinsault), but with an ominous name like "Sinister Hand" - you know there's got to be a haunting backstory.

A Corporate Retreat for Team-Building, With a Taste of Wine

By Christine Negroni and Stacy Slinkard It seems counterintuitive for companies to take their employees somewhere where the alcohol begins to flow even before lunch is served. But wineries around the world are increasingly accommodating businesses asking for meeting space, catering and even wine-making lessons for their workers.