Niche Wine Blog

Become a Better Thinker...?

It seems as though there's always some sort of study conducted to determine the affects of wine on some health issue.  These studies usually fall in two broad categories with the first being the affect of overconsumption and the second being the affects of moderate consumption.  Usually, with overconsumption we hear how wine correlates to stroke or coronary heart disease.  Ironically, wine consumed in moderation (typically a glass a day) can help deter these adverse health issues. 

The Wine Collector

For all of you who are interested in learning about and keeping up withe the wine collecting world, I suggest you check out The Wine Collector blog.  This blog, created by Steve Bachmann, CEO of Vinfolio, is the first blog created dedicated primarily to wine collecting.  Even for those of you who aren't avid wine collectors, it touches on some interesting points related to learning about wine in general.  Some of the topics addressed have to do with the risks involved in starting a wine collection, and defining what a wine collector actually is.  Steve also talks about wine tasting groups, collecting mistakes and shipping compliance issues.

I don't know about you, but these are all topics I'm interested in, even though I'm not at the 7,000 bottle collecting level.  And while you're at it, if you're interested in learning more about Vinfolio and rare and fine wines, check out the website!

Wine News: South Africa

One website I regularly frequent is Wines of South Africa, which is a not-for-profit company in Stellenbosch, South Africa that represents importers of South African wines.  There are usually always articles that catch my eye and hold my interest, especially as SA is emerging in the U.S. wine market. 

While SA wine has been made for centuries, it is still a stranger to many.  It has only been available on the local market since 2004 so we still have a lot of exploring to do.  But what I've tasted so far has been quite impressive.

Tapas and Wine

It's been pretty hectic since I recently moved up to the Bay Area San Francisco from Los Angeles.  But now that all has pretty much settled, I have time to scope out The City and the Peninsula.  So far I've found some great restaurants and wine bars as well as some that I haven't fancied so much. 

Last night, Tweed (my fiancé) and I decided to check out a wine bar in downtown Palo Alto, Café Neibaum-Coppola .  It houses the many wines of Francis Coppola wineries as well as other wines and spirits.