8 posts
Behind the Cork™ Reviews
Shenandoah Vineyards in Plymouth, CA, was founded in 1977 by Shirley and Leon Sobon. They moved from Los Altos, California, where Leon was a Senior Scientist with the Lockheed Research Lab. Leon’s gift for home winemaking led him to leave Lockheed an...
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Grape Varieties
Chardonnay 🥂 Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted varieties. Although it is probably best known as the white grape of Burgundy it’s also a major grape in the production of Champagne. Chardonnay is a versatile grape, and its style can vary w...
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Behind the Cork™ Reviews
Carneros Creek Winery (now a brand under Carneros Wine Company) was originally founded by Francis Mahoney in 1972. While the physical winery was sold to Michael Mondavi in 2006, the Mahoney family has retained the brand names. This Carneros Creek Ch...
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Grape Varieties
Chenin Blanc Chenin Blanc is a white wine grape variety that has been cultivated in France for nearly 1300 years. It is most commonly associated with France’s Loire Valley. French documents first mention Chenin Blanc as early as the year 845, and ...
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Behind the Cork™ Reviews
Koerner and Joan Rombauer established Rombauer Vineyards in 1980, and in 1984 they released their first California-style Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. One interesting note about the Rombauer family is that Koerner’s great aunt Irma Rombau...
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Grape Varieties
Cinsault 🍷 Cinsault (sin-so) is also known as “Cinsaut.” Cinsault vines have been grown for centuries in southern France, making it one of the oldest grape varieties found in the region. It has traditionally been used in Southern Rhône blends alon...
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Behind the Cork™ Reviews
Frei Brothers has been a part of Sonoma County for over a century. After coming to California from his native Switzerland, founder Andrew Frei first established vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley in 1890. His two sons, Walter and Louis, eventually too...
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Grape Varieties
Colombard (or Colombar) Photo from Pancrat on Wikimedia Commons The name Colombard likely comes from the French word for dove, “colombe”. Legend has it that the grape was so named because its white, dusty berries match the color of a dove’s pluma...
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