We were initially a little perplexed over a whiskey that seemed to be named for a hotel, but the name of Hilhaven Lodge Whiskey becomes clearer when one takes into account its co-founder is hotelier and Hollywood director Bret Ratner, owner of the now-iconic Beverly Hills accommodation. The property was once …
It’s late afternoon on a beautiful day in Sonoma. You skipped lunch in favor of grazing and wine tasting, and now you’re ready for something absolutely delicious to eat to complement some of the world-class vino you’ve just finished sampling. And maybe a little more wine—you’re in Sonoma, after all. …
In describing his impromptu decision to start making wine after graduating UC Santa Cruz with a degree in American Literature to The Corkscrewer Report in 2015, David Ramey of Ramey Wine Cellars said “…Why don’t I make wine? It’s an esthetic statement like literature, like the elements of composition in film. …
When Lynmar Estate owner Lynn Fritz purchased Quail Hill Ranch overlooking the shimmering blue expanse of Laguna de Santa Rosa in the verdant Russian River Valley, he did so with the intention that the property would be a bucolic retreat from the high-stress corporate world in which he was ensnared as …
With the concept born over a glass of wine overlooking the verdant fecundity of the Alexander Valley, it’s little wonder brothers Dustin Valette and Aaron Garzini decided on an uber-fresh, farm-to-table, wine centric approach to their restaurant Valette. The restaurant, opened 15 years after the seed was planted, is a …
You’re sitting in a sunlight-dappled courtyard under a fragrantly blossoming orange tree sipping a glass of freshly made sangria with a few friends. A plate of clams steamed in cava with garlic and chili has just been delivered to your table along with a plate of sweet dates wrapped in …
I’ve always been fond of the saying that advises that “life is uncertain; eat dessert first”…but sometimes I like to replace the word “dessert” with the word “champagne”. The champagne bar at 28-50 Wine Workshop and Kitchen in London’s upscale Mayfair district is a lovely place to begin your meal, end …
Named for San Leandro brewery 21st Amendment’s co-founder Shaun O’Sullivan’s semi-legendary alter ego, El Sully Mexican-style lager was crafted in the image of the crisp, refreshing lagers O’Sullivan remembers enjoying after a day surfing or skateboarding near his Santa Monica stomping grounds. It’s not heavy, it’s not bitter, it’s not complicated, …
The sun hangs low and heavy in the Chiang Mai sky, painting streaks of ochre and burnt gold across the surface of the Mae Nam Ping River and turning the geometry of the urban skyline into something more pliable—something that could, and perhaps would, melt affably into the banks of …
Your Negronis and Spritzes just got more interesting. With vintage cocktails being all the rage these days, St George Spirits has released an innovative aperitivo liqueur inspired by distiller Lance Winters’ formative years in 1970’s California. Crafted from gentian root, California balsam, and California-grown Seville orange peel, Bruto Americano is an …
You unfurl a red checkered blanket in an inviting spot in the grass under a lushly flowering lilac. Miniscule lavender petals drift gently on the mild breeze as you pull paper-wrapped morsels of Camembert, aged Gouda, and creamy blue-veined Roquefort from your basket and line them up with a loaf …
An 8oz filet mignon cooked to a tender medium rare sits glistening on your plate, a ruby-hued glass of velvety Malbec just brushing your fingertips. The USDA prime steak is smothered in garlic butter, topped decadently with succulent grilled king prawns, and served with a side of truffle mac and …