Are Winemakers Magicians? Years ago I wrote an article for The Surfer’s Path Magazine about my good friend, Oded Shakked, who was then winemaker at J Vineyards. During the interview he commented about how people make such a big deal about winemaking. “Winemakers don’t really deserve all that attention,” he said. “After all, we are […]
Will 2016 be the vintage of the decade? 2016 marks the fifth vintage that I have worked alongside my partner and friend, Lane Tanner. One of the things we love about making wine is that every vintage is different. While some tasks in the winery may seem mundane, the uniqueness of every harvest ensures that […]
Thoughts on El Niño and General Lack of Z’s “I don’t pay the mortgage that I do for rainy weather,” my Irish friend said to me a few days ago. “The drought sits just fine with me.” And it’s true: the last few winters in Santa Barbara have been the nicest summers I have ever […]
The Spanish and French have argued for centuries over which side of the border Grenache originates from. In Spain it is known as Garnacha, and is the most widely planted varietal in the country. In France it is Grenache, and is a major blending component of wines from the Southern Rhone, most famously in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. […]
[vc_row show_full_width=”1″ padding_setting=”1″ desktop_padding=”no-padding”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lumen’s 2013 Pinots receive sweet accolades! Click here to read the article in The Pinot File.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
The Controversy over Wine Scores For many decades now, wine critics have been reviewing wines, and wine consumers have been following their guidance. This fact is hardly surprising given the sheer number of wines on our supermarket shelves, and the high prices we encounter when walking down the aisles. None of us likes to make […]
Thoughts on the Most Exalted of Drinks In the wide world of alcoholic beverages, wine gets a lot of attention. While craft beers, ciders, and spirits take more of the spotlight, wine nonetheless seems to hold onto an infallible center position. To many consumers it is the holy grail of what can be swirled, sniffed […]
Wine Enthusiast Magazine, February 2015 Read the full article
Why Getting Old Isn’t That Bad There aren’t many things in life that get better with age. Cars lose thousands in value once they drive off the lot. Houses get termites. And food? It eventually gets moldy. Wine, in this regard, is almost in a class by itself. The history behind wine and its aging […]
