Jonathan Cristaldi
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Wine, California, Oregon and Washington wine country, wine news, Napa, Sonoma, wine tasting, wine apps, winemakers, wine humor, wine business, events, auctions, Global wine news, beverage tech
Articles by Jonathan Cristaldi
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023: A star-studded crop for the ages
2 days ago Around the world, France, Italy, and Spain are countries most historically associated with wine. But when it comes to sales volume, the world's best-selling wine actually comes from the United States. The crown belongs to California's Barefoot Wine, with The Drinks Business reporting an estimated …
Which Napa Cabernet 2023 should I drink and when?
Now The former TV host listed her estate for $100 million. Ken Griffey Jr. put his Florida home on the market, while Lindsey Vonn lowers the asking price on her house in Beverly Hills, Calif. For Kathie Lee, ‘It’s Time’ Kathie Lee Gifford’s longtime home in Greenwich, Conn., a sprawling waterfront estate …
Napa 2023 Cabernet Sauvignons: Score table
Wine 8 hours ago How This Napa Cab Finally Became a ‘Perfect’ 100-Point Wine Robb Report - Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen • 8h Amici has reached the pinnacle. With the exception of a handful of narcissists, winemakers do not generally set out to create 100-point wines—they … Wine 4 days ago The 7 Best Wines to Drink While Grilling This Summer Robb Report - Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen • 4d Cook some food over fire and crack one of these bottles.
The 18 best Napa Valley 2023 Cabernet Sauvignons to drink with your grandkids
California Wine 2 hours ago Top Wineries in Napa Valley sfchronicle.com - Jess Lander, Esther Mobley • 2h Amizetta Estate Winery 1099 Greenfield Road #9625, St. Helena The outdoor patio at Amizetta, which floats 1,000 feet above Lake Hennessey, is one of … Dessert 3 hours ago How To Make Boxed Brownies Taste Homemade Southern Living - Patricia S York • 3h No one will ever know they're not from scratch. Did your child mention that it's your turn to bring goodies to the class party this afternoon?
The best Napa Valley 2023 Cabernets from each AVA
Now Here’s why lesser-known varieties are winning over sommeliers, winemakers, and drinkers seeking fresher, more distinctive American wines. Grape vines around the world crossbreed readily, which means the possibilities for new fruit are infinite. To date, more than 1,000 grape varieties have been …
A Glass Half Full
Clockwise from left: Auteur tasting room in the Russian River Valley; Adam, Kelly and Andrew Mariani of Scribe Winery; Martha Stoumen FIFTY YEARS AGO, in 1976, in a small salon at the Inter- Continental Hotel in Paris, France, the unthinkable occurred—a watershed moment in the history of wine. A vinous David-and- Goliath moment. It would come to be known as “The Judgment of Paris,” memorialized in a book of the same name by George M.
Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy’s rules for drinking Napa Cabernet today
12 hours ago Sourced primarily from Block 4 — the last remaining parcel from the estate’s original 1972 plantings — the wine includes 1% Cabernet Franc, versus the 5% in the standard 2023 release. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is releasing 1,973 …
Willamette Valley Wine Auction 2026: A critic's preview of this year's wines
7 Best ‘90s TV Shows That Have Aged Like Fine Wine The 1990s featured many iconic TV shows, but not all of them have aged well. The 1990s were a great decade for entertainment, with the success of …
'My 12 Best Napa Chardonnays of All Time' – our expert picks a dozen greats
4 days ago Every year, the Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) evaluates hundreds of wines from around the world through rigorous blind tastings, then narrows the field to a short list of the year’s most outstanding expressions by varietal and region. From that group, it selects its annual “Best Wines of the …
Bo Barrett: The man at Chateau Montelena
7 hours ago California regulators are reviewing every recent car sale in Montana as they crack down on a tax-evading scheme called the “Montana Loophole” where drivers dodge Golden State levies by purchasing a vehicle in a place with no statewide sales tax. The California Department of Tax and Fee …
Stars of Our Seas
The Bay Area is blessed with some of the freshest, most extraordinary seafood in the country—and just about any time of the year locals can enjoy the luxury of a truly fresh catch. The best purveyors of seafood know how every fish is caught, prioritizing trap-caught, hook-and-line or “top-of-the-trip” fish—the freshest portion of a vessel’s haul. Knowing each captain ensures transparency, quality and respect for the sea. But sourcing in the Bay Area isn’t as simple as casting a net anytime.
Stars of Our Seas
The Bay Area is blessed with some of the freshest, most extraordinary seafood in the country—and just about any time of the year locals can enjoy the luxury of a truly fresh catch. The best purveyors of seafood know how every fish is caught, prioritizing trap-caught, hook-and-line or “top-of-the-trip” fish—the freshest portion of a vessel’s haul. Knowing each captain ensures transparency, quality and respect for the sea. But sourcing in the Bay Area isn’t as simple as casting a net anytime.
WHERE TO FIND APÉRITIVO
A bar lounge is the ideal spot to take part in this European ritual and many of our chic local establishments are embracing the apéritivo trend. A classic spritz is the order of the day, though most of these lounges and tasting rooms offer signature spritz interpretations you won’t want to miss. PIATTI MILL VALLEY Take your spritz out on the patio over Richardson Bay and watch as the sun slips behind the wisps of summer fog coming in around Mt. Tam.
Apéritivo! Artisanal Apéritifs Behind The New Cocktail Hour
California makers are reshaping a centuries-old ritual into something distinctly local, luminous and alive. Reclaiming the before-dinner drink with California-grown soul, apéritivo culture comes home to Marin and Wine Country, in all its citrus, herbal and low-proof glory. Apéritivo, derived from the Latin aperire meaning “to open,” has long been a cherished Italian tradition designed to awaken the appetite before dinner.
Kendric’s Calling
STEWART JOHNSON traded policy papers for pruning shears—and found purpose in the Petaluma Gap. From his Kendric Vineyards winery on Treasure Island, Johnson makes top-notch wine with Marin County grapes. Every Sunday, my daughter and I start our day at the farmers’ market at the Marin County Civic Center.
2022 Opus One, Napa Valley, California, USA
2022 Opus One, Napa Valley, California, USA Colour Red Sweetness Dry Vintage 2022 Alcohol % 14% Maturity Not ready (2030 - 2053) Grape List Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Petit Verdot (8%), Cabernet Franc (6.5%), Merlot (5%), Malbec (0.5%) Body Full Bodied Producer Opus One Tasting note Super intense and complex aromas of overt cassis, chocolate, blueberries, bell pepper, hints of red fruit, vanilla bean, roses and musk.
Boutique bottles: 10 of the best Napa wine shops
Despite global economic challenges and declining wine consumption, Napa continues to thrive. Thanks to its haute-living appeal and a relentless pursuit of excellence, the region has remained in the American fine-wine winner’s circle. Once its wines achieved cult status among collectors, Napa never let up, and today, its best bottles rival Burgundy and Bordeaux in terms of quality, price and exclusivity.
All Alcohol is Bad, Eh?
by Jonathan Cristaldi and Joe Roberts You’ve probably noticed that alcoholic beverages have been under siege lately. We’re not talking about the growing abstinence movement, or the notion that wine is somehow cheugy (which we’ve just proven simply by using the word “cheugy,” which no one under thirty ever uses now).
2022 Colgin, IX Estate, Napa Valley, California, USA
Description This has such a beautiful nose of freshly picked red and black hedgerow fruit mingling with a hint of spice. The aromas are so poised and refreshing with a glorious ‘IX Estate top note’ of sage adding a superbly judged lift. The palate is equally impressive; dark blackberries, succulent raspberries and fresh blackcurrants are supported by a wonderful freshness and incredibly fine, structured tannins.
For Outstanding California Wine, Look for Bottles Made With Grapes Grown on These 16 Vineyards
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Jonathan Cristaldi: Meus melhores vinhos californianos de 2023
Minhas principais escolhas de 2023 são uma série de garrafas que considero particularmente gratificantes e que estão (em sua maioria) disponíveis ou estarão no início de 2024. Leia sobre elas e por que as escolhi nas notas de degustação inferior. Continua após a publicidade Cá, compus uma breve recapitulação dos destaques de 2023 que, caso você tenha perdido alguma das histórias, estão no link inferior.
Gauging the Growth of Grower Champagne - The Tasting Panel
DESPITE SUPPLY ISSUES AND PRICE INCREASES, THE REGION’S RÉCOLTANTS MANIPULANTS ARE ON THE RISE As grower Champagne becomes increasingly popular in the global marketplace, demand is beginning to outpace supply. In the U.S., both on- and off-premise operators hoping to offer grower Champagne to their clientele have to contend with some pretty stark facts.
Bart and Daphne Araujo step back from Accendo Cellars
In 1990, the Araujos purchased the famous Eisele Vineyard in Calistoga, California, from Milt and Barbara Eisele and established Araujo Estate. They enlisted winemaker Tony Soter and viticulturist David Abreu. Their debut 1991 vintage earned high praise and affirmed their dedication to preserving the reputation of Eisele’s incomparable terroir, which dates back to 1884.
Dónde comer en Sawtelle Japantown
En el oeste de Los Ángeles, paralelo a la 405, hay un vecindario pequeño con una mezcla de edificios antiguos de un solo piso, nuevos desarrollos y centros comerciales con profundas raíces históricas y culturales. También es uno de los destinos gastronómicos más famosos de la ciudad.
Where to Eat in Sawtelle Japantown
In West Los Angeles running parallel to the 405, there’s a small neighborhood with a mix of old single-story buildings, new developments, and strip malls with deep historical and cultural roots. It’s also one of the city’s most celebrated food destinations.
The Best Burgers in SF
Causwells Chef Adam Rosenblum, formerly of Flour + Water, has fashioned one of the city’s most popular smash burgers at his Cow Hollow restaurant. The crispy-edged beef patty sits atop a bed of fresh lettuce and is seasoned with Causwells’ special sauce, melty American cheese (natch), and lacto-fermented pickles for a perfect bite. Gott’s Roadside For burger fiends, a visit to this Mission Bay spot is as important as a stop at In-N-Out.
Las mejores hamburguesas en SF
Causwells El chef Adam Rosenblum, anteriormente de Flour + Water, ha creado una de las hamburguesas aplastadas más populares de la ciudad en su restaurante Cow Hollow. La hamburguesa de ternera crujiente se coloca sobre una cama de lechuga fresca y se sazona con la salsa especial de Causwells, queso americano derretido (natch) y encurtidos lacto-fermentados para un bocado perfecto.
Premiere Napa Valley Raises $3.4 Million in 2023
ADVERSE WEATHER DIDN’T STOP BUYERS FROM DESCENDING ON NAPA FOR THE ANNUAL WINTER AUCTION story by Jonathan Cristaldi / photos by Alexander Rubin When the final gavel fell on the 2023 Premiere Napa Valley auction, the total raised from 207 wine lots landed at $3.4 million—up from last year’s $2.1 million. The average bottle price of a 2021 red wine was $295, according to the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV).
Joel Gott Hopes You’ll Love Gott’s Roadside
Did you ever imagine a Napa Valley–based burger-and-fries eatery could become the challenger to California’s iconic In-N-Out Burger? Bets are on that Gott’s Roadside, with its eight locations in and around the San Francisco Bay Area (and growing!) is poised to do so. Wine lovers will know the name Joel Gott, as it graces his eponymous wine label, established in 1996 with 300 cases of Amador County Zinfandel.
Joel Gott espera que Gott’s Roadside te guste mucho
¿Alguna vez imaginaste que un restaurante especializado en hamburguesas y papas fritas con sede en Napa Valley podría convertirse en el rival del icónico In-N-Out Burger de California? Te apuesto que Gott’s Roadside, con sus ocho sucursales en el Área de la Bahía de San Francisco y sus alrededores (¡y pronto serán muchas más!), está preparado para eso.
Hawaii's Best Restaurants, Hotels, and Things to Do
IN THE LAND of endless ocean views obstructed only by neighboring islands; lavish resorts that cradle curvy, expansive pools; and bucket-list golf courses, there is, understandably, a deep instinct to anchor oneself in the water or on a sandy beach — and stare. As for Maui hotels, it’s par for the course that a Mai Tai, something frozen and boozy, or a glass of bubbly is always within reach. It’s compulsory to order a poke bowl; it’s almost mandatory to walk the beaches at night.
Los mejores maridajes de vinos y comidas del Área de la Bahía de San Francisco
Che Fico Alimentari Este lugar popular de NoPa (North of the Panhandle) ofrece una cocina italiana trascendente junto con ofertas de vino bien pensadas. Ordena el pollo asado con brócoli, el suppli (pequeños pasteles fritos de risotto rellenos de fontina), la lasaña de espinacas o las pizzas rústicas. Gran parte de esta comida se combina mejor con un tinto italiano con mucho cuerpo, aunque un blanco vigoroso o la cremosa espuma de un buen prosecco también funcionarán.
The San Francisco Bay Area's Best Wine and Food Pairings
Che Fico Alimentari This NoPa hotspot turns out transcendent Italian cuisine along with thoughtful wine offerings. Get the roast chicken with broccoli, the suppli (fried little risotto cakes stuffed with fontina), the spinach lasagna, or the rustic pizzas. Much of this fare is best paired with a full-bodied Italian red — though a zippy white or the creamy mousse of a good prosecco will work too.
How to Make Balanced, Large-Batch Cocktails for a Crowd
In 2011, California lawmakers led by then-California State Senator Mark Leno amended a section of the California Alcoholic Beverage Control Act that prevented bars and restaurants from removing spirits from their original bottles in order to infuse or pre-batch multiple spirits or barrel age cocktails.
Seven Vietnamese cocktail bars showing the scene is one to watch
Walking through the heady streets of Vietnam, you’ll be guaranteed to see locals and tourists alike partaking in the communal drinking of bia ho’i. Literally translating to ‘fresh beer’, the daily brewed, low-alcohol beverage is served on draught (often with ice) to groups of drinkers sat on small, brightly coloured plastic stools – the perfect perches for people watching and for quenching one’s thirst in tropical climes.
10 Innovative and Socially Conscious US Wineries Shaking Up the Wine Industry From Coast to Coast
The pages of several new innovation chapters in the wine industry are being written right now. They’re not perfect pages, but they’re great works in progress — perhaps some of the best advances yet to be made in the American wine industry.
Small Community, Big Impact
RAISING PADDLES ON 30 LOTS, BIDDERS RAISE $1.8 MILLION FOR CHARITY AT THE 2022 SONOMA COUNTY WINE AUCTION story by Jonathan Cristaldi / photos by Alexander Rubin After three days of dinners, tastings, and events, the annual Sonoma County Wine Auction, presented by the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation (SCVF), raised $1.8 million in support of local SCVF-driven grants—adding to the more than $40 million raised since the auction’s inception.
Forward-Thinking California Winemakers Creating Change Through Innovation and Sustainability
Have you ever wondered how wine was first made? The origins aren’t definitive, but the earliest evidence of ancient wine production points to Georgia around 6000 BC, with Iran and Sicily following suit shortly after. Later, thanks to the influx of mass trading throughout the Mediterranean into the East, widespread wine production reached many corners of the old world.
How to Make Beautiful Cocktail Garnishes At Home
Glasses of refreshing Palomas with rosemary and grapefruit garnishes Over the last decade, at various events in California wine country, I'd begun running into Scott Beattie, the beverage director at Barndiva in Healdsburg and partner at Goose & Gander in St. Helena, California, where he first began producing large batches of impressively balanced cocktails.
Everything You Need to Know About Making Cocktail Garnishes At Home
Over the last decade, at various events in California wine country, I'd begun running into Scott Beattie, the beverage director at Barndiva in Healdsburg and partner at Goose & Gander in St. Helena, California, where he first began producing large batches of impressively balanced cocktails.
Where to Eat, Stay, and Explore
MOST READ TRAVEL I TOOK MY first post-pandemic trip back to Napa in February. As a Northern California native living in Brooklyn, it was the exact vacation I needed to snap me out of my never-ending winter doom. For most people, Napa and wine are synonymous, but for me, someone who grew up in the Bay Area, that wasn’t always the case. Sure, I had been fully immersed in the wine scene in New York City, but my worlds had never collided.
Why You Need To Start Paying More Attention To Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is often overshadowed by more famous grapes, but the variety’s importance in the wine world cannot be overstated. Cabernet Franc reaches what’s generally considered to be its solo height in the Loire Valley of France, where it’s responsible for the great red wines of Bourgeuil and Chinon. Its role as a blending partner is just as impressive.
How to Open (and Taste) Older Wines
The first time I realized I loved older wine came with a jolt. It was a joy-filled revelation and deeply personal celebration — akin, perhaps, to the realization that you're holding a winning ticket with 80-1 odds for a horse in the Kentucky Derby. In my case, I was at my father-in-law's home in Carlsbad, California, holding a glass of 1995 Château Cheval Blanc, an extremely rare Saint-Émilion red from the region's most prestigious winery.
Happiness Is a Glass of Wine
Wine and Spirits Vintner Tor Kenward reflects on Napa’s early days. TOR KENWARD, A WELL-KNOWN California vintner with a radiant gaze and sharp, deep-set angular features, knows where Napa Valley’s early trailblazers (and villains) are buried. Though many have passed away, several are still kicking, and a host of them make an appearance in the septuagenarian’s new memoir, “Reflections of a Vintner,” published in 2022 by Cameron + Company.
Eric Wareheim's Cookbook Has a Great Cocktail Chapter
When news anchor Jan Skylar of Channel 5 News inquired what kind of wine Dr. Steve Brule was enjoying while reporting from wine country, "Sweet berry wine!" was Brule's tipsy retort before he pounded a full glass of red. Then Brule, whose face was visibly smeared and stained Petite Sirah-purple, informed viewers that, "Wine was invented by the Romans — for orgies," and added, "orgies are not too much fun if no one wants to do it with you." This was, of course, all fake news.
17 Off-the-Beaten-Path California Reds
California's mainstream red grape varieties—Zinfandel, Merlot, the stalwart Cabernet Sauvignon—have maintained a tight grip on power. Indeed, Cabernet's tenure as California's supreme wine grape has outlived even the length of the FDR presidency. Still, the Golden State boasts an abundance of revolutionary-minded winemakers who are willing to exploit the potential of the vast array of grape varieties available for cultivation.
Love Conquers All
Arts Cuisine Style Travel Wellness Restaurants Christopher and Martina Kostow, of 3-Michelin-star The Restaurant at Meadowood, survived the wildfire that could have destroyed their dream. words by jonathan cristaldi, photography by aya brackett MOST READ CUISINE DURING A BRIEF lull in the cool December rainstorm that was drenching Napa Valley, I looked up to see a panorama of fluffy white and dark blue clouds interwoven with the jagged, protruding edges of the Vaca Mountains.
I Can’t Believe These Wines Are Canned
A sampling of cans from the rosé category. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CANNED WINE COMPETITION THE THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CANNED WINE COMPETITION PROVED THAT QUALITY IS ON THE RISE by Jonathan Cristaldi Tasting Panel editor-at-large Jonathan Cristaldi samples a flight of wines at the third annual International Canned Wine Competition.
Grapes From These Vineyards Make California's Top Wines - Here Are 16 Names to Know Original
Photo: Courtesy of Hirsch Vineyards If you can't memorize the thousands of winemakers and wineries around the world, keeping a mental note of which wines are guaranteed to delight and which wines should get poured down the sink, there's one trick to identifying the best potential bottle of wine: knowing the name of top vineyards that might appear on the label. This trick is especially useful in a large winemaking region like California.
The 12 Best Boxed Wines to Drink in 2021
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. What’s so great about glass wine bottles? They’re delicate, clinky, and try as you may, you can’t stack them on top of each other for easy storage.
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