Wine Wars: Tasting Showdown Between French Wine and California Wine at Bar Boulud

Ross Halleck, the winemaker of Halleck Vineyard located in Sonoma County, and Victoria Taylor, the sommelier of Bar Boulud in Manhattan, collaborated on a private wine pairing dinner. The event showcased premium wines from the Russian River Valley, known for its fruity and earthy notes, paired with delectable dishes crafted by the expert chefs at Bar Boulud. This unforgettable dining experience brought together the best of Californian winemaking and French culinary expertise, creating a fine dining experience for all attendees.

What goes better with French food? French wines or California wines? Winemaker Ross Halleck of Halleck Vineyard in Sonoma County collaborated with Bar Boulud Sommelier Victoria Taylor in Manhattan on a private vintner dinner to find out. 

They compared 4 award-winning, small-production California wines from the Halleck Vineyard boutique Sonoma winery in the West Sonoma County town of Sebastopol with 5 French wines,…

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Sustainable Wineries: The Future of Wine Production

Experience the beauty of sustainable viticulture, where environmental regulation meets grape-growing innovation. Our winegrowers utilize biodynamic practices, and our vineyards are USDA certified. From the red wines of California to the biodynamic wines of Austria, our commitment to sustainability is evident in every glass. By reducing food waste and practicing sustainable farming, we are leading the way towards a more sustainable future. #sustainability #iso14001 #winegrowing #environmentalregulation #biodynamicwines #usda #grapes #californiawines #austrianwines #olivetrees #foodwaste #winegrower

The wine industry has long been at the forefront of sustainable farming. Long before organic became a buzzword, eco-friendly California winemakers in highly respected regions like Sonoma County became ambassadors for climate protection through stakeholder engagement. The rise of the sustainable winery, carbon accounting, and climate-neutral viticulture are their responses to the decades of depletion and contamination that pesticides and commercial fertilizers have caused. …

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Pour Decisions: Favorite Sonoma Biodynamic, Organic or Natural Wines

natural wine grapes

Natural wine and organic wines are rising in popularity.

Despite the wide-ranging and heated discussions around natural and organic wine, ultimately, the difference, here in the US, is quite simple.

Organic wine is certified by the FDA. Natural wine is not. 

This is just fine for many passionate, anti-authoritarian, and raucous natural wine community members who suspect the futility of effective government regulation….

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Romantic Wineries in Sonoma for Lovers

Thanks to the ample rains from the heavens, Sonoma Valley vineyards are teeming with life. What could be better than a romantic wine tasting getaway in Sonoma? It’s time to get creative with your amorous planning.

But with a wealth of wonderful Sonoma wineries and hillside screaming out with abundant greenery, it may be challenging to pick and choose the most romantic wine tasting rooms….

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2023 Wine Festival Calendar

Wine Tasting Masterclass in Burgundy France with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

We scoured the web to put together this 2023 Wine Festival Calendar. It features 16 California Wine Festivals (including the big event in Santa Barbara), Nantucket, Oregon, and Colorado wine festivals, plus a wine festival reopening in France. All the festivals serve food, but these are true wine festivals, organized to appeal to aspiring wine enthusiasts and serious wine collectors. …

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Sonoma Wineries to Visit in 2024

If you’re searching for the best wineries to book a Sonoma County wine tasting at, here’s our list of top Sonoma wineries, from the Russian River Valley to the Sonoma Coast, Healdsburg to Alexander Valley, and Sebastopol to Dry Creek.

Sonoma County, California – a 60-minute drive from San Francisco – is home to many of the top boutique wineries in the US….

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This blog is sponsored by Halleck Vineyard but we also write about Sonoma wineries, wine tasting rooms and wines. If you buy anything through links on our site, in some cases we may earn a commission.