Clik here to view.
Jeep Trick
Deep in the Southern California desert, under summer’s blazing death rattle, it can be easy to confuse the arid and rust-tinged landscape for a far more exotic place. Here, the dead of summer can be...
View ArticleClik here to view.
SOMMbody To Love
Patience isn’t an inherent trait for most, It’s loathed, but reluctantly learned. As one of our founding fathers and wine connoisseur, Thomas Jefferson wrote about this self test: “Nothing gives one...
View ArticleClik here to view.
McKidd Stays in the Picture
Terms such as mashing, malting, fermenting, distilling and maturing might conjure a classic John Hughes flick from the 1980s, or any number of coming-of-age films before or since. But to an informed...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Bright Stuff
From “pop-up” impresario to Michelin darling, Mark Bright has turned the traditional fine dining model on its head, scoring a top spot in the new vanguard of American gastronomy along the way.Three...
View ArticleClik here to view.
WLX Sommelier Spotlight: Peter Granoff
Peter Granoff gives the everyman reason to feel insecure. He is a Master Sommelier (the 13th American to pass the rigorous three-part exam, in 1991). He can riff on a range of topics from...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Smashed on Sauvignon Blanc with Aaron Paul
Los Angeles is having one of its predictable if periodic heat waves, the kind that increases the crowds in air-conditioned movie theaters and malls, and makes even patrons at frostily cool Hollywood...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Somms Give Thanks
Because great wine makes just about everything better, we’ve asked a few of our favorite experts to share their Thanksgiving day savvy. Rest assured, their tips will traverse all tables, even those...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Amazon Seeds Clouds for River of Wine
After two failed attempts at online wine sales in the last 13 years, Amazon.com recently announced its latest venture, Amazon Wine. Is this time the charm for the world’s largest online retailer?...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Through the Good-Looking Glass
A rose might smell as sweet by another name, but what about the stems? Southern California oenophiles sniff around for the best stemware to pour their semiprecious red and white jewels, assessing the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
1313 Main
This classy wine lounge boasts over 1,300 wine labels and six different settings on site where you can sit down and try any one of them. A neighborhood gem to wine country locals, this hip...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chanin Wine Company
Created and run by Gavin Chanin, a 25-year old UCLA graduate who made the elite Forbes's list "30 Under 30," this fresh force of winemaking utilizes sustainable farming techniques and minimalist...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Corison
Corison employs a "hands off technique" by allowing the vineyards to create the wine while winemaker Cathy Corison merely guides the creation implemented deep in the Napa Valley soil. Classic...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hahn Estates
With wines created in the gorgeous Monterey County, Hahn seeks to capture the natural beauty and vibe of the seaside and farming community. Monterey lovers will see the area in the design of the Hahn...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hannah Nicole
The arresting architecture greeting visitors down Balfour Road is reason enough to pay a visit to the Hannah Nicole winery. But once you're inside the testing room with its exceptionally friendly...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lolinda
Serial restaurateur Adriano Paganini is not afraid to acknowledge he has a formula. It’s a cocktail that’s one part conceptual cool, one part neighborhood cultural savvy with a dash of stellar design....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Maverick
Guests at Maverick will find it easy to make new friends in the bijou establishment nestled in the Mission District. Maverick serves modern regional American dishes crafted from strictly organic...
View ArticleClik here to view.
St. Vincent
St. Vincent's global cuisine is the ideal locale for an eclectic collection of friends. Parties may reserve a favorite table in advance, or simply walk in and find a new one. Either way, the guests, be...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bonds of Steel, James, that is
James is always wielding a new clandestine weapon, the ones that have become as iconic as Bond himself. Infamous Bond scenes, such as Oddjob’s deadly bowler hat, have set high expectations for all the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ad-libbed Spin Through North Beach
For many, the mere mention of North Beach elicits a beatnik past. One where the literati debate controversial literature inside cafes with exotic South American and Ethiopian aromas; where hand made...
View ArticleClik here to view.
On the SF Restaurant Radar
In the dining Mecca of San Francisco, blue-ribbon restaurants brim from Bay to Bay. Yet, it can be tempting to revisit our tried and true standbys--at the risk of a disappointing evening out. One new...
View Article
