Feisty Spanish Reds

Catherine Fallis MS CWP aka grape goddess

Savvy women understand the power of red. While wearing it one exudes confidence, power and femininity. Even a small statement such as a pair of fire-engine red shoes, or a handbag emphasizes feminine power and sexiness in ways pink only dreams of. Bullfighters too know the power of red, theatrically waving the final small cape before going in for the kill. Completing the circle, the bull leaves in its wake Sangre de Toro, bull’s blood, as a fiery if short-lived legacy. Like a red leather jacket, Rioja wine is a powerful ace in the hole. Stylish, classy, old world, and elegant enough to win the approval of the most sophisticated in your crowd, the best of these wines carry an intriguing undercurrent of feistiness never found in, say, for example, a Bordeaux, the wine it is most often compared to…Read the complete article here:http://www.yummyletter.com/sip.html

 Sommelier Journal, March 2009 

INTERVIEW Gary Pisoni, Pisoni Vineyards & Winery, Gonzales, California Catherine Fallis, MS, CWP

Gary Pisoni is larger than life.

Meet him once, and you’ll never forget him. Apparently, I had the same effect on him. As we sat on the shaded deck and barbecue terrace at Pisoni Ranch in the southern

Santa Lucia Highlands, he and his son Mark answered questions and kept my wine glasses full. There was no way I could keep up with

Gary, but at least I didn’t lose face with his son. Mark had been up since 2 a.m. harvesting grapes, his exhaustion a slight handicap.

Read the complete article here:

http://www.sommelierjournal.com/articles/article.aspx?year=2009&month=03&articlenum=34