Why January Is The Best Time To Buy Wine
Having travelled to Napa or Sonoma Valleys about 100 times, I can firmly state that the best time of year to purchase from wineries is actually in January. I use…
How To Improve Your Wine Education
It is most important for premier wine retailers to immerse themselves in the world of wine and educate their palates. One of the best methods to expand your horizons and…
Why Red Zinfandel Shines in Summertime
It seemed like a long winter, which is why I am especially appreciating this 82-degree spring day in Philadelphia. I love cooking and pairing wine with food. In the summertime,…
How To Trade Up Your Wine Customers
I am a voracious reader and spent a lot of time digesting books on sales and marketing. In 2002, I was impressed by the best-selling book, “Why We Buy: The…
A Tour Through Napa Valley’s Sub-Appellations
I have seen a tremendous evolution in Napa Valley since I began doing business there 18 years ago. In addition to the advantages of a strong economy and limited availability,…
Meet Jeff Kunde, An Early Adopter of Eco-Winemaking
I recently caught up with Jeff Kunde, Chairman of the Board of Kunde Family Winery, in the middle of his 2017 harvest to discuss sustainable wine practices. Jeff is a…
How Hurt Was California’s 2017 Wine Harvest By Fires?
California’s North Coast is like my second home, so it was difficult to watch the devastation from at least three wildfires that occurred there during the second week of October.…
Talking Sonoma Vintages with Bryan Davison, Winemaker at Michel-Schlumberger
I recently sat down with winemaker Bryan Davison, who took over the helm of winemaking in 2011 at the iconic Michel-Schlumberger Winery in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley. Bryan is highly…
Wine Column: My Return to Pennsylvania Wine
I thoroughly enjoyed my seven-year tenure at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), most of it as chairman of a then-$1.7-billion-dollar operation with over 600 stores and thousands of employees.…