Total Wine & More

Have you made it to a Total Wine store yet? It is a wonderful arrangement of well selected wines from all price points and from all parts of the world. The aisles are well-labeled so you can find the varietal or wine region you are looking for. As an added bonus, the staff is well versed in wines and are very helpful. They have a great wine program of interesting and educational events. Tastings on weekends are 10-cents! They also have guest winemakers and themed wine tasting events. If you are a wine aficionado, appreciate good wine, in search of great wines under $10 or allocation wines, this is the place to explore and have lots of fun looking at all the 8000 labels.

Vine Cliff Merlot

Another great find at Grocery Outlet in Folsom. Not sure how all the wine purchasing works - if it's store by store since the stores are each privately owned. At least that is what the ads say. Go check out their wine department for the best bargains on the planet. I found 2005 Vine Cliff Merlot for $8 bucks at Grocery Outlet. This winery has high scoring wines and wines very pricey like their 92-point Parker rating Cab at $75 bucks. If I were you, I would be running to Grocery Outlet and checking out the bargains. I did taste the Merlot and it was very balanced, lots of fruit, full-bodied and basically soft tannins. It can be aged for another 3 years max. I'm going back and getting the rest of it in Folsom ;-) for the holidays.

What is Raku?

Out at Tanis Winery in Amador Country off Willow Creek Road, they exhibit a young artist (potter) with an array of whimsy designs. Raku - an ancient Japanese technique. Karianne Ginnelly, 19 yrs old, is currently finishing her Fine Arts degree at Columbia. Prices range from $35 - $165. While you are enjoying the art, taste through the Tanis wines. This is a unique boutique 800 case production wine. Get their Blush wine of mouvedre/grenache for Thanksgiving. You will be warmly greeted by Jill. A very pleasant and enjoyable stop in the Amador Country foothills. They also have a tasty Pinotage.