So far the Discover Rhone festivities have been a non-stop adventure of Master Classes, tastings, fabulous lunches and dinners, and evening events and parties. After a day of Viognier, some of it quite aged at the Ampuis Masterr Class. The space of the tasting is often used as a concert venue in summer. Gigondas was fabulous! MORE >>

Porterhouse was the elegant venue for a tutored tasting of La Follette wine lead by winemaker Greg La Follette (formerly of Flowers, de Loach) who recently launched a new winery last year called La Follette. and runners up the 2001 Torbreck RunRig Shiraz (3% Viognier) and the 2001 and 2006 Torbreck The Struie Shiraz. scallops. MORE >>

This is a tiny town in the Northern Rhone, famous for its red wine made from Syrah and white from Viognier. Today I had the chance to taste many wines, including the 2009 and 2007 Cotes du Rhone white (made from mostly viognier) selling for $14 that is incredibly fresh and delicious, with racy apricot on the palate and a long finish. MORE >>

yet from the tasting notes below you can see it was worth it. Pueblo de Sol Viognier 2011. Good terroir for growing Viognier. Almost garnet color with very garnet, nearly transparent edges, on the nose sweet prince Edward cherry tobacco as in Bordeaux (could be a close call if blind tasting against a grand cru). 10 US. MORE >>

Glen Carlou and Backsberg are neighboring wineries in Paarl who kindly hosted me for a tasting of both wines, then lunch at Backsberg’s lovely al fresco restaurant. The Backsberg tasting room is rather whimsical in design … light and airy and down to earth at the same time. Arco Laamar & Harry Haddon (checked shirt). News S. MORE >>