Russ Briley

• Briley: Zipping and sipping on Mother's Day Published 05/19/2012 at 3 p.m.

  A few months ago I tried a short zip line and although the ride was quick, the rush, the experience was unforgettable. I told my wife what fun I had had and I was expecting to hear that familiar, "You ...

• Briley: Winemaker has CADE off to nice start Published 05/05/2012 at 3 p.m.

  A little while back I was privileged to meet and interview Anthony Biagi, winemaker at PlumpJack and CADE Estate wineries of Napa. In 2005, PlumpJack veterans John Conover, Gavin Newsom and Gordon Getty founded CADE Estate Winery on Howell Mountain ...

• Briley: 3-day wine festival in New York is an event with good tastes Published 04/21/2012 at 3 p.m.

  My wife, Nancy, and I just celebrated 30 years of marriage. We had talked about where we wanted to go and our list included France, Italy and New Zealand. However, we both had never been to New York and we ...

• Briley: Spring is a nervous time for vintners Published 04/07/2012 at 3 p.m.

  Every spring, vineyard managers rejoice as their grapevines come to life and the grape-growing cycle begins. This first part of the growing cycle is called bud break. This stage starts around the beginning of March in the Northern Hemisphere and ...

• Briley: Wine tasting at its lowest Published 03/10/2012 at 3 p.m.

  Our "Off the Charts" wine club meets once a month. We rotate homes and the host chooses the theme. We have had Bordeaux night, pinot noir night and old world wine night to name a few.

• Briley: First-growth bordeauxs are among the finest wines in world Published 02/25/2012 at 3 p.m.

  When I was first learning about wine and I visited tasting rooms in California, it was common for me to be presented with wines called "Meritage."

• Wine 101: Margerum Wine Company Published 01/14/2012 at 3 p.m.

  Last year I attended an event at Whole Foods Market in Encino. The market was promoting a new line of wines made especially for Whole Foods by local winemakers in Santa Barbara County called "A Collaboration."

• Wine 101: Hangover? Try these home remedies Published 12/31/2011 at 3 p.m.

  New Year's Day is known for watching football, trying not to break New Year's resolutions we made just the night before, having another great holiday family meal, and, for some, trying to "recover" from the night before.

• Briley: Wine by the numbers Published 12/03/2011 at 3 p.m.

  Below are some interesting wine statistics, Feel free to share and be the center of attention at your next party or the one everyone will avoid. There is estimated to be over 20 million acres of grapes planted in the ...

• Briley: Going 'Sideways' and 'Vertical' with Rex Pickett Published 11/19/2011 at 3 p.m.

  Recently I had the opportunity to meet Rex Pickett, author "Sideways" and his new follow-up novel "Vertical," at the Santa Barbara County Vintners Harvest Festival. It was a chance to interview him about the books and the movie "Sideways," which ...

• Briley: Visit to Italy leads to dream of building of Magnavino Cellars Published 02/21/2012 at midnight

  Robert Wagner took a trip to Italy 20 years ago that changed his life. He spent a month touring the country and visiting many wine regions during the grape harvest season. He witnessed the passion that goes into family owned ...

• Wine 101: Margerum Wine Company Published 02/21/2012 at midnight

  Last year I attended an event at Whole Foods Market in Encino. The market was promoting a new line of wines made especially for Whole Foods by local winemakers in Santa Barbara County called "A Collaboration."

• Briley: Zinfandel: California's own? Published 02/11/2012 at 3 p.m.

  Italy has sangiovese, Spain has tempranillo and France has about everything else, but if California is going to claim a wine varietal as its own it would certainly be zinfandel.

• Briley: Visit to Italy leads to dream of building of Magnavino Cellars Published 01/28/2012 at 3 p.m.

  Robert Wagner took a trip to Italy 20 years ago that changed his life. He spent a month touring the country and visiting many wine regions during the grape harvest season. He witnessed the passion that goes into family owned ...

• Briley: Wine by the numbers Published 12/29/2011 at midnight

  Below are some interesting wine statistics, Feel free to share and be the center of attention at your next party or the one everyone will avoid. There is estimated to be over 20 million acres of grapes planted in the ...

• Briley: Oregon produces world-class pinot noir wine Published 12/29/2011 at midnight

  For many years Oregon has been producing outstanding pinot noir up and down the American Viticultural Area known as the Willamette Valley. Willamette Valley is on the same latitude line as the Burgundy region of France. Burgundy is recognized as ...

• Briley: A glass is a glass is a glass Published 11/22/2011 at midnight

  In my early days of wine tasting I wasn't a big believer of using different wine glasses for different varietals. I always figured if I had a glass large enough to enable me to swirl the wine without making a ...

• Briley: Going 'Sideways' and 'Vertical' with Rex Pickett Published 11/22/2011 at midnight

  Recently I had the opportunity to meet Rex Pickett, author "Sideways" and his new follow-up novel "Vertical," at the Santa Barbara County Vintners Harvest Festival. It was a chance to interview him about the books and the movie "Sideways," which ...

• Briley: Oregon produces world-class pinot noir wine Published 10/22/2011 at 3:02 p.m.

  For many years Oregon has been producing outstanding pinot noir up and down the American Viticultural Area known as the Willamette Valley. Willamette Valley is on the same latitude line as the Burgundy region of France. Burgundy is recognized as ...

• Briley: It's time to make some wine Published 10/08/2011 at 3 p.m.

  The grape harvest starts when the grapes reach the right sugar level. They are usually harvested in the early morning to avoid heat, which can damage the freshly picked grapes. Some wineries harvest at night to avoid any chance of ...

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