Chardonnay seems so ubiquitous in America that few wine drinkers think about where it all started and when. In the US, most of Chardonnay’s early history dates back to the 1880s and the Wente family in the Livermore Valley east of San Francisco. To this day, five generations later, the Wentes still make delicious Chardonnay. Our Wine to Know this week is an example. Quizzards, this week’s Wine Quiz is a challenge, but the answer is something most of us wine drinkers will want to know. Our Deal this week is a very dry brisk Chenin sparkler from the Loire, which feels just right for hot weather. And then there’s this issue’s My Take in which I vent (a little) about “tasting a place.” A full Blog on this quandary is coming soon. And finally, chocolate. As if we weren’t already impressed by chocolate’s complexities, there’s the number 25. See the Numbers.
—Warmest (coolest) wishes, Karen
