SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION

SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION

Summary: Founded in 1967 on the rugged slopes of Pritchard Hill, Chappellet Winery helped define Napa Valley mountain wines long before the area became iconic. Through vision, grit, and striking architecture, Donn and Molly Chappellet established a winery that remains...
SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION

Sometimes a Great Notion

By Karen MacNeil February 13, 2026 It began with a mountainside. A mountainside so remote and rocky that few believed anything would thrive there except for the old oaks that twisted themselves along the canyons and contours of the mountain.The following content is...
IN PURSUIT OF BEAUTY

IN PURSUIT OF BEAUTY

What Matters When You Taste Wine By Karen MacNeil   In this article, Karen MacNeil argues that wine tasting should focus less on technical analysis and more on emotional response. Rather than relying solely on tasting grids and flavor identification, MacNeil...
IN PURSUIT OF BEAUTY

In Pursuit of Beauty

What Matters When You Taste Wine By Karen MacNeil   I once had an employee (a woman who was smart and knew a lot about wine) who, when she loved a wine would always describe it as “pretty.”  It drove me crazy. Just about every time she used that descriptor, I’d...
The Best Chardonnays

The Best Chardonnays

California Chardonnay has never been better. I don’t say that casually. It’s easy to make B- level Chardonnay that’s creamy, oaky, and boring. Making A+++ Chardonnay is infinitely harder. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign...

A. The medieval French word for a small village, similar to the Old English “burg” 

B. A nomadic German tribe which once settled in the area

C. The Latin word Burgarius which was the name for a Roman province that once extended over most of central France

D. The name for early French rural governing bodies which were made up of noble councilmen who were known as Burrs