Wine Beyond Taste

Taste is usually the first sense that comes to mind when thinking about wine and is the basis of the common, “I like it or I don’t like it” response to that first sip.

Olivia YounanJuly 28, 2020wine tasting, cystic fibrosis, wine event, white wine, red wine, food and wine, California wine, learn about wine, food tasting, charity auction

Choice – A Continuing Topic

Lodi boasts some of California’s oldest Zinfandel vines and is widely considered the “Zinfandel capital of the world.”

Olivia YounanMay 22, 2020cystic fibrosis

Wine Choices and Differing Opinions

Can you imagine picking-up a restaurant’s wine list only to find a selection of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir for the reds along with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc representing the whites?

Olivia YounanMay 11, 2020cystic fibrosis, wine tasting, white wine, wine event, charity auction, red wine, food tasting, California wine, food and wine, curecf

Wines for Summer and the “New Normal”

Summertime is a great opportunity for many affordable wine adventures, so join in the “music of summer” and don’t miss the melody!

Olivia YounanApril 28, 2020summertime, wine event, white wine, cystic fibrosis, food and wine, California wine

Getting to Know the Two “Masters”

Throughout the world of wine, there are two coveted certifications held by very few individuals and both serve to define our dining and cellaring experiences.

Olivia YounanApril 15, 2020sommelier, wine tasting, cystic fibrosis, California wine, food and wine, wine event, curecf

Savoring a Bit of Vinous History

Estimates indicate that 90 percent or more of all wine purchased in the U.S. is consumed within 24 hours and the vast majority of the remaining 10 percent does not see its second month.

Olivia YounanMarch 29, 2020wine tasting, white wine, red wine, cystic fibrosis, food tasting, food and wine, California wine, fine wine

Exploring the Basics

Skilled winemakers, like all great artists, have an innate ability to know when to stand back and be patient as well as when their intervention and talent will guide them in the production of an exceptional wine.

Olivia YounanMarch 8, 2020wine tasting, white wine, red wine, California wine, food and wine, learn about wine, cystic fibrosis, charity auction, california wine

Notes From ‘Benvenuto Brunello’

Although Italy is a rather small country, it boasts by far the largest range of indigenous wine grape varietals and growing areas of any country in the world.

Olivia YounanFebruary 21, 2020wine tasting, food and wine, California wine, cystic fibrosis, charity auction, california wine, Benvenuto Brunello

Bordeaux 2017. Some Welcome Surprises

Bordeaux is among France's largest wine producing areas, and the city of Bordeaux is second only to Paris as the country's most visited.

Olivia YounanFebruary 7, 2020wine tasting, food and wine, red wine, California wine, learn about wine, charity auction, cystic fibrosis, los angeles events, bordeaux wine

Wine Etiquette – Real or Imagined.

The implication of wine etiquette can be observed in many situations that all have simple, informal and common sense alternatives.

Olivia YounanJanuary 24, 2020food, food and wine, los angeles events, California wine, cystic fibrosis, red wine, wine tasting, learn about wine

The Nose Knows

From the very early days of my vinous adventure, I realized wine was expressive of all five senses.

Izza Wei-HaasSeptember 6, 2019California wine, red wine, learn about wine, food and wine, los angeles events, charity auction, cystic fibrosis

Alcohol, Oak and Scores

My interest and passion for wine began in the late 1970s, about the same time Robert Parker came to fame with his Wine Advocate introducing the 100-point scoring system.

Izza Wei-HaasSeptember 5, 2019California wine, charity auction, food and wine, red wine, wine tasting, cystic fibrosis, los angeles events

Contrasting the New and Old Worlds

Traditionally the Old World encompasses Europe and principally, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal where grapes have flourished for millennia and wine has always played a significant role in many facets of life.