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Richard Jennings

Prolific Silicon Valley wine writer on IntoWine.com's list: 100 most influential people in U.S. wine
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Blog Posts

Santa Maria Valley: Low Profile, Cool Climate Excellence (in Palo Alto Patch)

Santa Maria Valley is the source of well balanced, cool climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, from producers like Bien Nacido, Presqu'ile and Riverbench.

Exploring Terroir and Balance in Santa Barbara County (in Palo Alto Patch)

An intensive trip to Santa Barbara County highlights balanced wines with a primary focus on terroir exemplified by Goodland Wines and Dierberg/Star Lane.

6th Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine: A Culinary Extravaganza (in Palo Alto Patch)

Report on Pebble Beach Food & Wine event, including a Scarecrow seminar, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne vertical and dinner inspired by photo book My Last Supper.

Fabulously Food Friendly and Ageworthy Grüner (in Palo Alto Patch)

Austria's great grape Grüner Veltliner makes complex, food friendly, long lived wines. My report on a recent seminar with top sommelier Aldo Sohm lists 55 wines with prices and recommendations.

Good Value ‘House Wine’? Try a Côtes du Rhône (in Palo Alto Patch)

Côtes du Rhône represent a good value, from one of France's great regions. Here are top recommendations of Grenache-based wines from this region.

Food

Zinfandel: The Highs and Lows of ZAP 2013 (in Palo Alto Patch)

Report on Zinfandel's greatest producers, whose wines are mainly sourced from very old vines, based on showings at 2013 ZAP Zinfandel Festival in San Francisco.

Food

Ribera del Duero: Rich, Tempranillo-Based Wines (in Palo Alto Patch)

Ribera del Duero's rich, high quality wines, come from high altitude vineyards planted predominantly to a local variant of Tempranillo.

California Chardonnay Entering Its Golden Age? (in Palo Alto Patch)

Evidence we're entering a golden age for California Chardonnay, and other reflections on 2013 In Pursuit of Balance tasting of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Southern German Food and Wine Delights (in Palo Alto Patch)

Report on a trip to Pfalz and Baden in Germany where wine is changing, thanks to modern tastes favoring dry wines, global warming, improved viticulture and winemaking.

Il Caberlot: A Love Story (in Palo Alto Patch)

Il Caberlot is made from a rare grape thought to be a crossing of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The Rogoskys' love and devotion make the wine extraordinary.