It seems like just yesterday that we were celebrating the new year and yet here we are, already in April. Alas, Spring is here! With all of the rain we have had in Southern California (and more to come), the hills have never been greener, and the flowers have never been brighter. And it is time for the Please The Palate Spring 2024 Newsletter ..read more

For the February 2024 Issue of BIN Magazine, I had the pleasure to write the story Desire Richness with Elije Más Riqueza Tequila. Riqueza signifies “aiming high, loving, teaching, learning ..read more

For the February 2024 Issue of BIN Magazine, I had the pleasure to write the feature story: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey Honors the Tradition of Heaven Hill Distillery With deep ..read more

Happy New Year! Hoping you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for another year! As you get ready, enjoy the Please The Palate January 2024 Newsletter ..read more

Welcome to October! It is hard to believe that summer has passed, and we are heading into the final months of the year. I do not know where the summer went! It was filled with non-stop events and travel, especially the month of August in which I spent organizing Grappa events in New York. In September, I checked off a destination from my bucket list as I spent almost two weeks in Sicily. I have traveled to Italy numerous times, but this was my first time to Sicily and it will not be my last. Also in September, I was a judge at the 2023 Las Vegas Global Wine Awards. I completed all 82 interview ..read more

For the August 2023 Issue of BIN Magazine, I had the pleasure to write the feature story Espanita Artisanal Tequila: Affordable Luxury without Compromise.    Tequila is one of the fastest-growing spirits. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, “American adults cannot get enough of Mexico’s native spirits.” In the past 20 years, Tequila/Mezcal volumes have grown at an average rate of 7.2% per year for a total increase of 273%. And the fastest growth in the agave spirits category has been in High End and Super Premium brands. One of these brands is Espanita T ..read more

When summer comes, it is not only time for sunshine and fun but it also means it is time for another anniversary. It is the 12th anniversary of Please The Palate! I am so pleased to be celebrating a dozen years and look forward to another dozen! Thank you for your support over the years! As we begin the second half of 2023, there is barely any time to take a breath! While summer is typically a slow time in the event world, this summer is exceptionally busy. Events have me traveling to Chicago, Sonoma, and New York (numerous times) through July and August. On the writing side, I continue to con ..read more

For the June 2023 Issue of BIN Magazine, I had the pleasure to write the story Rooster Rojo Expands To Add Mezcal To Its Portfolio Like the proud and lucky Red Rooster living in the Tequila volcano for which it is named, Rooter Rojo is a proud pioneering brand since its launch in 2017. In addition to producing high-quality tequilas, Rooster Rojo has been a pioneering brand with regard to innovation within the agave category. In 2021, they launched Rooster Rojo Smoked Pineapple Infused Añejo Tequila. In 2022, they released Ahumado, a hybrid between Tequila and Mezcal. And, in 2023, they i ..read more

For the April 2023 Issue of BIN Magazine, I had the pleasure to write the story Casa Maestri Is On The Rise. Destiladora del Valle de Tequila Distillery, also known as “Casa Maestri”, may not be a household Tequila brand but it is the largest private brand producer of Tequila and one of the top ten Tequila producers in export sales volume. Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, Casa Maestri is continuing to grow. At the helm of Casa Maestri is Celia V. Maestri, a second-generation MexicanAmerican who was raised in the liquor business. Celia’s parents Jose and Celia Villanueva migrated to ..read more

We are already three months into 2023. Time just keeps flying by! The year started out with a bit of travel. I first traveled with girlfriends to Valle de Guadalupe in Baja Mexico. Then I went to Arizona with my dad to attend the Super Bowl. And I have traveled to Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma. Looking ahead, I will be returning to Sonoma, as well as Santa Ynez and Paso Robles. There are also a couple of trips to Italy on the horizon. And I will be judging two wine competitions in June. I thought the year started out slowly but sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. I had ..read more