Heading to dinner with friends, I was asked to bring a bottle of wine. I wanted a versatile wine that would go with a variety of dishes so I grabbed a Chenin Blanc. I thought it would be the perfect wine with texture, body, and acidity so that it could stand up to richer dishes and not overwhelm light dishes. And it did just that. That is why the Lang & Reed 2022 Napa Valley Chenin Blanc is the Please The Palate wine of the week.  ..read more

Rhone wine lovers gathered in Paso Robles in February 2024 for the 16th annual Rhone Rangers Experience. Wineries from not only Paso but also Lodi, Santa Barbara County, San Luis ..read more

I have officially enjoyed my 49th dining experience at Maude Restaurant in Beverly Hills. However, for all the times I have dined there, one place I never sat was at the Chefs Counter, until now. Sitting at the chef's counter gave me a front row seat to the preparation of each dish. The meticulous precision applied to each dish which was then paired perfectly with a domestic wine made this another memorable dining experience at Maude and the Please The Palate pick of the week.  ..read more

I have been a fan of Acquiesce wines since the first time I tried them in 2020. I have loved the Bourboulenc, the Picpoul, the Clairette Blanche, and the Grenache Blanc, as well as the Grenache rosé. And when I tasted the Acquiesce Christina's Outlier 2022 Grenache, I fell in love again. The color was stunning, the flavor was delicious, and the wine was super quaffable. That is why the Acquiesce Christina's Outlier 2022 Grenache, Lodi is the Please The Palate wine of the week ..read more

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

While the Please The Palate pick of the week is usually a highlight of the past week, this week it is looking into the future. That is because next week is the 7th Annual Masters of Taste at the Rose Bowl. Between the location, the food and beverage purveyors, and, most importantly, the benefactor, Masters of Taste is an event not to be missed and that is why looking ahead to Masters of Taste 2024 is the Please The Palate pick of the week. And, I have a special discount code to share as well ..read more

Today, Monday, March 25th, is International Women In Wine Day! In honor of the day, and the entire month of March that celebrates women, I wrote a story about  Jordan ..read more

Wine grapes can be quite versatile. A red skinned grape can make a red wine, but it also can make a rosé wine, a white wine, a sparkling wine, even a dessert wine. Join us as we explore five expressions of Grenache from one wine producer, Acquiesce Winery in Lodi, California. Enjoy the video, give it a like, let us know if you have a favorite Grenache and subscribe to our channel for more ..read more

There are many delicious wines out there and I get to taste and enjoy many of them. But sometimes a wine blows you away. You take a sip and you don't have words as a smile crosses your face. That is what happened as I sipped the Bien Nacido 2021 Grenache, Santa Maria Valley. I don't know exactly what it was about this wine that stood out above the rest. Each wine I had tasted before was just as good. But there was something about this wine that "knocked my socks off" and that is why it is the Please The Palate wine of the week.  ..read more

When one thinks of Inglewood, California, one might think about an area of LA that is close to Los Angeles International Airport or near the Forum. But Inglewood is also home to 1010 Wine and Events, the first and only wine bar in Inglewood. With the largest selection of Black-owned wineries in the state of California and a brand new menu, 1010 Wine and Events is the Please The Palate pick of the week.  ..read more