Please The Palate

Please The Palate Please the Palate is your marketing, branding, events, education, writing source in the wine industry

Please the Palate specializes in marketing and event planning for the wine and spirits industry. From product launches to regional promotions to consumer education, Please the Palate creates and tailors packages to fit your needs. Overseeing both the big picture and the organizational details, and partnering with top industry professionals, Please the Palate is dedicated to providing seamless customer service.

Most people go to a store, buy a bottle of wine, and consume it within a few hours or days. But when you work in wine, b...
08/27/2026

Most people go to a store, buy a bottle of wine, and consume it within a few hours or days. But when you work in wine, bottles tend to accumulate. I am not an intentional wine collector but have amassed many bottles over the years. Every once in a while, I look through my wine fridges and wonder: Did I miss the drinking point? Will these wines still be good? If it is from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, it likely has aging potential. And I can say this after experiencing it firsthand at a retrospective tasting during the 25th annual Sta. Rita Hills Wine & Fire.

Most people go to a store, buy a bottle of wine, and consume it within a few hours or days. But when you work in wine, bottles tend to accumulate. I am not an intentional wine collector but have am…

This past week, I traveled to Lake County to interview Jonathan Walters, VP of Winemaking and Vineyard Operations at Bra...
08/26/2026

This past week, I traveled to Lake County to interview Jonathan Walters, VP of Winemaking and Vineyard Operations at Brassfield Estate Winery, for the Wine Soundtrack podcast. Brassfield Estate sits rather remotely in the High Valley AVA, surrounded by mountains, wildlife, vineyards, and even a volcano. After recording the podcast and touring the property, we settled in for a casual dinner with Chinese food and, of course, opened a few bottles of wine. One of those wines was the Brassfield Estate 2023 Viognier. Viognier is known for its beautiful aromatics and rich texture, but it can sometimes lack the acidity needed to keep it fresh and balanced. Not this one. With beautiful texture, vibrant acidity, and enough weight to stand up to our dinner, the Brassfield Estate 2023 Viognier is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

This past week, I traveled to Lake County to interview Jonathan Walters, VP of Winemaking and Vineyard Operations at Brassfield Estate Winery, for the Wine Soundtrack podcast. Brassfield Estate sit…

For years, wine drinkers have joked about the "ABC" of wine: Anything But Chardonnay. I have always preferred a differen...
08/19/2026

For years, wine drinkers have joked about the "ABC" of wine: Anything But Chardonnay. I have always preferred a different interpretation: Always Bring Chardonnay. That's exactly what I did when friends invited me over for dinner. I knew a well-made Chardonnay would be versatile enough to pair with the entire meal, and the Donum 2022 Russian River Valley Chardonnay proved me right. Elegant, balanced, and incredibly food-friendly, it is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

For years, wine drinkers have joked about the “ABC” of wine: Anything But Chardonnay. I have always preferred a different interpretation: Always Bring Chardonnay. That’s exactly w…

When it is hot and humid A.F. outside, you need a wine that is Fresh A.F. And that is exactly what I brought to dinner a...
08/12/2026

When it is hot and humid A.F. outside, you need a wine that is Fresh A.F. And that is exactly what I brought to dinner at a friend's house in Washington D.C. this week. Friends for more than 30 years, we do not get to see each other as often as we would like, so there was plenty of catching up to do. And as we talked and ate, we enjoyed the Unico Zelo 2024 Fresh A.F., a fresh, juicy, chillable red that was as fun to drink as its name suggests, making it the Please The Palate wine of the week.

When it is hot and humid A.F. outside, you need a wine that is Fresh A.F. And that is exactly what I brought to dinner at a friend’s house in Washington D.C. this week. Friends for more than …

"Farm Like The World Depends on It" - Why Paso Robles Growers Are Choosing Regenerative Organic Farming
08/11/2026

"Farm Like The World Depends on It" - Why Paso Robles Growers Are Choosing Regenerative Organic Farming

Recently, I spent a week visiting the six Regenerative Organic Certified® wineries in Paso Robles. When I checked into my room upon arrival, there was a bag sitting on the bed with the message, & #8…

When people think of Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon is almost always the first wine that comes to mind. But long before...
08/05/2026

When people think of Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon is almost always the first wine that comes to mind. But long before Cabernet dominated the landscape, Chenin Blanc dominated as the valley's most widely planted white grape. As someone who loves Chenin Blanc for its beautiful texture and vibrant acidity, I was excited to taste the Charles Krug 2025 Limited Release Chenin Blanc. Not only is it a delicious wine, but it also revives an important chapter in Napa Valley's winemaking heritage, making it the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

When people think of Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon is almost always the first wine that comes to mind. But long before Cabernet dominated the landscape, Chenin Blanc dominated as the valley& #8217…

Do You Really Need a Different Wine Glass for Every Wine? One Gabriel-Glas Does It All.
08/04/2026

Do You Really Need a Different Wine Glass for Every Wine? One Gabriel-Glas Does It All.

If you Google the question, “Does the wine glass really matter?” you’ll quickly find that the answer is yes. Most experts agree that the shape of a wine glass affects how a wine t…

This week on Wine Soundtrack, meet Andy Neja of Cairjn Wine Cellars. Pronounced like “karn”, derived from the word “cair...
07/30/2026

This week on Wine Soundtrack, meet Andy Neja of Cairjn Wine Cellars. Pronounced like “karn”, derived from the word “cairn”, which means “a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or as a landmark,” Andy chose the name as a tribute to his family’s farming legacy and as a nod to the limestone-rich terrain of West Paso. After a career in every aspect of the wine industry (farming, hospitality, retail sales, and wine production), Andy launched Cairjn Wine Cellars, showcasing the work of local farmers to craft small-lot wines that highlight distinctive grape varieties and expressive vineyard sites. Enjoy listening!

What does it take to build a winery that honors both the land and the people who cultivate it? In this episode, we meet Andy Neja, founder and winemaker of Cai

A few weeks ago, I shared a Post & Vine Carignane from Contra Costa County that reminded me just how compelling this und...
07/29/2026

A few weeks ago, I shared a Post & Vine Carignane from Contra Costa County that reminded me just how compelling this underappreciated grape can be. This week, I opened another bottle, this time from Mendocino County’s historic Testa Vineyard. I was once again impressed by the character and versatility of Carignane. Farmed by the same family for generations and grown using organic and biodynamic practices, the Post & Vine 2022 Carignane from Testa Vineyard in Mendocino is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

A few weeks ago, I shared a Post & Vine Carignane from Contra Costa County that reminded me just how compelling this underappreciated grape can be. This week, I opened another bottle, this tim…

You do not need a passport or a plane ticket to escape to Spain (although that would be nice!). Instead, head to Santa M...
07/28/2026

You do not need a passport or a plane ticket to escape to Spain (although that would be nice!). Instead, head to Santa Monica's Bar Xuntos, where you will be transported to Spain the moment you walk through the door. From the warm, inviting decor and welcoming staff to the thoughtfully curated menu and distinctly Spanish wine list, it feels less like a restaurant in Los Angeles and more like a neighborhood tapas bar somewhere in Spain.

You do not need a passport or a plane ticket to escape to Spain (although that would be nice!). Instead, head to Santa Monica’s Bar Xuntos, where you will be transported to Spain the moment y…

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