Author: SAHMmelier

Being a stay- at-home mom can leave one thirsting for a taste of the outside world, a world in which sentences are composed of more than three words. Being an educator means one is always seeking an opportunity to explore and learn. Being a woman with a need to connect can be a challenge when adult conversations are rare. In wine, I find the marriage of art and science, agriculture and storytelling provides limitless areas to explore. But it is the people that keep me engaged. The tenacity needed to keep the family dream alive, the risk to start anew, the trials and principles. I love the history of the vine, the impact of a season, the sentiment in the bottle. That is why I write. I write to tell their stories, to share a piece of mine. I write to learn as I teach others. I write to connect with new friends, to disconnect from the world. I write to celebrate what makes each of us unique, and that which ties us together.

Ways to Help-#WineCountryStrong

October 13, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

To write about wine while the wine country burns feels wrong to me. And yet finding the words to do the tragedy justice seems impossible. When I look at the devastation, see what has been taken, how can I adequately respond? When I start to realize the enormity of the situation, all words seem […]

A Bouquet of Rosé-Ridgeview Estate

September 20, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

When enjoying your favorite sparkling wine, what type of glass do you reach for? Traditionally, one would choose from a flute or a coupe, allegedly an ode of sorts to Marie Antoinette. While it has been a discussion for a while in the wine community, it has become more of a mainstream discussion of late. […]

Boy, I’m out of Shape

September 15, 2017.Reading time 3 minutes.

After a summer of having the kids home and being on the road for a few weeks, it was apparent that I was OUT OF SHAPE. Yes, there have been walks at the beach and around the neighborhood, some casual swims and hikes, but that just doesn’t cut it anymore. I got the kids back […]

An Artistic Perspective-Clos Pegase

July 17, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

A well made wine captures an essence. Wine, as with art, leaves an impression. One painting may capture your attention, but a study of a series, of a period paints a more complete picture. So it is with a winemaker, a brand. Bottle by bottle, stroke by stroke, the wines leave an impression. One bottle hints, but […]

A Palette of Whites for your Summer Palate

June 26, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

If you’ve ever gone to the paint store to choose a white for your trim, your ceiling, your wall, you know that what may seem like a no-brainer, quickly becomes a dizzying task. There are warm whites, cool whites. Yellow overtones, grey undertones. There are whites named after birds and others after things you’d find in […]

A Wish at Murrieta’s Well

June 12, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

Wishing for something new in your glass? A unique variety or take on a well-known grape? Toss a coin in Murrieta’s Well and you’re sure to find something delicious. I recently participated in a Snooth Virtual Tasting of Murrieta’s Well wines. I was grateful to be selected, along with several writers from around the country, to […]

One Day-New Zealand Wines

June 2, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

There are destinations in this world that I have longed to see for decades. “One day,” I have always said. One day I will have the time. One day I will have the money. One day. And nothing shows me more clearly how one day morphs into years, into decades than our children. My children […]

Down (and Up) in Kokomo

May 22, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

If I were to say, Kokomo, you might have a Pavlovian reaction. Visions of Tom Cruise flipping a shaker, pouring a blue concoction while the steel drums chime in the background. But the Kokomo I’m referring to takes their beverages much more seriously. Well, kind of. Erik Miller of Kokomo Wines recently made his way […]

Who’s your Mama?-Choosing a Mother’s Day Wine

May 11, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

Some clichés don’t bother me a bit. In fact, some, I relish. Like pink for Mother’s Day. Pink flowers, pink cards and pink wine suit me just fine. While the color choice may be cliché, I am certain your mother is not and she deserves a wine choice that fits her personality. Mom-Next-Door She answers […]