Notes from 50 years in wine
Wine has been my life’s work for over 50 years—from Ashbury Market to Wine.com. What began as a family buisness became a lifelong pursuit of tasting, storytelling, and discovery. This is where I share the wines, the moments, and the journey—one glass at a time. 🍷
To Gamay or Not to Gamay
I have often followed the easy way out, but when I drank my glass of Gamay over the Thanksgiving holiday, I thought this Gamay, “This wine is so delicious that I have another glass.” Additionally, Gamays at the “crème de la crème” class is more affordable than the best Cabs or Pinots. This is my list of top Gamays I have tasted in 2022.
My Ten Most Memorable Wine Moments in 2022
2022 is another year in transition as we crawl out of the pandemic and enter the endemic. I have tasted close to 3,000 wines (I may have passed that number, but some of my notes were still scribbled from crowded events when I used pen and paper and squeezed my way to get to the wines. Nevertheless, I should hit my annual goal of wines I needed to taste.
Celebrating National Zinfandel Day, November 16, 2022
I started my career tasting Zinfandels from a difficult 1972 vintage, and my love of Zins grew from that point on: Here are 10 Zinfandels I found memorable from my 2022 tasting experiences.
Ten Delicious Red Wines $20 or below Ready for the Thanksgiving Table
Thanksgiving in America is a great time for family and friends. While I have made lists of my best red wines with a turkey and all the trimmings, I needed to create another list of the most affordable wines to help ease the budget crunch. Here is a list of ten delicious red wines $20 or below ready for this primetime occasion (alphabetical order)
Ten Cabernet Sauvignon Under $40
Cabernet Sauvignon under $40 exists; you just need to expand your search.
Rhône Blends, Carignane, Grenache, Oregon Pinot Noir, and Other Reds for Thanksgiving
I created two lists of my favorite Thanksgiving wine choices and received comments that I neglected some possible excellent decisions from what I have tasted this year. So, I went back to my spreadsheet and found ten wines that would be outstanding. This list includes wines I highly recommend.
Five red wine grape varieties you may not have considered for Thanksgiving
In the wine world, the default wines for Thanksgiving are Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noirs and Champagne or Rosé with appetizers. These tried and true have been and continue to be successful choices. Yet the world has more to offer.
Discovering and re-discovering the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
The Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains website states, “More than 70 wineries and 200 growers produce wines shaped by the elevation and the ocean’s cooling influence. The region yields elegant wines from small producers specializing in pinot noir, chardonnay, and cabernet sauvignon.” I attended Mountain Wine: Rare trade-tasting with Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers on October 19th and enjoyed an excellent and up-close look at what this AVA is bringing to market.
10 Pinot Noirs for Thanksgiving 2022
Hey Wilfred, my parents are coming over for Thanksgiving dinner. This is the menu; please help me choose the right wine
Bringing the Russian River Valley to my old nearby San Francisco neighborhood- Porter Creek Vineyards
One of the advantages of being in the wine trade is the opportunity to attend vendor and supplier tastings. I recently tasted Porter Creek Vineyards wines at the Cole Valley Tavern, less than six blocks from where I grew up. Tasted eight high-quality well-made wines and opened up another window into what is happening in the Russian River Valley
Returning to a Tuscan Classic – Rocca delle Macìe Sergio Zingarelli Gran Selezione
What is the true essence of Tuscan red wines? Over the last few decades, the best wines are often almost New World in style and reminiscent of Bordeaux and the Napa Valley. Rocca delle Macie Sergio Zingarelli Gran Selezione shows a way back to how it used to be.
Ridge Vineyards: Come for the Monte Bello, and stay for their cool small lots
While Monte Bello, Geyserville, Lytton Springs, and others are headliners, one must never forget the less heralded ones—Valdiguié, Carignane, Grenache, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, and other sideline players
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting- 2019 vintage: My Top Ten Wines
The UGC Bordeaux Tasting is an annual event for wine professionals from all over the world. I have attended this event in Bordeaux in the spring where châteaux pour their barrel samples.
From a mom & pop grocery store to the corporate wine world
A wine journey begins with a long look into the future and building a system that gets you where you want to be. At 21, I was ready. Then, when I reached my mid-thirties, I knew I could not remain in my family business, but I stayed patient. Finally, a decade later, I made substantive changes that catapulted me into a new space; I joined the corporate wine world.
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Articles | Food, Drink, & Travel
Food, drinks, and travel—are three categories that can be difficult to navigate. My goal is to guide you and simplify the process.. Please join me on this journey, and we can enjoy the road together.
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Let's Connect
Please contact me for any questions. I am available to write stories, taste, and evaluate wines.
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About Wilfred
Wilfred (Willie) Wong’s 50-year wine career includes roles as Imported Wine Buyer for BevMo!, Chief Storyteller at Wine.com, Wine Judge, and Wine Journalist.
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Wine Stories
Wine and spirits have been an essential part of my life for 50 years. I spend plenty of time researching the subject, and over the years I’ve collected stories I look forward to sharing with you.
