This guest-post comes to us from Mira Advani Honeycutt,author of California’s Central Coast, The Ultimate Winery Guide: From Santa Barbara to Paso Robles.
Along Paso Robles’ 46 West corridor sits the rustic tasting room of Lone Madrone, surrounded by chickens and sheep and the organic Fat Cat Farm.

This guest-post comes to us from Mira Advani Honeycutt, author of California’s Central Coast, The Ultimate Winery Guide: From Santa Barbara to Paso Robles.
Champagne is the traditional way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. But how about savoring the Pinot Noir grape (one of the varietals that goes into the bubbly) by itself?
Pinot is sensual in texture and seductive on the nose. Depending on the region and the producer, the wine can unleash lush berry aromas or exude earthy, spice notes. Either way, this soft and silky wine is ideal for …

We are so excited to present the Winter Pledge Drive edition of the KCRW Wine Club.  Sommelier Stacie Hunt (Du Vin and Splash Productions) has put together an incredible selection of wines for people who call 800-600-KCRW and join KCRW tomorrow during Good Food (Saturday, January 29 11a-1p).  Info on all the wines are after the jump…

Stacie Hunt is a sommelier with Du Vin Wine and Spirits in West Hollywood and she’s a frequent guest on Good Food.  This week on the show she shared some really interesting stories, and recommendations, of Moroccan wine.  The country is the largest producer of wine in the Muslim world, producing about 34 million bottles annually.  While Muslims are forbidden from drinking wine, the market is driven mostly by foreigners.
Her list of recommended labels is after the jump…

Earlier this week, President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which expands the USDA’s authority in regulating nutritional guidelines for all food sold in US schools (soda machines, vending machines, etc.).  It’s the first increase in funding for school lunch in 30 years.  The increase in funding is 6 cents per student, per day.  Tom Philpott, who is a guest on Good Food this Saturday, says this bill won’t fundamentally “change the equation,” but it is a step in the right direction.
The bill has received criticism because the …

This guest-post comes to us from Mira Advani Honeycutt, author of California’s Central Coast, The Ultimate Winery Guide: From Santa Barbara to Paso Robles.
The annual tradition of Beaujolais Nouveau wine released on the third Thursday of November and shipped around the world originates from France’s Beaujolais region. (Hear more about Beaujolais Nouveau from Stacie Hunt on A Good Food Thanksgiving.)
But a Nouveau from the Paso Robles appellation?  When I received an email from my friends Phillip and Mary Hart owners of Ambyth Estate Winery in Templeton inviting us …

According to Stacie Hunt, a sommelier and frequent Good Food guest, pairing wine for the big Thanksgiving meal can be difficult.  The temptation is to pull out that big red you’ve been saving.  Instead, go for a lighter, more all around bottle.  She recommends Beaujolais Nouveau, a dry Riesling and pinot noir.  A complete list is after the jump:

This guest-post comes to us from Mira Advani Honeycutt, author of California’s Central Coast, The Ultimate Winery Guide: From Santa Barbara to Paso Robles.
The last time, I enjoyed an Opus One tasting was in 1999, when the Napa Valley Winery celebrated its 20th anniversary. We experienced all twenty vintages!
So I was delighted when Roger Asleson, Opus One’s Director of P.R. emailed about his visit to Los Angeles. We met up at Hotel Montage in Beverly Hills. Roger was armed with two bottles of Opus One and accompanied by winemaker …

Yesterday, Evan and I drove down to Temecula to go grape stomping.  At about 3 pm, we headed to Doffo Winery, a small boutique spot owned by an Argentine family.  How lovely: two food lovin’ gals head down to wine country on a Thursday afternoon to stomp grapes.  That is until we met the 60 freeway.  About 30 minutes into our dead stop, we contemplated turning around.  Being the pushy producer that I am, I persevered.  “Grape stomping will be a great piece for the show,” I argued.  Evan …

This guest-post comes to us from Mira Advani Honeycutt, of the Los Angeles Mumbai Sister City Affiliation and author of California’s Central Coast, The Ultimate Winery Guide: From Santa Barbara to Paso Robles.
How can you resist an invitation to spend a couple of days at a château in Provence?  We didn’t.
Olivia Hsu Decker, owner of the 17th century Château Grimaldi was our host. The 11-bedroom château is in the charming village of Puyricard, just north of Aix-en-Provence.
As we approach the château, a pigeon tower comes into view. This is …