Each issue of Power Tasting contains a review of the tasting experience at a winery, often in California’s Wine Country but also of wineries we have visited elsewhere around the world. The review never says, “We had a terrible time. Don’t go there.” That’s not because we have never visited a subpar winery. Rather, it’s our view of service to our readers. We enjoy suggesting places you might like to visit and take no pleasure in telling you what to avoid.
There are many so-called “magazines” available in Wine Country, that find everything to be wonderful. Their articles are mostly written by vineyard public relations people and the magazines, if not on the take, are recompensed by advertising dollars. This is absolutely not the case with Power Tasting. We take no money or advice from anyone in our appraisals for the tasting experience. In fact we pay to be members of the wine clubs at several of our favorite wineries.
If you read some of our commentary closely, you’ll see that there are some where the overall experience is commendable but we’re not crazy about the wine. You may also see that we prefer simple wineries to elaborate Napa Palaces. But we also recognize that tastes differ and that it would be better to let you discover the occasional winery you’re less than satisfied with, than try to keep you away from having your own wine tasting discoveries.
We always focus on the tasting experience you can have when you visit the wineries we write about, not the wines themselves. But sometimes when we make a wonderful discovery, it’s difficult not to write a little about it.