Behind the Bottle
The stories, craft, and passion behind every bottle we bring to your table. For the wine explorer, one story at a time.
Behind the Bottle
Do You Remember White Zinfandel? Or When Everyone Only Drank Chablis?
Every era has an “it” wine. White Zinfandel ruled the 80s. Chablis had its moment. And Merlot was riding high, until a certain film made it suddenly uncool overnight. I may be dating myself, but the point stands: wine trends come and go. Some varietals get all the attention while others are pushed to the sidelines. That’s exactly why R...
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Predictions for Harvest 2026: A Season of Quiet Confidence
Harvest is almost here. Across Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake County, 2026 is shaping up to be a very good season. A year defined by balanc...
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So, what’s in a wine rating, really?
A wine rating score, the tidy number perched above a tasting note. That number is really a compressed story about how a wine showed up in...
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Sun Dried Tomatoes, Summer Herbs & A Simple Chicken Dish: A Pantry Ready Renard Creek Dinner
I’m not someone who wants to labor over the stove all the time, so I reach for dinners that come together from the pantry. Sun‑dried toma...
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When a Summer Evening Turns on a Dime
Saturday early evening began like any other midsummer moment in our corner of Mendocino County, with my husband and I sitting outside enj...
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Renard Creek Cellar Companion: A Fridge, Two Jars, and One Well Chosen Bottle of Wine
Have you ever had moments when you find yourself standing in front of the open fridge, holding two jars like they’re auditioning for a ro...
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