Véraison "Véraison" means "the onset of ripening" and takes place during the long, hot summer, when the vineyards bask in warmth and light. Bud break has led to blossoms, blossoms have led to tight green buttons that will become grape berries. The air is heavy with the drone of [...]
Summer and the Blessing of Fog In summer, the rains that brought budbreak and flowering dry up. The skies are clear and blue, and temperatures rise. And rise. And rise. The growing grapes do not appreciate the heat, especially the grapes that will become red wines. But the Napa [...]
People often wonder how Cabernet Sauvignon became the quintessential varietal of California wine grapes. I’ll give you a little bit of history that should help explain the mystery. Cabernet Sauvignon is actually a bit of a love child, with a purple parent and a white parent. It is the cross [...]
Your friend pops open a magnificent bottle of 94 point 2013 YAO MING Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, pours herself a glass, and starts swirling it around. She's not tasting it. She's not even looking at it yet. Just swirling it around and around her glass. Is this the ultimate in [...]
Working in the tasting room at Yao Family Wines in St. Helena, perhaps the second most common question we receive from both beginners and experts alike is, “what's the difference between tannin and acid?” (the first most common is, “How tall is Yao Ming?”). This is a critical question, as [...]
Like many wineries around the Napa Valley, every spring, Yao Family Wines releases a Sauvignon Blanc. This year's release, the 2016 Napa Crest Sauvignon Blanc, has many of the distinct characteristics found in classic Napa SBs. It's crisp, with a vibrant acidity in the mid-pallet. There are aromas of melon [...]
With the first buds of spring fast approaching, Rose season is just around the corner. Rosé is typically the first release of the year for most winemakers, due to its relatively quick winemaking process. If you've explored the joys or Rosé, then you're as excited as we are for this [...]
