Sonoma Magazine – The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Recognizes Healdsburg’s SingleThread
The “extended” list was released. So now I guess the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” is really the 100 best. Anyway, shout out to a SingleThread for placing 80 on this year’s list. From the article:
The international culinary spotlight has once again turned to SingleThread, which has secured the No. 80 spot on the extended list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, announced today.
The three Michelin-starred Healdsburg restaurant joined San Francisco’s Atelier Creen (No. 96) on the ranking of restaurants No. 51 — 100. Consider it an amuse bouche to the much-anticipated Top 50 awards, which will be announced June 19 in Turin, Italy.
Wine Enthusiast – The Latest Victim of Trump’s Tariff War? American Vintners
Here in Europe, we are encountering a significant number of Canadians and others who have flatly boycotted American wine and products in general. This story doesn’t seem to be getting better. From the article:
As a result, Canada—who purchases 33% of U.S. wine exports—banned American alcohol sales. California Cabernet was banished. Canadian Whisky took over the spots reserved for Bourbon.
Our neighbors to the north are not the only country left with a bad taste in their mouth following tariffs.
Danish wine stores are boycotting U.S.-made wines. In Sweden, state monopoly liquor store Systembolaget has seen sales of American wines drop 15% as customers have sought out alternatives. American winemakers have reported Portuguese buyers pulling out of new orders.
… In April 2025, U.S. wine exports to Canada dropped a staggering 72.5% compared to April of last year, falling $25.5 million to $9.69 million—the lowest monthly value since March 2005, according to the American Association of Wine Economists (AAWE).
Wine Business – Roederer Estate Receives First Ever 100-Point Score Awarded to U.S.-Made Sparkling Wine
Wine Enthusiast gives a perfect 100 Points for the Roederer Estate 2019 L’Ermitage Brut Sparkling Wine. If you find yourself in Anderson Valley, be sure to stop by the estate. From the article:
Winemaker Arnaud Weyrich, who is only the second winemaker in Roederer Estate’s history, makes the determination each year if the vintage is exceptional and if a L’Ermitage bottling will be produced. He believes the 2019 vintage delivered wines of elegance and finesse, and as such, crafted the award-winning bottling from the vintage. The first vintage of L’Ermitage was 1989, and it has been produced 24 times, including its debut.
The Drinks Business – Why Etna’s eruption was not as bad as it looked
Etna erupted the day after we landed in Italy, but it appears not to have been that bad of an incident. From the article:
“Yesterday morning, there was a landslide generated by the partial collapse of one of Etna’s craters. Nothing we had not seen before, but bigger this time,” shared Salvino Benanti, custodian of his family’s 35ha Etna estate alongside his brother, Antonio. “Everything happened at high elevations, as always, and the sliding pyroclasts first poured into the Valle del Leone and eventually came to a halt in the Valle del Bove (the deep depression on Etna’s eastern flank).””
Benanti also said that it has not been a particular inconvenience: “All ok so far, things have gone back to normal. The vineyards are largely unaffected. The thick rocks were quite heavy and landed near the eruption site, at high elevations, whereas the thinner sand does not bother us much.”
Dark Water Winery in Lompoc, CA
Dark Water Winery is more than just a label—it’s a story of friendship, heritage, and a lifelong devotion to the craft of winemaking. The winery was born from the partnership between Reggie Pagaling, a tribal elder of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and Dave Mazzonetto, an Italian whose family has been making wine for generations.
Dave’s connection to winemaking runs deep. Raised in Italy, he grew up surrounded by the rhythms of the vineyard, where making wine wasn’t just a job but a way of life. That old-world philosophy is at the heart of Dark Water. Every bottle reflects a commitment to time-honored techniques, extended maceration, and long barrel aging. The results are wines with structure, depth, and a clear sense of place.
2017 Dark Water Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Happy Canyon
If you think Santa Barbara is all Pinot and Chardonnay, think again. The 2017 Dark Water Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Happy Canyon shows just how far this coastal region has come in crafting big reds that rival those from Napa and beyond. This bottle is bold, layered with complexity, and built to go the distance. It’s the kind of wine that quietly demands four hours in a decanter and a little patience, but rewards every minute.
Corner Restaurant in Austin, TX
If you’re craving classic Southern comfort food in the heart of Austin, Corner Restaurant should be at the top of your list. With a casual vibe, a menu packed with traditional Southern delights, and the culinary expertise of Executive Chef Jennifer Etzkin, this spot has earned a near-perfect 4.9-star rating on Google with 13,785 glowing reviews—and for good reason.
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