The evening began with a brief introduction to American wine history, highlighting the legendary Judgment of Paris, where California wines shocked the world by competing with French counterparts on a blind tasting.

Today, out of the 354 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in the U.S., California has an astonishingly high number of 154 AVAs. The diverse terroirs, from the cool coastal valleys to the sun-drenched mountains, were reflected in the carefully curated selection of wines.​

Wine Tasting Selections

Dry Creek Vineyards Zinfandel, Sonoma 2020
The first wine on the tasting menu was a Zinfandel blend from Sonoma County, made from vines that are on average 75 years old. Aged for 22 months in American, Hungarian, and French oak barrels. This wine earned 90 points from Robert Parker.
It boasts aromas of blueberry and raspberry, framed by notes of white pepper and chocolate. On the palate, fresh berry flavors shine through, with refined and smooth tannins rounding out the experience.

Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2019
The fourth wine of the evening came from California’s flagship wine region, the Napa Valley. This 94% Cabernet Sauvignon blend (with 5% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc) aged for 16 months in French oak barrels, half of which are new, has received 91 points from Robert Parker.
A rich and layered wine, it features ripe, integrated tannins and an elegant finish. Aromas are dark and complex, while the palate is dominated by black currant and blueberry, with subtle oak nuances adding depth.

Duckhorn Howell Mountain, Napa Valley 2018
Continuing with Duckhorn, we climbed the Howell Mountain at an altitude of 462 meters, where this Cabernet Sauvignon blend (with a touch of Merlot and Cabernet Franc) was crafted.
​Aged for 24 months in French oak, this was a powerful and intense wine, offering layers of vanilla, oak, cedar, blackberry, plum, leather, earthiness, and cocoa.

Inglenook Rutherford, Napa Valley 2017
The highest priced wine of the tasting came from Rutherford, an area known for its warm Mediterranean climate, frequent rainfall, and morning fog, which help retain the wine’s freshness.
A blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Merlot, aged 18 months in French oak, it earned 93 points from Robert Parker.
​This was a serious and well-crafted wine, featuring firm, grippy tannins, along with cherry, dark chocolate, and subtle spice notes.

A Grand Finale
As a surprise, the hosts unveiled a Michael David Winery Petite Petit (Petite Sirah blend), a smooth, fruit-forward wine with rich black cherry flavors, capping off the night on a high note.
The event was an authentic tasting experience, filled with great wines and great company.
The night ended with a few more surprises, but those will remain a secret, reserved just for the attendees. 

More than twenty years later, I returned to the same place.
 
This time, not as a tourist, but as someone who had spent the past two decades fascinated by wine. This time, I wasn’t just looking for flavors—I was looking for stories.
 
When I landed in Florence and felt the warmth of the Tuscan sun on my skin, I knew this visit would be different. This time, I not only knew what I was drinking—I knew why.
 
I rented an old Italian Fiat 500, known as Cinquecento—that legendary little car from the ‘60s, the perfect symbol of nostalgia, romance, and Italian style. It was made for winding through Florence’s narrow streets or parking in front of a vineyard in Tuscany. I drove along the dusty roads weaving through the vineyards, the engine humming like a hairdryer, but none of that mattered… I knew this land didn’t just produce wine—it told stories through it.
 
At the vineyards of Biondi Santi, where the legend of Brunello di Montalcino was born, I sat in silence, listening to the wind carry the scents of lavender and warm earth. This wasn’t just a tasting—it was a history lesson, a lesson in passion, in how time and effort can create a masterpiece. I was surrounded by people who spoke about wine with such seriousness that I was tempted to ask if they realized they were making alcohol, not the elixir of immortality. Then again… maybe they were?

What Comes Next?
 
This spring, I won’t just be drinking wine and traveling—I’ll be studying wine. I’m embarking on a more serious mission, enrolling in wine courses at MASOM.
 
At the same time, I’ll be telling stories.
 
I’ll interview Macedonian winemakers, continue traveling to wine destinations, and meet the people behind the bottles. You’ll read about it all here, on Terroir.mk.
 
But my writing won’t be about scores or technical analyses—that’s not my specialty. I’ll tell you their stories, about the places and the people that make each wine unique. We’ll travel through bottles, meet winemakers, and analyze terroirs—but all with interesting narratives, a touch of humor (often at my own expense), and absolute honesty.
 
Traveling has taught me many things, but perhaps the most important lesson is this—wine, like people, is best judged on the second impression. Some wines introduce themselves as spectacular at first sip but vanish without a trace. Others, quiet and underestimated, reveal themselves over time as the ones that truly stay with you.
 
And life has taught me this:
 
If a wine can’t make your evening better, don’t drink it. If the people you’re with don’t make you laugh, change them.
 
And here’s a thought we all know well— “Life is too short for bad wine.”
I would add: …and for bad conversations.
 
So, let’s raise a glass—to the new stories waiting to be discovered!