Randy Caparoso
Randy Caparoso is a full-time wine journalist/photographer living in Lodi, California. In a prior incarnation, he was a multi-award winning restaurateur, starting as a sommelier in Honolulu (1978 through 1988), and then as Founding Partner/VP/Corporate Wine Director of the James Beard Award winning Roy’s family of restaurants (1988-2001), opening 28 locations from Hawaii to New York. While with Roy’s, he was named Santé’s first Wine & Spirits Professional of the Year (1998) and Restaurant Wine’s Wine Marketer of the Year (1992 and 1998). Between 2001 and 2006, he operated his own Caparoso Wines label as a wine producer. For over 20 years, he also bylined a biweekly wine column for his hometown newspaper, The Honolulu Advertiser (1981-2002). He currently puts bread (and wine) on the table as Editor-at-Large and the Bottom Line columnist for The SOMM Journal (founded in 2007 as Sommelier Journal), and freelance blogger and social media director for Lodi Winegrape Commission (lodiwine.com). You may contact him at randycaparoso@earthlink.net
Opinion: Minerality in Terms of Terroir
Terroir as like a tree falling in a forest. Just because you don't hear it, it doesn’t mean it didn't fall.
—Randy Caparoso
I think that...
Op Ed: Dear Sommeliers, It’s OK to Like Zinfandel
This op is written from a sommelier's perspective. I know a lot of them because I was a sommelier who worked in restaurants for...
Opinion: Natural Winemaking Is the Most Natural Thing
Hands off those vines, hands off those wines—what comes naturally should be respected
—Randy Caparoso
I love natural style wines. In fact, I'm partial to them,...
Afternoon Brief, September 1st
Paso Robles' Justin Vineyards and Winery Buys Napa's Lewis Cellars: Justin's owner, the Wonderful Company, aims to expand Lewis' audience while adding a luxury brand to their portfolio...
Nothing Wrong with Hot Climate Winegrowing
Some of the best wines of the Old and New World are produced in hot climate regions.
—Randy Caparoso
I once attended a Hospice du Rhône...
Afternoon Brief, August 25th
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25
TRENDING STORY
WIN's packXplore Conference Studies Consumer Acceptance of Nontraditional Wine Packaging
Wine Industry Network continues to keep the industry informed despite continuing challenges...
In Defense of Terroir
—Randy Caparoso
Does wine-related terroir exist anymore?
This is a valid question, even if a silly one. Of course, terroir exists. If it doesn’t, entire belief...
Afternoon Brief, August 18th
Redefining the Definition of Balanced Wine: Talking about “balanced wine” used to be perfectly acceptable—until about ten years ago, when the term suddenly became politicized...
Redefining the Definition of Balanced Wine
And eliminating high-alcohol cancel culture
—Randy Caparoso
Talking about “balanced wine” used to be perfectly acceptable—until about ten years ago, when the term suddenly became politicized....
Afternoon Brief, August 11th
In-Person 5th Annual Wine & Weed Symposium Is Success: Wine Industry Network (WIN) hosted the 5th Annual Wine & Weed Symposium on August 5th at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa, CA...
Effects of Umami in Wines and Foods
What is umami and why should wine lovers care? Haven't foods and wines become complicated enough without having to understand one more odd sounding...
Progress of Terroir-Focused Lodi Wines
Terroir is a French term that entails the natural environmental factors, such as climate, soil, topography, aspect, elevation, latitude, etc., that have a direct...
