, The Wine Novice The table is set for an evening of “The Incomparable Wines of Northern Italy,” a two-hour learning and tasting seminar at the elegant Nesmith House in Lowell, presented by yours truly as part of Middlesex Community College’s adult continuing-education program. Tonight’s class of 20 “students” is sold out; however, because of […]
Author: Jim Campanini
Wines to drink now — and some to save for later
A fan of this column approached me over the weekend and asked, “Jim, what are you drinking now?’” I replied without hesitation. It’s not what I am drinking now, it’s what I am buying for later. Like saving for your retirement, there’s something to be said for buying wines that will enrich your drinking and […]
Taste your way to an education in Italian wines (like I did)
If you are truly interested in developing your global wine acumen, there’s no better way to start than with the Wine Scholar Guild’s Italian Wine Scholar program that begins Saturday, Oct. 13. My mentor , Jo-Ann Ross, will be teaching Unit 1 on Northern Italian wines, which covers Piedmont, Trentino, Alto Adige and Val D’Aosta. […]
Doors reopened, Wine ConneXtion offers Spanish samples
, The Wine Novice Now here’s a treat. The Wine ConneXtion in North Andover is featuring wines from Spain this Saturday, from 1 to 4 p.m. If you like moderate- to full-bodied and spicy wines, it’s worth the trip to 117 Main St. Sam and Tina Messina, the store’s co-owners, have had a rough few […]
Concha y Toro spices up the season with Camenere
Did you feel that evening chill in the air this past week? Yes, it’s a sign that autumn is fast approaching and that like the changing seasons, it’s time to make a move to the red wine cellar. To many Cabernet Sauvignon drinkers, there’s really no need to panic. You can drink that big, bold […]
Six wines (other than Chardonnay) to perk up the palate
If you’re suffering from summer Chardonnay overload, here are few white wines — and new vareitals — that can pep up the palate for autumn. • Pieropan Soave Classico 2016, $14.99 — Nino Pieropan’s 50th anniversary vintage is quite a knockout, scoring an outstanding 92 point rating from Wine Enthusiast magazine. For less than $15 […]
Grapes can't talk — so the Wine Novice will
, The Wine Novice If grapes could talk – some winemakers insist they can whisper to them – Italy’s more than 1,000 varieties could tell stories of how they fueled papal conquests, Roman legions on the move, and even the seductions of emperors and kings. When I open a bottle of Italian wine, I often […]
The glamour of the garden and elegant wine
Jungle Beauty. La Dolce Vita. Diary of Faith. Ice Carnival. Daydream Believer. These are not summer wines, they are daylillies blooming in the summer gardens circling my home. The Wine Goddess — my wife Mary Lee — has carefully nurtured these dazzling gems for years — some from seedlings that she hybridized herself — […]
Portugal's authentic wines of Alentejo
, The Wine Novice Did you know the people of Portugal eat more seafood per capita than any other European, barring the Icelanders? So it’s only natural that the Portuguese know the best wines to drink with their spicy shrimp tapas and bacalhau (salted cod) dishes. Of course, the famous cuisine, influenced by centuries […]
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc rises to a 'Signature' station
Every once in a while I feel the urge for a lip-smacking, grapefruit-driven, crisp Sauvignon Blanc. It started several years ago when the Wine Goddess — my wife Mary Lee — and I took a spectacular fall trip to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Guess what we drank with our oysters, which were the […]
