Several weeks ago a woman who recognized me as “the wine guy” tapped me on the shoulder in a CVS store and asked if I had ever tried wine in a box. I replied that I hadn’t. She seemed disappointed. She said she was at a beach party when the hosts brought out a box […]
Author: Jim Campanini
Need a Folk Festival party wine? Try Beaujolais
The Lowell Folk Festival is this weekend (July 25-27) and thousands of visitors will descend on the city for a good time. Someone asked me what wine I would suggest for a festival party on the patio deck or backyard lawn. A few cool choices popped into my head. If it’s red that you prefer, […]
Star keeps rising at Bledsoe's Doubleback Winery
Drew Bledsoe is taller (6-feet-5-inches) in person than the NFL version that filled TV screens for 14 pro seasons.That was my first of many impressions upon meeting Bledsoe in his Doubleback office in downtown Walla Walla, Wash.The second is that his hands are big and strong — good for tossing a football and farming a […]
My Great Pacific Northwest trip: 136 wines in 10 days
I’m back from a 10-day trip to the Great Northwest in which the Wine Goddess and I logged more than 1,100 miles visiting 18 wine-tasting rooms and six vineyards in Oregon and Washington State. Lewis and Clark we weren’t. Martin and Lewis — as in Dean and Jerry — was more like it. When the […]
'Patriotic' wines to salute The Fourth!
In keeping with the patriotic spirit, here are my two Fourth of July wine selections: Federalist Zinfandel 2011, $17 — What better way to celebrate the nation’s birth than with a wine paying homage to Alexander Hamilton, a great Founding Father who was General George Washington’s most trusted military aide and a leading author of […]
Caymus Vineyards turns 40 with anniversary bottling
I’ve always been impressed by Caymus Vineyards, owned by the Wagner family, which produces two of the best Cabernet Sauvignons on the continent. One is labeled “Napa Valley” and the other is the premium “Special Selection,” both of which wine experts have rated 90 points or better for 15 consecutive years. The fruit is sourced […]
If Scotch is Dad's drink, head to Andover tasting
Father’s Day is Sunday so why not surprise Dad with a special gift of his favorite Scotch, Irish whiskey, Bourbon or wine? On Saturday, at Andover Classic Wines in the Shawsheen Plaza off Route 28 in Andover, Manager Andrea DiFiore and her capable assistants, Maggie Griset and Chris Whitaker, will be pouring a top-notch selection […]
It's shaping up as a beautiful rosé weekend
There are several big events coming up this weekend and next for wine explorers, starting with Saturday’s rosé tastings from 3-5 p.m. at Andover Classic Wines in the Shawsheen Plaza. Manager Andrea DiFiore always has a nice selection of the newest and fascinating wines from California, France and Italy, so you don’t want to miss […]
Catching the wave of wines from Puglia
When it comes to wine, Giuseppe Sportelli describes Puglia as a “philosophy, a landscape, a testing place, an experience.” Located in southeastern Italy, Puglia is a hot, sun-swept region which forms the famous high-heel on the “boot of Italy”. Its landscape is mostly flat terrain. Sea breezes blow over the land from three sides — […]
Wines add zest to summer Tapas parties
The Wine Goddess put on a Tapas party this past weekend, which coincided with my 62nd birthday. She insisted it wasn’t a birthday party, since it had been planned weeks ago with neighborhood friends and yet I was extremely satisfied: a birthday cake glowing with lit candles mysteriously appeared along with other luscious desserts. I […]
