If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift for that special wine connoisseur in your life, listen to the annual WCAP (980 AM) Salvation Army Radiothon on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. That’s when I’ll be on the show with Warren Shaw, Sam Poulten and the rest of the crew to raise money for the […]
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Beaujolais Nouveau: Drink it fresh, fruity, and now
There is only one red wine that delivers aromas and flavors of fresh banana and cranberries in the same bottle. It’s called Beaujolais Nouveau and it’s crafted in France. The grape is 100 percent Gamay Noir å Jus Blanc, a low tannin, high acid varietal banished from Bourgogne in the 14th century only to be […]
There's a wine-derful in historic Charleston
Following the recent statewide election, I took a quick four-day refresher trip to Charleston, S.C., to visit my daughter Jalyn. Now 30, the UMass Lowell graduate is enjoying Southern living in what is one of America’s most endearing cities. There are more than 1,000 historical homes and buildings in downtown Charleston. It seems you can’t […]
Need a Thanksgiving wine? Here are 30 to feast on
jcampanini@lowellsun.com My third annual Thanksgiving Wine List comes from some of the best wine buyers and tasters in the region. They’ve selected 30 reds, whites and rosés to pair with your respective holiday feast of turkey, lamb and/or ham. Look them over, make a list of choices, and then head to the store. Taste the […]
Chardonnay: The mother of all problem-solving wines
A good Chardonnay goes a long way toward resolving a dispute in the kingdom run by the Wine Goddess. Believe me, it’s her kingdom. Like I’ve written previously, I entered marriage 23 years ago with one suitcase and am now down to a gym bag; she began with 52 boxes of everything — clothes, fine […]
Warming up to several winter wine bargains
When it comes to wine, winter doesn’t have to be any less fun than summer. We just take it all inside, off the patio and deck, to the warmth of the hearth and home. ‘Tis the season for Malbecs from Argentina, Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile, and Chianti and red blends from Italy — heat, spice, […]
From 'Rage' to 'Lust', Michael David's wines are Zin-ful
There’s a reason why Michael David Winery is capturing America’s attention. The wines are flavorful and fun. Wines are meant to be flavorful, but fun too? While marketing has a lot to do with it, the personality of the winemaker contributes to what’s in the bottle in subtle ways. If you’ve ever met David Phillips, […]
Kung Fu Girl Riesling kicks butt
I visited the Charles Smith wine-tasting room in Walla Walla, Washington in June and found it quite fascinating. A former top European rock band promoter, Smith grew up in California and returned to the Puget Sound area in 1999. Soon he moved to Walla Walla and produced 300 cases of his own wine. He’s never […]
Time to doubledown on Doubleback
I don’t know how the Messinas, Tina and Sam, do it, but the Wine Connextion in North Andover recently scored a big shipment of Drew Bledsoe’s highly-rated 2011 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla, Wash. Sam’s been trying for several years to make a connection with Doubleback and finally made it into the end zone. […]
Going local uncorks a wonderful celebration
I’ve enjoyed 23 wedding anniversaries with the Wine Goddess, and most often we’ve planned an elaborate trip to a special place where we can celebrate. For the first five years of our marriage we’d schedule an off-season trip to the same Dennisport seaside hotel on the Cape. The late-September weather was beautiful for sitting on […]
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