The passion and energy of wine
“Where’s the value in drinking Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley when it costs $75 or more a bottle?” I hear that question a lot from friends and acquaintances who recoil at paying big money for Napa’s signature red wine. My answer is simple: If you love Napa wine, don’t give up on it. Just work […]
Sicilian wines are the rage and for good reason: This enchanting – but previously below the radar – Mediterranean island is turning out high quality, reasonably priced wines that are gaining attention from global importers. In fact, U.S. imports of Sicilian wines has increased 41 percent over the past two years. Two decades ago, it […]
“You may have the universe if I may have … Abruzzo?” I’m rewriting a charming quote by Giuseppe Francesco Verdi, the famous 19th century composer who left us with Rigoletto, Il Trovatore and La Traviata among other great operas. Verdi actually ends the aforementioned quote with the word “Italy”, but I don’t think he’d be […]
One of my favorite Italian proverbs goes like this: “Anni e bicchieri di vino si contano mai.” Translation: “Age and glasses of wine should never be counted.” The proverb might suggest a Bacchanalian night of drinking, but that’s not the point. It’s true meaning is: Forget about your age, stay young, and enjoy the company […]
When it comes to Italy’s iconic Super Tuscans, there’s almost always a reliable “second fiddle” in the house. Think of famous movie sidekicks: Tonto to the Lone Ranger; Robin to Batman, and Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes. The same is true for Super Tuscan red wines. Tenuta San Guido’s “Sassicaia” ( SRP: $250-$300), which is […]
(CORRECTION UPDATE, JULY 9: The suggested retail price for the 2020 Raoul Gautherin et Fils Grands Vins de Bourgogne Chablis is $36 a bottle. I erroneously reported the cost in my original article, for which I apologize to Craig Gandolf at Cynthia Hurley French Wines and, of course, my readers. That said, I stand by […]
Did you ever drink an authentic California “ranch” wine? Ancient Peaks Winery in Paso Robles is firmly placed on my bucket list. It’s located on the historic Santa Margarita Ranch which is still operated as a cattle ranch. The estate vineyard, Margarita Vineyard, stretches out over 857 acres at 1,100 feet above sea level. It’s […]
A 91-point Barolo for $19? That’s insane, right? No, it’s not. It’s Kirklandian, as in Kirkland Signature Barolo from Costco, the No. 1 wine retailer in the United States. I must admit there’s no better store to find a wine bargain than at Costco. And this one is a double doozy. Barolo is one of […]
If you missed World Malbec Day on April 17, here’s your chance to make up for it with two quality wines from Argentina and France, respectively, that capture the tasty characteristics of the Malbec varietal for $11 each. Trivento Malbec Reserve 2020, Mendoza, alcohol 13.8% – From one of Argentina’s leading wine houses comes this […]
What is the only European Union country to have increased its wine exports the past two years despite the COVID-19 pandemic? The answer is PortugaI. Not bad for the EU’s fifth largest wine producer (behind Italy, France, Spain and Germany). The new question is why? Well, one only had to be in attendance at the […]
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