OK, let’s all take a sip of Prosecco, refresh the palate and get ready for a great 2016 wine adventure. Seven days into the new year, I’ve already sampled two reds and two whites for my personal Wine Log. But first … looking back on the pages from 2015, I had the good fortune, along […]
Flavor of the day
'Racy' Rieslings for the holidays and beyond
Why Riesling for Christmas and the holidays? “It’s such a versatile, satisfying wine. It goes well with all foods. It’s refreshing on the palate,” says Lazarus Guisso, a self-described “amateur de vin” (wine lover) with a sommelier’s knowledge of all things vino fino. A week ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Guisso, who is […]
Tasters' choice: Willamette Valley Vineyards, Wild Horse wines
What’s on your palate? It’s Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir for the newly-formed Mill City Mass Media Oenophile Club, a small group of novice wine tasters from The Sun’s newsroom. We met recently after work to sample seven wines — two whites, five reds — from Oregon’s Willamette Valley Vineyards, California’s Wild Horse Winery in […]
House of Speri hits high mark with voluptuous Valpolicella
“We don’t make wine to shock the mouth. We make wine to fill the mouth with intense flavors that are smooth, elegant and lasting. We make wine that is beautiful with food. A great vintage is one in which we make less.” The words from Luca Speri were music to my ears, like the great […]
No drought in quality at Michael David Winery
California’s drought — labeled “severe” — is now in its fourth year and the San Joaquin Valley, rich in cherry farming and vineyards, is one of the hardest hit. Smack in the valley’s middle is the city of Lodi, home of the Michael David Winery, a fifth-generation family-owned operation producing some of America’s most highly […]
Blockbuster wines at bargain prices
It’s never too early to start thinking about purchasing wines for the upcoming holidays, or to cozy up to during the winter months. October is a big sales month for wine retailers, especially with new stock arriving on shelves for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For several weeks I’ve been sampling new wines with the Wine Butler […]
Gratallops' Black Slate red unleases Priorat's power
On the evening when I’m planning to drink a new wine from Priorat, the October issue of Wine Spectator arrives with a cover story titled “Great Spanish Reds: Alvaro Palacious Leads Priorat to New Heights.” The Wine Goddess smiles, thinking I’m an “expert” able to spot wine industry trends, especially after I glowingly tell her […]
Alto Adige wines are alight in tradition, uniqueness
On summer evenings in June in Italy’s northernmost province of Alto Adige, residents sit in cafes drinking pitchers of wine and eating plates of bresaola (air-cured beef) while gazing for hours at the fuochi burning in the mountains. The fires are symbolic of warning signals that used to alert citizens of an impending invasion. Today, […]
Gran Passione Rosso: An enchanting red of summer
If you long for a taste of Venice at your next summer barbecue, I’ve got a great dry red wine for you. Think of gliding along the Grand Canal in a gondola with Andrea Bocelli singing romantic love songs while sharing a gorgeous wine with your honey. That’s what Gran Passione Rosso is all about. […]
This wine had Triple Crown written all over it
When American Pharaoh clinched horseracing’s Triple Crown at Belmont Park two weeks ago, I was overjoyed for two reasons. First, the Sport of Kings had its first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed accomplished the endurance feat 37 years ago. Second, it confirmed my belief that something good was going to happen when I purchased four […]
