B.R Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (SRP $25.99) is my value deal of the week. You can get this fresh, lush wine for $18.99 in New Hampshire – a whopping 27 percent discount – until February 20. If you buy a mixed case of 12 bottles, you can rack up another 15 percent savings. Why do […]
Flavor of the day
Wine of the Day (1-1-20): Tamarack Cellars 2016 Firehouse Red
(First in a series) What better way to begin the new year than with a new wine discovery? It’s called Tamarack Cellars 2016 Firehouse Red (SRP $19.99), a blend of nine Washington State grapes sourced from Columbia Valley vineyards. I knew from the first sip that I would like this wine: it’s smooth and soothing, […]
Launching a new year with ‘The Girls in the Vineyard’
Here are two of my wine resolutions for 2020: First, to explore more of the world’s unique grapes and wines and, second, to be more willing to drink wine from a can. As to the former, climate change is impacting the wine industry from California to Croatia. Places previously ignored on the wine map are […]
‘Tis the season for tiny bubbles and elegant French Champagne
Is it Champagne or sparkling wine? It’s a common question I get from wine drinkers this time of year. Karen MacNeil provides the simplest answer in her classic book, The Wine Bible: “Champagne is aromatically, texturally, and in terms of flavor, one of the most distinct wines in the world. It comes from only one […]
Seven ‘smart buys’ on premium California Cabernet Sauvignon
Selecting a top-notch Sauvignon for the holidays shouldn’t bust your budget.There are many exciting U.S. wines on the market, especially from California where cab is king. But as we often do around the holidays, the tendency is to splurge and overspend. I hope the following selections help you to resist that temptation – and keep […]
Big value, bold taste in these rich Washington State reds
Good tidings from the Pacific Northwest: Washington States wines have flourished over the past two vintages – 2016 and 2017 – and are showing remarkable value for the quality produced. Big, bold, elegant red wines have excelled under extremely hot weather conditions, showing that vintners in the Columbia River Valley and eastern Walla Walla Valley […]
Coquille Blanc 2017: Carol Shelton’s stunning white for red wine lovers
Carol Shelton is known as California’s “Queen of Zinfandel”, the creator of lush, savory single-vineyard cult reds with whimsical names like Wild Thing, Rockpile Reserve, Karma, Munga and Pizazz that usually sell out upon release. And yet the Paso Robles winemaker, who launched her own winery 19 years ago in an industrial park, has crafted […]
Ten questions – and 5 famous quotes – to test your wine and vine ‘IQ’
It’s Thanksgiving week and despite all the hustle and bustle around the house, it’s time to take a break. So sit down in a favorite chair, pour a glass of bubbly, and take this wine “IQ” quiz whose sole purpose is to educate and amuse. (Each correct answer is worth 10 points. Award yourself a […]
What am I pouring on Thanksgiving? Sparkling wine and Zinfandel
I believe all holidays must be celebrated with sparkling wine and Thanksgiving is no exception. In fact, it is America’s only true traditional holiday . So here’s what I am bringing to the table. A bottle of La Crema Brut Sparkling Rose` for the family greeting and a Willm Brut Rose` Sparkling (Cremant d’Alsace) to […]
Need a wine for Thanksgiving dinner? Here are 30 outstanding values to feast on
The 2019 Thanksgiving Wine List, based on the selections of five industry experts and educators, is a fabulous guide to plan your holiday meal. It matches the textures and tastes of quality, affordable wines with the flavorful food of a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings. food. Here are 30 great buys for your […]
