A friend asked me why I liked to drink rosé. This was back during Christmas season. He said rosé is a “summer wine.” I laughed. “Think pink when you drink,” I replied. Then I explained that rosé has actually become a year-round dry, refreshing wine. It’s a great for as a dinner aperitif, party sipper, […]
General Wine
Making a case for fabulous Italian wine at $8.11 a bottle
I went on a shopping trip last weekend to New Hampshire with the Wine Butler — my good friend and former Sun photographer Mike Pigeon — to see if we could cash in on a $25 discount coupon published in this newspaper and a 15 percent sale on Italian wines. We did. We purchased 13 […]
Three unique wines that will change your mind about California
It’s not true that all California Chardonnay tastes the same. In fact, I’m going to suggest several white wines from different appellations to prove that vineyard locations do matter.. While I prefer unoaked Chardonnay (Chablis from France), my all-time favorite Chadonnays are from California. I can always count on Chateau Montelena ($40) and Rombauer ($36.99) […]
A lesson in Chianti Classico from a Wine Novice
Chianti Classico 101. That’s this week’s lesson. Lesson? Well, I received notification from the Wine Scholar Guild in Washington, D.C., that I passed my final exam, taken March 31, and I am now a certified Italian Wine Scholar. My diploma arrived in the mail two weeks ago. Nearly 18 months of class work, online study […]
Want good and inexpensive wine? Rhone Valley is right up your alley
Some of the most impressive and wallet-friendly wines arriving in America these days are coming from vineyards in southern France’s Rhone Valley. There’s a reason: The location and conditions are exceptional for growing Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre — the backbone varieties of the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape red blend that is lusciously captivating. Les Dauphins winery isn’t […]
Chateau Miraval: Shades of summer
If you’re looking for a dry and delicious rosé to get your summer sipping season started, try Chateaux Miraval Cotes de Provence Rosé. It’s one of my favorites for relaxing on the deck, reading a book in the pergola, or for welcoming guests before dinner. Chateau Miraval is now on sale for $19.99 through Saturday, […]
An event all Merlot and Cab fans will drink up
World-renowned winemaker Nick Goldschmidt will be showing some of his signature Napa Valley wines Saturday at the Wine ConneXtion in North Andover, from 1-5 p.m. The public is invited to attend the complimentary tasting, which offers wine enthusiasts a chance to hear this extraordinary talent speak about his passion for single-vineyard Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. […]
Deal (or is that steal) of the week: Kirkland Chianti for $8.47 at Costco
The best deal of the week? Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva 2014, which is now on sale for $8.47 at Costco in Nashua. This is a steal, and I thank the Wine Goddess, my wife Mary Lee, for her sharp-eyed shopping on a recent trip across the border. I’ve been drinking a lot of Chianti […]
These wines pass the test (hope I did, too)
On Saturday, I took my Italian Wine Scholar final exam on the wines from Central and Southern Italy. It was more difficult than I had anticipated. It covered 12 regions, including Toscana, Campania, Puglia, Sicily and the island of Sardegna. The Unit 1 exam, which I took last spring and passed, covered six Northern regions, […]
Going all in for Zin
, The Wine Novice I am mixing wines from the Old World with the New World on Easter. Two bottles of Zinfandel will be gracing sister Angela’s table (The Wine Goddess, my wife Mary Lee, has a well-deserved day off from preparing the feast, although she will be baking her famous Limoncello lemon squares for […]
